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  2. <rss version="2.0" xml:lang="en-us" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd"><channel><title>Laura Erickson's For the Birds</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/</link><description>"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/.</description><atom:link href="http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/feed.xml" rel="self"></atom:link><language>en-us</language><copyright>Copyright 2023 by Laura Erickson</copyright><lastBuildDate>Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500</lastBuildDate><itunes:new-feed-url>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/feed.xml</itunes:new-feed-url><itunes:image href="http://media.lauraerickson.com/images/a588d7c7-cb24-487b-bf3e-b8e94b61fb72_laura_erickson_itunes.jpg"></itunes:image><itunes:summary>"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/.</itunes:summary><itunes:subtitle>For the love, understanding, and protection of birds.</itunes:subtitle><itunes:author>Laura Erickson</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Laura Erickson</itunes:name><itunes:email>chickadee@lauraerickson.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:category text="Science &amp;amp; Medicine"><itunes:category text="Natural Sciences"></itunes:category></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Society &amp;amp; Culture"><itunes:category text="Places &amp;amp; Travel"></itunes:category></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Sports &amp;amp; Recreation"><itunes:category text="Outdoor"></itunes:category></itunes:category><item><title>Premature obituaries</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13696/premature-obituaries/</link><description>Reports of BB's demise were premature. When that happens to human beings, it can sometimes change history.</description><pubDate>Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13696/premature-obituaries/</guid><enclosure length="6999523" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Premature_Obituaries.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Reports of BB's demise were premature. When that happens to human beings, it can sometimes change history.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:44</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Exit, pursued by a Cooper's Hawk</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13693/exit-pursued-by-a-coopers-hawk/</link><description>The banded Pileated Woodpecker who has been visiting Laura's yard for the past four years disappeared after a Cooper's Hawk was hunting in the vicinity. Laura expected the worst. But spoiler alert: he turned up again on Friday the thirteenth. While he was here, Laura recorded a video of him, which is the drumming sound at the beginning and ending of this program.</description><pubDate>Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13693/exit-pursued-by-a-coopers-hawk/</guid><enclosure length="7002979" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/BB__Exit_pursued_by_a_Coopers_Hawk_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The banded Pileated Woodpecker who has been visiting Laura's yard for the past four years disappeared after a Cooper's Hawk was hunting in the vicinity. Laura expected the worst. But spoiler alert: he turned up again on Friday the thirteenth. While he was here, Laura recorded a video of him, which is the drumming sound at the beginning and ending of this program.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:45</itunes:duration></item><item><title>No Way to Stop It</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13691/no-way-to-stop-it/</link><description>Laura remembers her fifth grade teacher, who taught her, via Rodgers and Hammerstein's original stage musical *The Sound of Music*, that real heroes stand up against cruel regimes even when there is no way to stop it.</description><pubDate>Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13691/no-way-to-stop-it/</guid><enclosure length="8231687" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/_No_Way_to_Stop_It_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura remembers her fifth grade teacher, who taught her, via Rodgers and Hammerstein's original stage musical *The Sound of Music*, that real heroes stand up against cruel regimes even when there is no way to stop it.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:40</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Frigid Temperatures</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13690/frigid-temperatures/</link><description>How do birds fare during frigid weather?</description><pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13690/frigid-temperatures/</guid><enclosure length="9431305" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/First_Frigid_Weather_of_the_Season.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>How do birds fare during frigid weather?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:21</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Albatrosses</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13689/albatrosses/</link><description>General facts about albatrosses and good news about a very special one.</description><pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13689/albatrosses/</guid><enclosure length="9351847" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Albatrosses.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>General facts about albatrosses and good news about a very special one.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:29</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Thanksgiving 2024</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13688/thanksgiving-2024/</link><description>Laura remembers three Thanksgivings of the past, and how a Pileated Woodpecker keeps those memories alive.</description><pubDate>Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13688/thanksgiving-2024/</guid><enclosure length="7286833" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Thanksgivings_Past.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura remembers three Thanksgivings of the past, and how a Pileated Woodpecker keeps those memories alive.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:57</itunes:duration></item><item><title>In Retrospect: The BP oil spill. Part 5b--Complicity</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13687/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-5b-complicity/</link><description>Every environmental organization down in the Gulf during the BP oil disaster had to abide by a 5-year moratorium on ALL of their eye-witness information except as BP allowed. National Audubon did way more than honor BP's rules--they publicly parroted all of BP's false claims minimizing how bad the disaster was.</description><pubDate>Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13687/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-5b-complicity/</guid><enclosure length="13821383" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/BP_oil_spill_Part_5b.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Every environmental organization down in the Gulf during the BP oil disaster had to abide by a 5-year moratorium on ALL of their eye-witness information except as BP allowed. National Audubon did way more than honor BP's rules--they publicly parroted all of BP's false claims minimizing how bad the disaster was.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>9:23</itunes:duration></item><item><title>In Retrospect: The BP oil spill. Part 5--Staying alive to fight another day</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13686/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-5-staying-alive-to-fight-another-day/</link><description>At the time of the BP oil spill, Laura thought some important organizations were complying with BP more than they should have. Now, as she explains, she realizes that most of them weren't cowardly.</description><pubDate>Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13686/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-5-staying-alive-to-fight-another-day/</guid><enclosure length="8701069" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/BP_oil_spill_Part_5a.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>At the time of the BP oil spill, Laura thought some important organizations were complying with BP more than they should have. Now, as she explains, she realizes that most of them weren't cowardly.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:52</itunes:duration></item><item><title>In Retrospect: The BP oil spill, Part 4</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13685/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-4/</link><description>Who can we trust after a major disaster?</description><pubDate>Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13685/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-4/</guid><enclosure length="7599310" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/BP_oil_spill_Part_4.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Who can we trust after a major disaster?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:02</itunes:duration></item><item><title>In retrospect: The BP Oil Spill, Part 3</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13684/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-3/</link><description>Laura visited one of the four rehab centers allowed to treat birds oiled in the Deepwater Horizon spill.</description><pubDate>Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13684/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-3/</guid><enclosure length="8816506" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/BP_Oil_Spill_Part_3.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura visited one of the four rehab centers allowed to treat birds oiled in the Deepwater Horizon spill.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:00</itunes:duration></item><item><title>In retrospect: The BP Oil Spill, Part 2</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13683/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-2/</link><description>Laura talks about the extremely low-tech and ineffective way BP tried to protect beaches and islands after the spill, and the even worse way they approached cleanup. There are many photos and a video on the accompanying blog post at (https://lauraerickson.substack.com/p/getting-away-with-murder-part-2)</description><pubDate>Tue, 12 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13683/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-2/</guid><enclosure length="10329149" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/BPOilSpillPart2.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura talks about the extremely low-tech and ineffective way BP tried to protect beaches and islands after the spill, and the even worse way they approached cleanup. There are many photos and a video on the accompanying blog post at (https://lauraerickson.substack.com/p/getting-away-with-murder-part-2)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:55</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Look to the Chickadees</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13682/look-to-the-chickadees/</link><description>As Laura faces her 73rd birthday in what feels like a hopeless time, she looks to chickadees. (This program  was reworked from the "For the Birds" program from October 12, 2010.)</description><pubDate>Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13682/look-to-the-chickadees/</guid><enclosure length="7508609" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Look_to_Chickadees.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>As Laura faces her 73rd birthday in what feels like a hopeless time, she looks to chickadees. (This program  was reworked from the "For the Birds" program from October 12, 2010.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:10</itunes:duration></item><item><title>In retrospect: The BP Oil Spill, Part 1</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13681/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-1/</link><description>The BP oil spill was when Laura learned just how much power a corporation has over individuals; well-meaning and well-respected organizations and institutions; and our government.