cat:"science & medicine" Podcasts

5:58

Sixty Years

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/09/02

Laura got a crush on the boy in front of her in homeroom sixty years ago this week!

en science & medicine natural sciences

8:28

Summer of the Flickers

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/08/26

Thirty-one years ago, Laura and her family had some very memorable experiences with two baby flickers.

en science & medicine natural sciences

7:11

Why do birds migrate?

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/08/22

How can some birds survive a Minnesota winter while others must leave?

en science & medicine natural sciences

7:03

Armchair Lifers

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/08/21

When the American Ornithological Society's Committee on Classification and Nomenclature announces their annual changes to the official Checklist, birders take notice!

en science & medicine natural sciences

5:39

August Bird Movements

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/08/19

Even as species decline, bird migration is thrilling to behold.

en science & medicine natural sciences

6:53

A Little Boy Turns Five

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/08/14

Laura's world seems fresher, more magical, and genuinely miraculous now that she's a grandma.

en science & medicine natural sciences

5:47

The Omega and the Alpha

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/08/13

For many birds, the end of summer marks the beginning of spanking new feathers. Too bad adults have to go through that awkward molt to get them.

en science & medicine natural sciences

5:37

The Bold and the Beautiful

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/08/12

Laura talks about hummingbirds and gives some tips to make life better for our backyard hummingbirds.

en science & medicine natural sciences

8:34

Beyond Florida: Everything Everywhere All at Once

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/08/04

Horrible news on the bird as well as human front is making it hard for Laura to keep up.

en science & medicine natural sciences

7:53

Florida: Why I Love It, and Why I'm Boycotting It,...

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/07/29

Laura’s many visits to Florida have forged beautiful memories of family, friends, and birds. But she’ll not be returning while the state hosts and even celebrates horrifying ICE facilities, including a concentration camp within the Everglades.

en science & medicine natural sciences

6:22

Sunbathing, Blue Jay Style

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/07/22

One of Laura's readers got photos of a Blue Jay sunbathing, or "sunning," last week, reminding Laura of when she first learned about this interesting behavior. His photos, along with information about a similar behavior called "anting," are on Laura's blog entry.

en science & medicine natural sciences

7:22

O Frabjous Day! Callooh! Callay!

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/07/16

On July 14, BB the Pileated Woodpecker turned up in Laura's yard with a daughter!

en science & medicine natural sciences

6:48

WHOA! I'm quoted in a special edition of LIFE!!!

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/07/09

Back in 2022, Laura was interviewed by a writer for LIFE magazine. It totally slipped her mind until one of her friends read the article, which is on newsstands now.

en science & medicine natural sciences

5:09

Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket, Part 2

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/07/08

Watching backyard nests can be very joyful, when starlings or predators don't intervene.

en science & medicine natural sciences

4:25

Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket, Part 1

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/07/04

As much as Laura loves watching baby birds, she is very reluctant to look for nests.

en science & medicine natural sciences

5:02

Biological Realities, Part 2

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/06/26

Birds don’t ostracize individuals from their social flocks based on “objective sex-based differences.” That would undermine their civil society.

en science & medicine natural sciences

7:18

Biological Realities, Part 1

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/06/25

Birds don’t ostracize individuals from their social flocks based on “objective sex-based differences.” That would undermine their civil society.

en science & medicine natural sciences

6:57

Dog fur controversy?

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/06/24

One of Laura's readers was distressed by the last episode of "For the Birds." Laura stands by every word. We can protect our pets from diseases and also protect our backyard birds with one simple, straightforward rule: If your pets get flea and tick protection, don’t set out their fur for nesting birds.

en science & medicine natural sciences

5:50

Setting out pet fur for birds is dangerous.

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/06/18

Treatments to protect dogs (and us!) from insect bites turn out to make that pet fur, and our own treated clothing, dangerous for birds.

en science & medicine natural sciences

4:15

My Boyfriend's Back!

Laura Erickson"s For the Birds ·

2025/06/10

It's been over 4 months since Laura saw her beloved BB, but now he's back!

en science & medicine natural sciences