Laura Erickson's For the Birds

Botflies

True botflies don't bother birds in Canada or the northern states, but that doesn't mean Laura hasn't been thinking about them lately.

Blowflies and other external parasites

Why should you clean out your bird house after the baby birds leave?

Savoring and Wondering

Taking time to savor a wild creature can be very rewarding.

Neighborly Exchanges

My daughter lives next door to one of my good birding friends, so we let each other know about good birds.

Feeding peanuts and corn safely.

A great many birds love peanuts and corn, but there are several very important caveats about offering it to them.

When does autumn begin?

There are many different ways to pinpoint the end of summer and the start of autumn.

Forget Forgetfulness, Part 2: Blue Jays Just Wanna Have Fun

Squirrels hoard food supplies. Blue Jays hoard food AND toys.

Forget Forgetfulness, Part 1--Symbiosis between Blue Jays and oaks.

Laura talks about the relationship between Blue Jays and oaks

Peabody Street Happenings

Lots of comings and goings on Peabody Street.

Hope for the Future

Hunter Biden’s splendid blog is filled with hope, redemption, and even some birds. (NON-political.)

Bird Life on Islands

Why do oceanic islands have so many species we don't see anywhere else? And why does the geologic history of an island make a difference in how many and what species live

A future trip jogs memories of a past trip

Laura and Russ are headed to the Galápagos Islands next year. The tour leader, Alvaro Jamarillo, is someone Laura met almost 20 years ago on a different tour.

Monarchs as Bird Food

Monarch caterpillars and butterflies are supposed to be toxic, but birds haven't always gotten that memo. (The blog post accompanying this program has a LOT of cool photo

Air Quality, Part 2

Even as Laura is as furious as she is terrified of the horrible conditions in Duluth right now, she's finding beauty.

Air quality, Part 1

This past week, the Air Quality Index in Duluth reached at least 1134 even as the temperature on Laura's front porch exceeded 100ºF. This situation is terrifying.

Canada Jay: What's in a Name?

Laura talks about an exceptionally friendly bird and why it's hard for her to remember its name.

Blue Jays: Family Ties, Part 2

The summer of 1991, Laura and her children raised four baby Blue Jays, embedding the little things deeply in Laura's heart.

To Sin by Silence

On our nation's birthday, Laura is thinking about our right to free speech and our obligation to exercise it.

Moving Forward, and Now Backward, on the Lead Issue

Two different California governors, a Republican and a Democrat, did their best to protect California Condors from the scourge of lead ammo. The Obama and Biden administr

How Lead in Ammo and Tackle Harm Wildlife

Wildlife suffer much more than humans do from the lead hunters and anglers use.