</description><pubDate>Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13681/in-retrospect-the-bp-oil-spill-part-1/</guid><enclosure length="7913450" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/BPOil_Spill_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The BP oil spill was when Laura learned just how much power a corporation has over individuals; well-meaning and well-respected organizations and institutions; and our government.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:22</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Standing up to them</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13680/standing-up-to-them/</link><description>Billionaires and corporations have too much power over us, birds, and the environment we need and share.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13680/standing-up-to-them/</guid><enclosure length="9218375" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Standing_Up_to_Billionaires.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Billionaires and corporations have too much power over us, birds, and the environment we need and share.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:21</itunes:duration></item><item><title>You're not getting older, you're getting better--oh, wait--you ARE getting older</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13679/youre-not-getting-older-youre-getting-better-oh-wait-you-are-getting-older/</link><description>Birding may keep us young, but not literally.</description><pubDate>Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13679/youre-not-getting-older-youre-getting-better-oh-wait-you-are-getting-older/</guid><enclosure length="7769951" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Getting_Older.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Birding may keep us young, but not literally.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:11</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Transmission Lines, Part 2</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13678/transmission-lines-part-2/</link><description>Clean energy should be making us less, not more, reliant on huge transmission lines.</description><pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13678/transmission-lines-part-2/</guid><enclosure length="7964141" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Transmission_Lines_Part_2.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Clean energy should be making us less, not more, reliant on huge transmission lines.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:28</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Transmission Lines</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13677/transmission-lines/</link><description>Power transmission lines can be very harmful for birds and human beings.</description><pubDate>Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13677/transmission-lines/</guid><enclosure length="8096867" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Transmission_Lines_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Power transmission lines can be very harmful for birds and human beings.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:29</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Going to a Scientific Meeting in 2024</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13676/going-to-a-scientific-meeting-in-2024/</link><description>Laura recently returned from the American Ornithological Society's annual meeting. Some things have changed, and some remain the same.</description><pubDate>Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13676/going-to-a-scientific-meeting-in-2024/</guid><enclosure length="8482821" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Attending_the_American_Ornithological_Society_Meeting_in_2024.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura recently returned from the American Ornithological Society's annual meeting. Some things have changed, and some remain the same.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:45</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Going to Scientific Meetings in Past Decades</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13675/going-to-scientific-meetings-in-past-decades/</link><description>Laura's has attended a few professional ornithological meetings through the years.</description><pubDate>Thu, 17 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13675/going-to-scientific-meetings-in-past-decades/</guid><enclosure length="11512618" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Ornithological_Meetings_Past.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's has attended a few professional ornithological meetings through the years.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:50</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Emergency Responders: Blue Jay Style</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13673/emergency-responders-blue-jay-style/</link><description>Blue Jays help protect each other from Sharp-shinned Hawks.</description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13673/emergency-responders-blue-jay-style/</guid><enclosure length="9406890" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Emergency_Responders_Blue_Jay_Style.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Blue Jays help protect each other from Sharp-shinned Hawks.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:24</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Mistakes R Us</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13672/mistakes-r-us/</link><description>More cases of errors and mistaken identity, and one case of vindication</description><pubDate>Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13672/mistakes-r-us/</guid><enclosure length="9514861" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Mistakes_R_Us.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>More cases of errors and mistaken identity, and one case of vindication</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:25</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Oops! Correcting the record</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13671/oops-correcting-the-record/</link><description>When Laura makes a mistake, she appreciates people who let her know about it, but notes that there are good ways and bad ways of doing so.</description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13671/oops-correcting-the-record/</guid><enclosure length="7844747" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Correcting_the_Record.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>When Laura makes a mistake, she appreciates people who let her know about it, but notes that there are good ways and bad ways of doing so.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:23</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Stokes Guide to Finches: Hawaiian Honeycreepers</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13670/stokes-guide-to-finches-hawaiian-honeycreepers/</link><description>Laura talked to Lillian Stokes and Matt Young about their decision to include the finches of Hawaii (called the Hawaiian Honeycreepers) in their new book.</description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13670/stokes-guide-to-finches-hawaiian-honeycreepers/</guid><enclosure length="6566613" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Lillian_Stokes_and_Matt_Young_Talk_About_Hawaiian_Finches__honeycreepers_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura talked to Lillian Stokes and Matt Young about their decision to include the finches of Hawaii (called the Hawaiian Honeycreepers) in their new book.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:32</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Stokes Guide to Finches: Evening Grosbeaks</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13669/stokes-guide-to-finches-evening-grosbeaks/</link><description>Matt Young is doing important work with his Finch Research Network to help one of Laura's favorite birds of all, the Evening Grosbeak. He and Lillian Stokes talked about this splendid bird and their new book.</description><pubDate>Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13669/stokes-guide-to-finches-evening-grosbeaks/</guid><enclosure length="7661174" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Matt_Young_and_Lillian_Stokes_talk_about_Evening_Grosbeaks.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Matt Young is doing important work with his Finch Research Network to help one of Laura's favorite birds of all, the Evening Grosbeak. He and Lillian Stokes talked about this splendid bird and their new book.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:13</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Stokes Guide to Finches: Goldfinches</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13668/stokes-guide-to-finches-goldfinches/</link><description>When Laura talked with Lillian Stokes and Matt Young about their new book, *The Stokes Guide to Finches,* they talked about one of our most widespread, common finches, the American Goldfinch.</description><pubDate>Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13668/stokes-guide-to-finches-goldfinches/</guid><enclosure length="6105398" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Lillian_Stokes_and_Matt_Young_Talk_about_Goldfinches.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>When Laura talked with Lillian Stokes and Matt Young about their new book, *The Stokes Guide to Finches,* they talked about one of our most widespread, common finches, the American Goldfinch.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:08</itunes:duration></item><item><title>For the Finches: How Lillian Stokes and Matt Young connected thanks to Red Crossbills</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13667/for-the-finches-how-lillian-stokes-and-matt-young-connected-thanks-to-red-crossbills/</link><description>Laura spent time talking with Lillian Stokes and Matt Young about their new book, *The Stokes Guide to Finches*. Today they explain how they met and decided to produce this book.</description><pubDate>Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13667/for-the-finches-how-lillian-stokes-and-matt-young-connected-thanks-to-red-crossbills/</guid><enclosure length="8320608" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/The_Stokes_Guide_to_Finches__How_the_authors_came_to_collaborate.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura spent time talking with Lillian Stokes and Matt Young about their new book, *The Stokes Guide to Finches*. Today they explain how they met and decided to produce this book.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:40</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Book Review: The Stokes Guide to Finches</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13666/book-review-the-stokes-guide-to-finches/</link><description>On September 17, Little Brown will be releasing a great new book, *The Stokes Guide to Finches.* Laura explains why she likes it.</description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13666/book-review-the-stokes-guide-to-finches/</guid><enclosure length="8924918" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Book_Review__The_Stokes_Guide_to_Finches.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>On September 17, Little Brown will be releasing a great new book, *The Stokes Guide to Finches.* Laura explains why she likes it.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:05</itunes:duration></item><item><title>American Golden-Plover</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13665/american-golden-plover/</link><description>A plucky little survivor. Except when it isn't.</description><pubDate>Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13665/american-golden-plover/</guid><enclosure length="8525905" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/American_Golden-Plover.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A plucky little survivor. Except when it isn't.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:51</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Blue Jay migration</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13664/blue-jay-migration/</link><description>The mystery of Blue Jay migration, and the irony of human nature.</description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13664/blue-jay-migration/</guid><enclosure length="7066375" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Blue_Jay_Migration__The_Mystery_and_the_Irony.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The mystery of Blue Jay migration, and the irony of human nature.