Laura Erickson's For the Birds

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"For the Birds" began airing on KUMD in Duluth, MN, in May, 1986, and is the longest continually-running radio program about birds in the U.S. Hundreds more episodes are available for free at http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/.

Recent Episodes
  • Darkening Skies
    Jun 5, 2025 – 6:09
  • Out of the ashes...
    Jun 3, 2025 – 5:11
  • Hey! My eyes are up here!
    May 30, 2025 – 6:28
  • Magnificent Frigatebird
    May 27, 2025 – 8:16
  • Magnificent Frigatebird!
    May 22, 2025 – 5:53
  • Wealth
    May 14, 2025 – 6:26
  • The Dry Tortugas!
    May 13, 2025 – 6:59
  • The Pelicans of Chamber's Grove
    Apr 29, 2025 – 5:25
  • Earth Day 2025
    Apr 25, 2025 – 6:43
  • Through a Glass, Darkly
    Apr 22, 2025 – 5:35
  • Guyana!
    Apr 17, 2025 – 5:56
  • The Dry Tortugas!
    Apr 16, 2025 – 6:51
  • Birding with a Camera
    Apr 15, 2025 – 5:28
  • Emerging from a Numerical Haze
    Apr 10, 2025 – 7:33
  • Woodcocks!
    Apr 8, 2025 – 5:45
  • Updates from Earth Angel and Jim Baker
    Apr 1, 2025 – 7:11
  • Cuban Woodpeckers
    Mar 28, 2025 – 5:38
  • The Tiniest Bird in the Universe
    Mar 25, 2025 – 4:57
  • What to do if you find a dead bird in your yard
    Mar 21, 2025 – 3:11
  • Bird feeding recommendations during the bird flu outbreak
    Mar 20, 2025 – 5:41
  • Bird Flu Update
    Mar 19, 2025 – 6:03
  • The Most Adorable Bird in the Universe
    Mar 14, 2025 – 6:11
  • A Personal Ray of Hope
    Mar 10, 2025 – 6:23
  • My 2025 Chickadee Pilgrimage
    Mar 6, 2025 – 6:24
  • Cuba!!!
    Feb 28, 2025 – 7:00
  • Explosions R Us
    Feb 14, 2025 – 7:51
  • Superb Owl Sunday 2025
    Feb 12, 2025 – 5:44
  • The Best Pine Siskin EVER!
    Feb 10, 2025 – 8:06
  • Pine Siskins!
    Feb 7, 2025 – 4:00
  • Bird Flu Update
    Feb 5, 2025 – 6:16
  • Another Owl Adventure
    Feb 4, 2025 – 5:58
  • The Completely Made-Up Story of Frederick the Nighthawk and Sneakers the Blue Jay
    Jan 29, 2025 – 5:52
  • Staying Healthy While Birding in Other Countries
    Jan 27, 2025 – 4:44
  • BB Update
    Jan 21, 2025 – 5:44
  • A Great American President
    Jan 20, 2025 – 8:34
  • Owl Irruption
    Jan 16, 2025 – 6:28
  • Year of the Chickadee, Part 3
    Jan 8, 2025 – 4:39
  • Year of the Chickadee, Part 2
    Jan 7, 2025 – 7:23
  • Year of the Chickadee, Part 1
    Jan 6, 2025 – 5:32
  • Empathy: An Innate Quality
    Dec 20, 2024 – 6:39
  • Learning Empathy from the Best
    Dec 19, 2024 – 5:25
  • Premature obituaries
    Dec 18, 2024 – 4:44
  • Exit, pursued by a Cooper's Hawk
    Dec 17, 2024 – 4:45
  • No Way to Stop It
    Dec 4, 2024 – 5:40
  • Frigid Temperatures
    Dec 3, 2024 – 6:21
  • Albatrosses
    Dec 2, 2024 – 5:29
  • Thanksgiving 2024
    Nov 29, 2024 – 4:57
  • In Retrospect: The BP oil spill. Part 5b--Complicity
    Nov 26, 2024 – 9:23
  • In Retrospect: The BP oil spill. Part 5--Staying alive to fight another day
    Nov 25, 2024 – 5:52
  • In Retrospect: The BP oil spill, Part 4
    Nov 19, 2024 – 5:02
Recent Reviews
  • CeceD.