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:45</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Birdbaths!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13663/birdbaths/</link><description>On Labor Day, Laura had a most unexpected visitor at her birdbath.</description><pubDate>Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13663/birdbaths/</guid><enclosure length="8365875" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Bird_Bath.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>On Labor Day, Laura had a most unexpected visitor at her birdbath.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:45</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Nighthawks!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13662/nighthawks/</link><description>Duluth birders, and even many non-birders, have been enjoying a huge nighthawk migration this week.</description><pubDate>Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13662/nighthawks/</guid><enclosure length="7647056" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Nighthawks.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Duluth birders, and even many non-birders, have been enjoying a huge nighthawk migration this week.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:17</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Peabody Street Update: The Good News and the Bad News</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13661/peabody-street-update-the-good-news-and-the-bad-news/</link><description>There's a lot happening on Peabody Street these days.</description><pubDate>Wed, 28 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13661/peabody-street-update-the-good-news-and-the-bad-news/</guid><enclosure length="7827999" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/August_Update__The_Good_News_and_the_Bad_News.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>There's a lot happening on Peabody Street these days.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:17</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Hummingbirds!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13660/hummingbirds/</link><description>Are this year's numbers normal?</description><pubDate>Tue, 27 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13660/hummingbirds/</guid><enclosure length="7244609" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Hummingbirds.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Are this year's numbers normal?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:56</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Joan Brigham at 100!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13659/joan-brigham-at-100/</link><description>Laura and Russ drove to Michigan this weekend to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of the most important people in Laura's birding life.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13659/joan-brigham-at-100/</guid><enclosure length="11153302" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Joan_Brigham.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura and Russ drove to Michigan this weekend to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of the most important people in Laura's birding life.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>7:27</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Crafting Invincible Environmental Protections, Part 5B: Why Vilify Rachel Carson?</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13658/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-5b-why-vilify-rachel-carson/</link><description>The many forces funded by anti-environmental think tanks and the chemical industry are still vilifying Rachel Carson, accusing her of being responsible for the deaths of millions of children. Why are they so persistent?</description><pubDate>Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13658/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-5b-why-vilify-rachel-carson/</guid><enclosure length="9257163" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Crafting_Invincible_Environmental_Protections__Vilifying_Rachel_Carson.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The many forces funded by anti-environmental think tanks and the chemical industry are still vilifying Rachel Carson, accusing her of being responsible for the deaths of millions of children. Why are they so persistent?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:00</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Crafting Invincible Environmental Protections, Part 5 A: The battle on the DDT front</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13657/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-5-a-the-battle-on-the-ddt-front/</link><description>Human beings won a huge battle when DDT was banned. The powerful anti-environmental forces quickly regrouped to ensure that the success would not be repeated, and did their best to vilify the woman whose book sparked so much of the environmental movement.</description><pubDate>Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13657/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-5-a-the-battle-on-the-ddt-front/</guid><enclosure length="9188274" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Crafting_Invincible_Environmental_Protections_Part_5_A__The_battle_on_the_pesticide_front.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Human beings won a huge battle when DDT was banned. The powerful anti-environmental forces quickly regrouped to ensure that the success would not be repeated, and did their best to vilify the woman whose book sparked so much of the environmental movement.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:15</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Birds Off a Feather</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13656/birds-off-a-feather/</link><description>Laura gets a big kick out of her backyard birds who molt in August. Before they can again be as beautiful as possible, they must go through an Ugly Duckling stage. Fortunately, they don't have access to mirrors.</description><pubDate>Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13656/birds-off-a-feather/</guid><enclosure length="7910709" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/August_Feathers.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura gets a big kick out of her backyard birds who molt in August. Before they can again be as beautiful as possible, they must go through an Ugly Duckling stage. Fortunately, they don't have access to mirrors.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:23</itunes:duration></item><item><title>The bear necessities and other close encounters of the mammalian kind</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13655/the-bear-necessities-and-other-close-encounters-of-the-mammalian-kind/</link><description>Two mammals made a visit to Laura's yard on Sunday night.</description><pubDate>Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13655/the-bear-necessities-and-other-close-encounters-of-the-mammalian-kind/</guid><enclosure length="7121503" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/August_Mammals.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Two mammals made a visit to Laura's yard on Sunday night.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:42</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Crafting Invincible Environmental Protections, Part 4: The Empire Strikes Back</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13654/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-4-the-empire-strikes-back/</link><description>In "Star Wars," even as the Rebel Alliance celebrated defeating the Galactic Empire, Darth Vader and the Emperor were plotting their revenge. In the 1970s, even as environmentalists celebrated, dark forces were plotting how to gut the EPA and destroy the legislation protecting air, water, and wildlife.</description><pubDate>Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13654/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-4-the-empire-strikes-back/</guid><enclosure length="7569964" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Crafting_Invincible_Environmental_Protections_Part_4__The_Empire_Strikes_Back.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>In "Star Wars," even as the Rebel Alliance celebrated defeating the Galactic Empire, Darth Vader and the Emperor were plotting their revenge. In the 1970s, even as environmentalists celebrated, dark forces were plotting how to gut the EPA and destroy the legislation protecting air, water, and wildlife.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:07</itunes:duration></item><item><title>In the Catbird's Seat: A momentary diversion from more important matters</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13653/in-the-catbirds-seat-a-momentary-diversion-from-more-important-matters/</link><description>Laura has fallen in love with one particular catbird in her yard. Naturally, she's worried about it.</description><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13653/in-the-catbirds-seat-a-momentary-diversion-from-more-important-matters/</guid><enclosure length="7833135" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Gray_Catbird.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura has fallen in love with one particular catbird in her yard. Naturally, she's worried about it.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:21</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Crafting Invincible Environmental Protections, Part 3: A New Hope</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13652/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-3-a-new-hope/</link><description>Three months after the first Earth Day, Richard Nixon proposed charging the new Environmental Protection Agency with setting goals and standards regarding pesticides, clean air, and clean water, and it was soon given regulatory authority. Laura was as relieved and joyful as Princess Leia at the end of the first Star Wars movie.</description><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13652/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-3-a-new-hope/</guid><enclosure length="8238310" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Crafting_Invincible_Environmental_Protections_Part_3__A_New_Hope.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Three months after the first Earth Day, Richard Nixon proposed charging the new Environmental Protection Agency with setting goals and standards regarding pesticides, clean air, and clean water, and it was soon given regulatory authority. Laura was as relieved and joyful as Princess Leia at the end of the first Star Wars movie.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:28</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Crafting Invincible Environmental Protections, Part 2: Pollution—A Way of Life</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13651/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-2-pollutiona-way-of-life/</link><description>Everyday life for most Americans in the 1950s and 60s involved a mind-boggling array of toxic chemicals.</description><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13651/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-2-pollutiona-way-of-life/</guid><enclosure length="8422997" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Environmental_Protections_Part_2__PollutionA_Way_of_Life.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Everyday life for most Americans in the 1950s and 60s involved a mind-boggling array of toxic chemicals.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:42</itunes:duration></item><item><title>When a Stranger Knocks (A momentary diversion from more important matters)</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13650/when-a-stranger-knocks-a-momentary-diversion-from-more-important-matters/</link><description>Laura takes a momentary break from an important environmental issue to reminisce about a tragicomedy in the 1990s.</description><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13650/when-a-stranger-knocks-a-momentary-diversion-from-more-important-matters/</guid><enclosure length="8065640" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/When_a_Stranger_Knocks_a_momentary_diversion_from_a_more_important_topic.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura takes a momentary break from an important environmental issue to reminisce about a tragicomedy in the 1990s.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:29</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Crafting Invincible Environmental Protections Part 1: How Bad It Used to Be</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13649/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-1-how-bad-it-used-to-be/</link><description>How did the nation come together to start the Environmental Protection Agency and pass the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts?</description><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13649/crafting-invincible-environmental-protections-part-1-how-bad-it-used-to-be/</guid><enclosure length="8365423" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Crafting_Invincible_Environmental_Protections_Part_1__The_Bad_Old_Days.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>How did the nation come together to start the Environmental Protection Agency and pass the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:47</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Hoarding</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13648/hoarding/</link><description>When Blue Jays and chipmunks stash away food, some people call them greedy pigs. They're not.</description><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13648/hoarding/</guid><enclosure length="8936880" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Hoarding.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>When Blue Jays and chipmunks stash away food, some people call them greedy pigs. They're not.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:58</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Crow vocalizations and good news</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13647/crow-vocalizations-and-good-news/</link><description>How can we possibly think we can communicate with non-human life forms from other galaxies when we can't communicate with intelligent carbon-based life forms right here on earth?</description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13647/crow-vocalizations-and-good-news/</guid><enclosure length="7405159" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Crow_Communication.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>How can we possibly think we can communicate with non-human life forms from other galaxies when we can't communicate with intelligent carbon-based life forms right here on earth?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:04</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Crows and the Unknowable</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13646/crows-and-the-unknowable/</link><description>Two weeks ago, I transported a crow from my neighborhood and a fawn with neurological damage from our local Wildwoods rehab facility to Wild &amp; Free in Garrison, Minnesota. Now I'm unsettled wondering how the crow is doing.</description><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13646/crows-and-the-unknowable/</guid><enclosure length="8618861" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Crows_and_the_Unknowable.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Two weeks ago, I transported a crow from my neighborhood and a fawn with neurological damage from our local Wildwoods rehab facility to Wild &amp; Free in Garrison, Minnesota. Now I'm unsettled wondering how the crow is doing.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:51</itunes:duration></item><item><title>My Backyard Habitat</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13645/my-backyard-habitat/</link><description>Even with minimal effort, my backyard habitat is pretty nice!</description><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13645/my-backyard-habitat/</guid><enclosure length="8655093" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/My_Backyard_Habitat.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Even with minimal effort, my backyard habitat is pretty nice!</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:55</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Flashcards</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13644/flashcards/</link><description>Back in 1977, Laura made flashcards from the illustrations in her original Golden Guide. She still has them.</description><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13644/flashcards/</guid><enclosure length="9501429" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Flashcards.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Back in 1977, Laura made flashcards from the illustrations in her original Golden Guide. She still has them.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:52</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Veery</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13643/veery/</link><description>This thrush with the ethereal, spiraling song keeps many secrets that scientists keep trying to tease out.</description><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13643/veery/</guid><enclosure length="8313651" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Veery.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>This thrush with the ethereal, spiraling song keeps many secrets that scientists keep trying to tease out.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:40</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Superiority</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13637/superiority/</link><description>Seeing ourselves as the one species at the pinnacle of evolution is as wrong-headed as seeing our planet at the center of the universe.</description><pubDate>Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13637/superiority/</guid><enclosure length="8047911" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Superiority__Whos_at_the_center_of_the_universe_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Seeing ourselves as the one species at the pinnacle of evolution is as wrong-headed as seeing our planet at the center of the universe.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:28</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Golden-winged Warblers</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13636/golden-winged-warblers/</link><description>To know them is to love them. But first, we have to be aware of them.</description><pubDate>Wed, 19 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13636/golden-winged-warblers/</guid><enclosure length="7014046" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Golden-winged_Warbler_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>To know them is to love them. But first, we have to be aware of them.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:47</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Connecticut Warbler</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13634/connecticut-warbler/</link><description>Seeing or even hearing one of these rare birds is a matter of the “3 P’s”: Patience, Perseverance, and Providence.</description><pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13634/connecticut-warbler/</guid><enclosure length="7339330" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Connecticut_Warbler.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Seeing or even hearing one of these rare birds is a matter of the “3 P’s”: Patience, Perseverance, and Providence.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:56</itunes:duration></item><item><title>A Tale of Two Endangered Species: Bachman's and Kirtland's Warblers</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13632/a-tale-of-two-endangered-species-bachmans-and-kirtlands-warblers/</link><description>Two warblers were on the official Endangered Species List in 1973. Now they're both off the list, but for opposite reasons.</description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13632/a-tale-of-two-endangered-species-bachmans-and-kirtlands-warblers/</guid><enclosure length="9086500" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/A_Tale_of_Two_Warblers.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Two warblers were on the official Endangered Species List in 1973. Now they're both off the list, but for opposite reasons.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:13</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Looking for Wood Thrushes</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13631/looking-for-wood-thrushes/</link><description>Last Tuesday, Laura and her friend Bernie found a Wood Thrush at one of Laura's favorite birding spots in Duluth. She hopes it attracts, or already has, a mate. (The blogpost for the program is much longer and more fleshed out, with lots of photos.)</description><pubDate>Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13631/looking-for-wood-thrushes/</guid><enclosure length="6992183" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Wood_Thrushes_prefer_to_be_heard_not_seen..mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Last Tuesday, Laura and her friend Bernie found a Wood Thrush at one of Laura's favorite birding spots in Duluth. She hopes it attracts, or already has, a mate. (The blogpost for the program is much longer and more fleshed out, with lots of photos.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:40</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Loggerhead Shrike!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13630/loggerhead-shrike/</link><description>A cute little predator  on the Endangered Species List for Wisconsin and Minnesota has been turning up here and there in both states this spring.</description><pubDate>Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13630/loggerhead-shrike/</guid><enclosure length="8321966" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Loggerhead_Shrike.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A cute little predator  on the Endangered Species List for Wisconsin and Minnesota has been turning up here and there in both states this spring.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:39</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Crested Caracara in Wisconsin</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13626/crested-caracara-in-wisconsin/</link><description>On Saturday, Laura went to Ashland County, Wisconsin, to look at a very lost tropical falcon, a Crested Caracara.</description><pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13626/crested-caracara-in-wisconsin/</guid><enclosure length="8324666" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Crested_Caracara_in_Wisconsin.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>On Saturday, Laura went to Ashland County, Wisconsin, to look at a very lost tropical falcon, a Crested Caracara.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:30</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Pileated Update</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13625/pileated-update/</link><description>BB's fine but somebody isn't.</description><pubDate>Fri, 31 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13625/pileated-update/</guid><enclosure length="8962443" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Dead_Pileated_Woodpecker.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>BB's fine but somebody isn't.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:06</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Scarlet Tanagers!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13624/scarlet-tanagers/</link><description>An unprecedented number of Scarlet Tanagers turned up on Peabody Street this year, and Laura was thrilled.</description><pubDate>Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13624/scarlet-tanagers/</guid><enclosure length="6924611" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Scarlet_Tanagers.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>An unprecedented number of Scarlet Tanagers turned up on Peabody Street this year, and Laura was thrilled.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:43</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Review: The Breeding Birds of Minnesota</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13623/review-the-breeding-birds-of-minnesota/</link><description>A beautiful, useful, and engaging tour de force.</description><pubDate>Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13623/review-the-breeding-birds-of-minnesota/</guid><enclosure length="7976302" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Review__The_Breeding_Birds_of_Minnesota.