    Cdumois
    You are in good company! 200,000 cancelled their subscription to Washington Post!!!
  • deborahtn
    Late Hummingbirds at feeder
    Enjoy your podcast so much. I too have had some surprise hummingbirds this past weekend. I keep changing the nectar in my last two feeders I have kept out. I shout through the window. “Head south little one, frost is coming”
  • o1/;7ldul
    Wit, wisdom and vast knowledge of the avian world make this woman a must hear!
    Thank you for airing Laura over the years!
  • ACK Now
    It’s a pleasure
    Really enjoy this as a supplement to my daily bird watching on my feeders.
  • Hardcore_Since_4
    Wonderful podcast
    I love this podcast so much. Laura Ericsson strikes the perfect balance between thoughtful, educational and heartwarming in less than 10 minutes. I love her personal anecdotal observations re birds while also incorporating macro knowledge and issues to the topic. What I like best is how each podcast is not long but not too short either!
  • north shore falcon
    Courage
    I love your show as it is thoughtful and genuine, but also courageous. In these times it is right to speak truth, because you don't get to be for the birds if you're against a compassionate life.
  • Holyhawks
    If you love birds, you need this podcast!
    Laura is a rock star! I have learned so much of what i love about birds from her books, and to have a way to listen to her is such a blessing. She is not only brilliant, but kind and compassionate and generous with her knowledge. Her podcast is a total treat.
  • Ellie016
    Excellent
    I appreciate your discussion of not only the life of birds but also our impact upon birds. We must extend our love of birds to a love of all life. Thank you.
  • xEvilResidentx
    For the Birds (and the people)
    I’m 33 and have been listening to Laura on the radio (and now podcast) since I can remember, and I am so happy to hear her take the occasional stance during her show, and even better, to do it without losing the subject at hand. If she gets political, it’s always in relation to what she’s discussing regarding Birds. I believe nothing is more powerful than using what voice you have and speaking out against the atrocities going on right now. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU Laura!
  • Armadillo3d
    Birds are not a bubble
    Thank you, Laura, for ensuring that we pay attention to the world around us! The different perspectives on geography and bird behavior are genuinely valuable and I only hope that we can address the rest of our lives with the same compassion and interest that we give to birds ❤️
  • Seasidesparrow2
    Keep it purely on the birds, please
    Enjoyable until we have to listen to the political comments. Please keep the show focused on birds and stay away from your personal health or your personal opinion on politics, please.
  • vicariousnerdity
    Great birding facts with an endearing host
    Laura Erickson is a fantastic writer and speaker. She does an amazing job of balancing helpful birding facts, thoughtful reflections, and heartwarming anecdotes (and sometimes heartbreaking ones - episode "Dealing with Uncertainties" was a tear jerker. Wishing Laura the best through her cancer treatments). I have learned lot about birding, bird behavior, birding destinations, and birding events through this podcast. I enjoy Laura’s expositions on the environment and the lessons we get from nature. Laura is indeed an ambassador for the birds.
  • michaelgalassi
    birds become personal
    Laura shares her love of birds in a way that borders on intimate. I love the conversational tone she uses for her anecdotes and lessons alike.
  • Crazy in CA . . .
    A little bit of soul in a callous world . . .
    Laura - I am reducing this rating because the "preachiness" is really starting to detract from your podcast.
  • Del Birder
    A Good Educator!
    Laura tells interesting stories and educates you at the same time. I have learned about birds (foremost), books, people, Minnesota, festivals/events, history, Ithaca/Cornell, etc. Laura varies the subject (migration, biology, behaviors, etc) and changes her approach. When Cornell U. made Laura their educator, I wasn't surprised! Her podcast makes my life better.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.