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A beautiful, useful, and engaging tour de force.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:16</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Red-headed Woodpecker!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13622/red-headed-woodpecker/</link><description>It's a red-letter day when we see one of the prettiest woodpeckers of all.</description><pubDate>Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13622/red-headed-woodpecker/</guid><enclosure length="7960907" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Red-headed_Woodpecker.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>It's a red-letter day when we see one of the prettiest woodpeckers of all.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:23</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Katie's Boo Jays</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13621/katies-boo-jays/</link><description>Laura recalls the birds who inspired her baby daughter's second word.</description><pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13621/katies-boo-jays/</guid><enclosure length="8415599" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Katies_Boo_Jays.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura recalls the birds who inspired her baby daughter's second word.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:44</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Merlin: All Wizards Have Limitations</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13620/merlin-all-wizards-have-limitations/</link><description>The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has created two extremely useful apps for birders. Merlin is wonderful and useful, but far from perfect.</description><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13620/merlin-all-wizards-have-limitations/</guid><enclosure length="8509069" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Merlin__All_Wizards_Have_Limitations.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has created two extremely useful apps for birders. Merlin is wonderful and useful, but far from perfect.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:47</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Jelly Redux</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13619/jelly-redux/</link><description>Laura sparked unprecedented anger in a listener last week because of a program and blogpost from 2007. (All my blogpost/transcripts have photos, and some are longer than the program itself, but this program's linked transcript/blogpost has a *lot* more information than I could include in the program, along with pertinent photos and a video.)</description><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13619/jelly-redux/</guid><enclosure length="10961174" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Humingbirds_Redux.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura sparked unprecedented anger in a listener last week because of a program and blogpost from 2007. (All my blogpost/transcripts have photos, and some are longer than the program itself, but this program's linked transcript/blogpost has a *lot* more information than I could include in the program, along with pertinent photos and a video.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>7:23</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Review: Kenn Kaufman's new book, The Birds that Audubon Missed. Part 2</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13618/review-kenn-kaufmans-new-book-the-birds-that-audubon-missed-part-2/</link><description>*The Birds That Audubon Missed* by Kenn Kaufman is a clear-eyed and surprisingly exciting portrait of a time and place that have long ago disappeared, and an important and timely book as well. Laura can’t recommend it highly enough.</description><pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13618/review-kenn-kaufmans-new-book-the-birds-that-audubon-missed-part-2/</guid><enclosure length="8780654" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Review__Kenn_Kaufmans_new_book_The_Birds_that_Audubon_Missed._Part_2.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>*The Birds That Audubon Missed* by Kenn Kaufman is a clear-eyed and surprisingly exciting portrait of a time and place that have long ago disappeared, and an important and timely book as well. Laura can’t recommend it highly enough.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:51</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Kenn Kaufman's new book: The Birds That Audubon Missed, Part 1</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13617/kenn-kaufmans-new-book-the-birds-that-audubon-missed-part-1/</link><description>Kenn Kaufman has written an important new book. Laura begins her review by talking about her own personal feelings about Audubon and his work before Kaufman's rich and enlightening book gave her a broader, more truthful picture of a deeply flawed yet important human being and his contemporaries.</description><pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13617/kenn-kaufmans-new-book-the-birds-that-audubon-missed-part-1/</guid><enclosure length="8946542" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Review__Kenn_Kaufmans_The_Birds_That_Audubon_Missed_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Kenn Kaufman has written an important new book. Laura begins her review by talking about her own personal feelings about Audubon and his work before Kaufman's rich and enlightening book gave her a broader, more truthful picture of a deeply flawed yet important human being and his contemporaries.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:58</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Lincoln's Sparrow</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13616/lincolns-sparrow/</link><description>Laura's been in love with a pretty little sparrow since she first saw it in 1977.</description><pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13616/lincolns-sparrow/</guid><enclosure length="10240990" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Lincolns_Sparrow.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's been in love with a pretty little sparrow since she first saw it in 1977.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:56</itunes:duration></item><item><title>My favorite spring arrivals</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13612/my-favorite-spring-arrivals/</link><description>With birds, as with her children, Laura has trouble picking a favorite.</description><pubDate>Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13612/my-favorite-spring-arrivals/</guid><enclosure length="8236220" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Favorite_Spring_Birds.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>With birds, as with her children, Laura has trouble picking a favorite.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:38</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Rat Poison</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13611/rat-poison/</link><description>Yet more owls have died, this time in Chicago, from rat poison.</description><pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13611/rat-poison/</guid><enclosure length="10598106" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Rat_Poison.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Yet more owls have died, this time in Chicago, from rat poison.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>7:11</itunes:duration></item><item><title>May Day!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13610/may-day/</link><description>Not much is happening in Laura's yard yet, but things will be popping within the coming week or two. (Lang Elliott recorded the Carolina Wren's rolling trill. Laura recorded the wren's song.)</description><pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13610/may-day/</guid><enclosure length="6837589" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/May_Day__New_and_Coming_Attractions.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Not much is happening in Laura's yard yet, but things will be popping within the coming week or two. (Lang Elliott recorded the Carolina Wren's rolling trill. Laura recorded the wren's song.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:43</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Don't Count Your Chickens...</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13609/dont-count-your-chickens/</link><description>Chickens haven't established themselves as wild, feral birds in most places in the world, but they're still the most abundant bird on the planet.</description><pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13609/dont-count-your-chickens/</guid><enclosure length="8876791" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Counting_Chickens_on_Key_West_and_in_Hawaii.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Chickens haven't established themselves as wild, feral birds in most places in the world, but they're still the most abundant bird on the planet.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:59</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Here come the chickens!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13608/here-come-the-chickens/</link><description>If chickens found their way to Hawaii on their own, things would have worked out okay for everyone. Unfortunately, they brought humans along, too.</description><pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13608/here-come-the-chickens/</guid><enclosure length="7541781" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Hawaii_After_Humans.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>If chickens found their way to Hawaii on their own, things would have worked out okay for everyone. Unfortunately, they brought humans along, too.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:05</itunes:duration></item><item><title>The Sapsucker–Hummingbird Connection</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13607/the-sapsuckerhummingbird-connection/</link><description>During spring migration, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds usually arrive a couple of weeks after Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers do, for a very good reason.</description><pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13607/the-sapsuckerhummingbird-connection/</guid><enclosure length="8532804" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/The_Sapsucker-Hummingbird_Connection.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>During spring migration, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds usually arrive a couple of weeks after Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers do, for a very good reason.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:51</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Hawaii before chickens and humans arrived</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13605/hawaii-before-chickens-and-humans-arrived/</link><description>Millions of years ago, Hawaii was off to a rocky start.</description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13605/hawaii-before-chickens-and-humans-arrived/</guid><enclosure length="8660831" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Hawaii_Before_Chickens__A_Rocky_Start.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Millions of years ago, Hawaii was off to a rocky start.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:47</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Chickens, Part 1.5: Kin of Chickens</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13602/chickens-part-15-kin-of-chickens/</link><description>The rules of counting non-native birds are not always consistent.</description><pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13602/chickens-part-15-kin-of-chickens/</guid><enclosure length="8681076" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Chickens_Part_1.5__Wild_Kin_of_Chickens.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The rules of counting non-native birds are not always consistent.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:54</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Chickens, Part I: Domestication</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13600/chickens-part-i-domestication/</link><description>The most abundant bird on the planet, feeding billions of humans every day, is the chicken. Laura talks about how they became domesticated and some genetic differences between domestic birds and their wild ancestor, the Red Junglefowl. The recording used in this program is of a wild Red Junglefowl in India, recorded and contributed to Xeno-Canto by Lars Lachmann.</description><pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13600/chickens-part-i-domestication/</guid><enclosure length="8394649" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Chickens_Part_1__Domestication.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The most abundant bird on the planet, feeding billions of humans every day, is the chicken. Laura talks about how they became domesticated and some genetic differences between domestic birds and their wild ancestor, the Red Junglefowl. The recording used in this program is of a wild Red Junglefowl in India, recorded and contributed to Xeno-Canto by Lars Lachmann.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:38</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Solar Eclipse!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13599/solar-eclipse/</link><description>Laura remembers a wonderful eclipse from three decades ago.</description><pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13599/solar-eclipse/</guid><enclosure length="8726997" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Solar_Eclipse.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura remembers a wonderful eclipse from three decades ago.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:57</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Trip Guilt and Guilt Trips</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13598/trip-guilt-and-guilt-trips/</link><description>Is using energy always the same as squandering it?</description><pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13598/trip-guilt-and-guilt-trips/</guid><enclosure length="7842715" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Trip_Guilt_and_Guilt_Trips_Z44T0Cx.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Is using energy always the same as squandering it?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:19</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Redpolls!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13597/redpolls/</link><description>Along with Duluth's spring blizzard came redpolls! (In the background throughout, the sound is a recording of the redpolls at Laura's feeder made this past Saturday, March 30.)</description><pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13597/redpolls/</guid><enclosure length="7964054" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Redpolls.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Along with Duluth's spring blizzard came redpolls! (In the background throughout, the sound is a recording of the redpolls at Laura's feeder made this past Saturday, March 30.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:26</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Jim Baker Announces a New Product!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13596/jim-baker-announces-a-new-product/</link><description>New for the traveling birder!</description><pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13596/jim-baker-announces-a-new-product/</guid><enclosure length="6336035" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Jim_Baker_Announces_a_New_Product_for_the_Traveling_Birder.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>New for the traveling birder!</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:19</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Flaco: Post Mortem</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13594/flaco-post-mortem/</link><description>A post-mortem established that Flaco, the famous Eurasian Eagle-Owl whom a vandal released from the Central Park Zoo, was carrying lethal amounts of three anti-coagulants, a pigeon herpesvirus, and even a toxic metabolite of the pesticide DDT. Is anyone actually "free" if they have no alternative but to eat poisoned food?</description><pubDate>Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13594/flaco-post-mortem/</guid><enclosure length="8686456" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/2024-03-29_Flaco.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A post-mortem established that Flaco, the famous Eurasian Eagle-Owl whom a vandal released from the Central Park Zoo, was carrying lethal amounts of three anti-coagulants, a pigeon herpesvirus, and even a toxic metabolite of the pesticide DDT. Is anyone actually "free" if they have no alternative but to eat poisoned food?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:43</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Stopping by Peabody Street on a Snowy Morning</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13593/stopping-by-peabody-street-on-a-snowy-morning/</link><description>Laura waxes poetic about a poet.</description><pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13593/stopping-by-peabody-street-on-a-snowy-morning/</guid><enclosure length="6577072" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Robert_Frosts_Birthday.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura waxes poetic about a poet.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:24</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Separation Anxiety</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13592/separation-anxiety/</link><description>It's hard watching children, or a Pileated Woodpecker, move on to independence.</description><pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13592/separation-anxiety/</guid><enclosure length="6698232" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Separation_Anxiety.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>It's hard watching children, or a Pileated Woodpecker, move on to independence.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:33</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Every Day Is a Gift, Part 3: The Big Island</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13591/every-day-is-a-gift-part-3-the-big-island/</link><description>The second half of Laura's trip to Hawaii was just as wonderful as the first.</description><pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13591/every-day-is-a-gift-part-3-the-big-island/</guid><enclosure length="8216925" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Every_Day_Is_a_Gift_Part_3__The_Big_Island.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The second half of Laura's trip to Hawaii was just as wonderful as the first.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:37</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Every Day Is a Gift, Part 2: Kauaʻi</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13590/every-day-is-a-gift-part-2-kauai/</link><description>Laura's trip to Hawaii kept getting better.</description><pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13590/every-day-is-a-gift-part-2-kauai/</guid><enclosure length="7429857" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Every_Day_Is_a_Gift_Part_2__Kauai.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's trip to Hawaii kept getting better.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:07</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Every Day Is a Gift, Part I: Oahu</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13589/every-day-is-a-gift-part-i-oahu/</link><description>Laura's trip to Hawaii was wonderful, every single day.</description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13589/every-day-is-a-gift-part-i-oahu/</guid><enclosure length="8814315" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Every_Day_Is_a_Gift_Part_1__Oahu.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's trip to Hawaii was wonderful, every single day.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:02</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Our Changing World</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13585/our-changing-world/</link><description>The only constant is change, for better and for worse.</description><pubDate>Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13585/our-changing-world/</guid><enclosure length="9199410" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/The_Only_Constant_Is_Change.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The only constant is change, for better and for worse.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:14</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Why I Live in Duluth</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13584/why-i-live-in-duluth/</link><description>What drew Laura and her husband Russ to Duluth in 1981?</description><pubDate>Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13584/why-i-live-in-duluth/</guid><enclosure length="6537547" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Why_I_Live_in_Duluth.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>What drew Laura and her husband Russ to Duluth in 1981?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:26</itunes:duration></item><item><title>February Update</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13587/february-update/</link><description>How can it be spring before winter even arrives?</description><pubDate>Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13587/february-update/</guid><enclosure length="7283526" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/February_Update__Strange_Winter.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>How can it be spring before winter even arrives?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:58</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Death of a New York Celebrity: Flaco the Owl</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13586/death-of-a-new-york-celebrity-flaco-the-owl/</link><description>Flaco the Eurasian Eagle-Owl whose enclosure in the Central Park Zoo was vandalized, leading to his escape on February 2, 2023, died Friday.</description><pubDate>Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13586/death-of-a-new-york-celebrity-flaco-the-owl/</guid><enclosure length="8577577" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Death_of_a_New_York_Celebrity__Flaco.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Flaco the Eurasian Eagle-Owl whose enclosure in the Central Park Zoo was vandalized, leading to his escape on February 2, 2023, died Friday.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:39</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Mission Accomplished: Fieldfare!!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13583/mission-accomplished-fieldfare/</link><description>Laura headed back to Prentice Park in Ashland on Wednesday and this time saw (and got VERY bad photos) of the Fieldfare.</description><pubDate>Fri, 23 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13583/mission-accomplished-fieldfare/</guid><enclosure length="7973139" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Mission_Accomplished__Fieldfare.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura headed back to Prentice Park in Ashland on Wednesday and this time saw (and got VERY bad photos) of the Fieldfare.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:20</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Chickadee with a Deformed Bill</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13582/chickadee-with-a-deformed-bill/</link><description>On Tuesday, Laura suddenly noticed a chickadee with a badly overgrown, crossed bill at her feeder.</description><pubDate>Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13582/chickadee-with-a-deformed-bill/</guid><enclosure length="8747507" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Chickadee_with_a_Deformed_Bill.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>On Tuesday, Laura suddenly noticed a chickadee with a badly overgrown, crossed bill at her feeder.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:57</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Fieldfare: The One That Got Away</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13581/fieldfare-the-one-that-got-away/</link><description>Last week, an incredibly rare vagrant from Eurasia turned up in Ashland, Wisconsin, sending Laura and Erik Bruhnke on a wild goose chase.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13581/fieldfare-the-one-that-got-away/</guid><enclosure length="8468045" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Fieldfare__The_One_That_Got_Away.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Last week, an incredibly rare vagrant from Eurasia turned up in Ashland, Wisconsin, sending Laura and Erik Bruhnke on a wild goose chase.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:52</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Preparing for a Birding Trip</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13580/preparing-for-a-birding-trip/</link><description>Preparing for a trip can start the fun weeks before I leave. (The accompanying photo is a Nene [Hawaiian Goose] taken by Russ while we were in Hawaii in 2000.)</description><pubDate>Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13580/preparing-for-a-birding-trip/</guid><enclosure length="8403527" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Preparing_for_a_Trip.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Preparing for a trip can start the fun weeks before I leave. (The accompanying photo is a Nene [Hawaiian Goose] taken by Russ while we were in Hawaii in 2000.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:40</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Superb Owl Sunday</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13579/superb-owl-sunday/</link><description>Laura's annual celebration of Superb Owl Sunday was short on birds but did involve her first sighting of Girl Scout Cookies for 2024.</description><pubDate>Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13579/superb-owl-sunday/</guid><enclosure length="8714567" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Superb_Owl_Sunday.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's annual celebration of Superb Owl Sunday was short on birds but did involve her first sighting of Girl Scout Cookies for 2024.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:56</itunes:duration></item><item><title>A Matter of Balance</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13578/a-matter-of-balance/</link><description>Laura's was having severe dizzy spells, but they're gone now that a physical therapist showed her "the Epley maneuver." Bird ears have the same structures as ours only with an even more sophisticated design. Do they ever get those dizzy spells?</description><pubDate>Fri, 09 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13578/a-matter-of-balance/</guid><enclosure length="8345128" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/A_Question_of_Balance.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's was having severe dizzy spells, but they're gone now that a physical therapist showed her "the Epley maneuver." Bird ears have the same structures as ours only with an even more sophisticated design. Do they ever get those dizzy spells?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:40</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Warm Winter</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13577/warm-winter/</link><description>Mild weather may seem good for birds, but several issues complicate it.</description><pubDate>Tue, 06 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13577/warm-winter/</guid><enclosure length="8031897" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Warm_Winter.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Mild weather may seem good for birds, but several issues complicate it.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:24</itunes:duration></item><item><title>So it goes....</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13576/so-it-goes/</link><description>In the 38 years since Laura started producing For the Birds, many bad things have not gotten better.</description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13576/so-it-goes/</guid><enclosure length="7897710" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/So_It_Goes....mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>In the 38 years since Laura started producing For the Birds, many bad things have not gotten better.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:23</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Brooding over Cicadas</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13575/brooding-over-cicadas/</link><description>This spring, both the 17-year "Great Northern Brood" cicadas and the 13-year "Great Southern Brood" will emerge from underground. These innocuous insects cause absolutely no damage, but their noise is astonishingly loud, so many people over-react. The pesticides people used during the "Great Eastern Brood" emergence in 2021 are believed to have killed a lot of birds.</description><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13575/brooding-over-cicadas/</guid><enclosure length="9492831" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Brooding_over_Cicadas.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>This spring, both the 17-year "Great Northern Brood" cicadas and the 13-year "Great Southern Brood" will emerge from underground. These innocuous insects cause absolutely no damage, but their noise is astonishingly loud, so many people over-react. The pesticides people used during the "Great Eastern Brood" emergence in 2021 are believed to have killed a lot of birds.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:28</itunes:duration></item><item><title>More about the Golden-winged Warbler</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13574/more-about-the-golden-winged-warbler/</link><description>The American Birding Association's Bird of the Year for 2024 is one of the rarest birds not listed as endangered or threatened.</description><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13574/more-about-the-golden-winged-warbler/</guid><enclosure length="7721853" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Golden-winged_Warbler.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The American Birding Association's Bird of the Year for 2024 is one of the rarest birds not listed as endangered or threatened.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:15</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Warblers!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13573/warblers/</link><description>For the first time, the American Birding Association named a warbler its Bird of the Year.</description><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13573/warblers/</guid><enclosure length="8371784" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Warblers.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>For the first time, the American Birding Association named a warbler its Bird of the Year.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:42</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Ancient Murrelets!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13572/ancient-murrelets/</link><description>Why have so many Ancient Murrelets, who belong in the northern Pacific Ocean, turned up in the Great Lakes, and even in Tennessee, in late 2023? We may never know. (The accompanying photo is of the Two Harbors bird, taken by Erik Bruhnke on December 9, 2023.)</description><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13572/ancient-murrelets/</guid><enclosure length="8644145" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Ancient_Murrelet.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Why have so many Ancient Murrelets, who belong in the northern Pacific Ocean, turned up in the Great Lakes, and even in Tennessee, in late 2023? We may never know. (The accompanying photo is of the Two Harbors bird, taken by Erik Bruhnke on December 9, 2023.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:01</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Starting 2024 Right!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13571/starting-2024-right/</link><description>Laura spent last Wednesday birding in the Sax-Zim Bog with Erik Bruhnke. Highlights were a Great Gray Owl and a snowshoe hare.</description><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13571/starting-2024-right/</guid><enclosure length="7623020" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Bog_Birding.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura spent last Wednesday birding in the Sax-Zim Bog with Erik Bruhnke. Highlights were a Great Gray Owl and a snowshoe hare.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:08</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Happy 2024</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13570/happy-2024/</link><description>Laura's first bird of the year was a Pileated Woodpecker. In addition to enjoying her backyard birds, she's preparing for her trip to Hawaii next month, by studying the birds and getting herself back in shape for the adventure.</description><pubDate>Tue, 02 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13570/happy-2024/</guid><enclosure length="8283345" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Happy_2024.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's first bird of the year was a Pileated Woodpecker. In addition to enjoying her backyard birds, she's preparing for her trip to Hawaii next month, by studying the birds and getting herself back in shape for the adventure.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:21</itunes:duration></item><item><title>A Promising New Year</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13569/a-promising-new-year/</link><description>Laura cancelled an exciting trip for this coming February, but is doing well enough that she cancelled her cancellation.</description><pubDate>Fri, 29 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13569/a-promising-new-year/</guid><enclosure length="8295692" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/A_Promising_New_Year.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura cancelled an exciting trip for this coming February, but is doing well enough that she cancelled her cancellation.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:36</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Birding on a Warmish December Day</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13568/birding-on-a-warmish-december-day/</link><description>Laura's surgery was successful and she's back looking at, and photographing, birds!</description><pubDate>Wed, 13 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13568/birding-on-a-warmish-december-day/</guid><enclosure length="7992776" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Im_Back.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's surgery was successful and she's back looking at, and photographing, birds!</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:27</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Birding on a Cold November Day</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13567/birding-on-a-cold-november-day/</link><description>Laura went birding in northern Wisconsin Saturday.</description><pubDate>Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13567/birding-on-a-cold-november-day/</guid><enclosure length="5066679" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/A_November_Walk_in_Port_Wing.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura went birding in northern Wisconsin Saturday.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>3:26</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Toddler-Approved Bird Books, Part 3b</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13566/toddler-approved-bird-books-part-3b/</link><description>When we read books to toddlers, we're not only enlarging their picture of the world--we're enlarging out own.</description><pubDate>Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13566/toddler-approved-bird-books-part-3b/</guid><enclosure length="9180449" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Toddler-Approved_Books_Part_3b.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>When we read books to toddlers, we're not only enlarging their picture of the world--we're enlarging out own.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:11</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Toddler-Approved Bird Books, Part 3a</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13565/toddler-approved-bird-books-part-3a/</link><description>Reading to babies and toddlers has a great many benefits for us adults as well as the wee ones.</description><pubDate>Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13565/toddler-approved-bird-books-part-3a/</guid><enclosure length="8799789" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Toddler-Approved_Books_Part_3a.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Reading to babies and toddlers has a great many benefits for us adults as well as the wee ones.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:59</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Florida Scrub-Jays, Part 3: To Feed or Not to Feed</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13564/florida-scrub-jays-part-3-to-feed-or-not-to-feed/</link><description>Laura talks about the pros and cons of feeding Florida Scrub-Jays, and why it's best to follow the current anti-feeding guidelines.</description><pubDate>Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13564/florida-scrub-jays-part-3-to-feed-or-not-to-feed/</guid><enclosure length="8158910" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Florida_Scrub-Jay_Part_3__To_Feed_or_Not_to_Feed.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura talks about the pros and cons of feeding Florida Scrub-Jays, and why it's best to follow the current anti-feeding guidelines.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:33</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Thanksgiving 2023</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13563/thanksgiving-2023/</link><description>Laura has a lot to be thankful for today.</description><pubDate>Thu, 23 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13563/thanksgiving-2023/</guid><enclosure length="10808501" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Thanksgiving.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura has a lot to be thankful for today.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>7:16</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Let's Talk Turkey</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13562/lets-talk-turkey/</link><description>Wild Turkeys are splendid birds, but maybe their introduction into areas where they were not historically found wasn't a good idea.</description><pubDate>Wed, 22 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13562/lets-talk-turkey/</guid><enclosure length="8819300" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Lets_Talk_Turkey.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Wild Turkeys are splendid birds, but maybe their introduction into areas where they were not historically found wasn't a good idea.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:56</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Toddler-Approved Books, Part 2: Identification Guides</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13561/toddler-approved-books-part-2-identification-guides/</link><description>Field guides and bird song books help children to recognize and name the birds around them, and that's a Good Thing.</description><pubDate>Fri, 17 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13561/toddler-approved-books-part-2-identification-guides/</guid><enclosure length="8907880" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Bird_Books_for_Toddlers_Part_2__Identification_Guides.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Field guides and bird song books help children to recognize and name the birds around them, and that's a Good Thing.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:02</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Toddler-Approved Bird Books</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13559/toddler-approved-bird-books/</link><description>Must a book be entirely about birds to qualify? Laura doesn't think so. The books Walter is most enjoying right now are in the "Monkey with a Toolbelt" series, and Laura says they can help us teach the important role that birds play in our daily lives.</description><pubDate>Wed, 15 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13559/toddler-approved-bird-books/</guid><enclosure length="9149294" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Bird_Books_for_Toddlers__Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Must a book be entirely about birds to qualify? Laura doesn't think so. The books Walter is most enjoying right now are in the "Monkey with a Toolbelt" series, and Laura says they can help us teach the important role that birds play in our daily lives.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:43</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Scrub Jays: From one species to four</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13557/scrub-jays-from-one-species-to-four/</link><description>Taxonomists have been studying, and revising their names for, scrub jays for a long time.</description><pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13557/scrub-jays-from-one-species-to-four/</guid><enclosure length="6833007" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Scrub_Jays__From_One_Species_to_Four.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Taxonomists have been studying, and revising their names for, scrub jays for a long time.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:37</itunes:duration></item><item><title>The Healing Grace of Birds</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13556/the-healing-grace-of-birds/</link><description>We have no clue how much birds deal with anxiety and worry, but they sure have the capacity to relieve ours.</description><pubDate>Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13556/the-healing-grace-of-birds/</guid><enclosure length="8096779" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/The_Healing_Grace_of_Birds.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>We have no clue how much birds deal with anxiety and worry, but they sure have the capacity to relieve ours.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:31</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Florida Scrub-Jay, Part 2b: To Know Them Is to Love Them</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13555/florida-scrub-jay-part-2b-to-know-them-is-to-love-them/</link><description>The Florida Scrub-Jay has many endearing habits which, tragically, don't seem to resonate with Florida's human population.</description><pubDate>Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13555/florida-scrub-jay-part-2b-to-know-them-is-to-love-them/</guid><enclosure length="9161780" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Florida_Scrub-Jay_Part_2b__To_Know_Them_Is_to_Love_Them.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The Florida Scrub-Jay has many endearing habits which, tragically, don't seem to resonate with Florida's human population.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:16</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Florida Scrub-Jay, Part 2a: To Know Them Is to Love Them</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13554/florida-scrub-jay-part-2a-to-know-them-is-to-love-them/</link><description>Why does Laura have such a *personal* love for Florida Scrub-Jays?</description><pubDate>Tue, 07 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13554/florida-scrub-jay-part-2a-to-know-them-is-to-love-them/</guid><enclosure length="7583154" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Florida_Scrub-Jay_Part_2a__To_Know_Them_Is_to_Love_Them.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Why does Laura have such a *personal* love for Florida Scrub-Jays?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:57</itunes:duration></item><item><title>What's in a Name?</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13553/whats-in-a-name/</link><description>The American Ornithological Society just announced that they are changing the names of American birds named for people.</description><pubDate>Fri, 03 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13553/whats-in-a-name/</guid><enclosure length="9070068" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Whats_in_a_Name_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The American Ornithological Society just announced that they are changing the names of American birds named for people.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:00</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Birding Ethics</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13552/birding-ethics/</link><description>Is respecting private property too much to ask?</description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13552/birding-ethics/</guid><enclosure length="8087750" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Birding_Ethics.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Is respecting private property too much to ask?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:35</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Our Responsibilities in Old Age</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13551/our-responsibilities-in-old-age/</link><description>An astonishing 84 percent of Americans older than 65 think they will have to make just minor sacrifices in their lives, or none at all, because of global climate change. Laura is most seriously displeased.</description><pubDate>Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13551/our-responsibilities-in-old-age/</guid><enclosure length="7392121" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Our_Responsibilities_in_Old_Age.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>An astonishing 84 percent of Americans older than 65 think they will have to make just minor sacrifices in their lives, or none at all, because of global climate change. Laura is most seriously displeased.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:00</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Florida Scrub-Jays, Part I</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13550/florida-scrub-jays-part-i/</link><description>One of the friendliest, most approachable birds on the planet deserves serious protection from the Endangered Species Act, but isn't getting it.</description><pubDate>Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13550/florida-scrub-jays-part-i/</guid><enclosure length="8496747" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Florida_Scrub-Jay_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>One of the friendliest, most approachable birds on the planet deserves serious protection from the Endangered Species Act, but isn't getting it.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:46</itunes:duration></item><item><title>When Plans Go Awry</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13549/when-plans-go-awry/</link><description>Sometimes Plan B turns out to be better than Plan A.</description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13549/when-plans-go-awry/</guid><enclosure length="8423330" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Plan_B.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Sometimes Plan B turns out to be better than Plan A.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:44</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Flamingo Road, Part 2</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13547/flamingo-road-part-2/</link><description>A wild flamingo chase becomes a family affair.</description><pubDate>Tue, 17 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13547/flamingo-road-part-2/</guid><enclosure length="6973201" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Flamingo_Road_Part_2.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A wild flamingo chase becomes a family affair.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:40</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Flamingo Road, Part I</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13546/flamingo-road-part-i/</link><description>Laura has wanted to see a wild American Flamingo in Florida since her first days of birding half a century ago, without luck. Would this trip to Florida be any different? (This episode was recorded in my motel room, so the sound isn't ideal.)</description><pubDate>Fri, 13 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13546/flamingo-road-part-i/</guid><enclosure length="8561972" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Flamingo_Road_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura has wanted to see a wild American Flamingo in Florida since her first days of birding half a century ago, without luck. Would this trip to Florida be any different? (This episode was recorded in my motel room, so the sound isn't ideal.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:52</itunes:duration></item><item><title>When Numbers Get Serious</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13545/when-numbers-get-serious/</link><description>How accurate are those Blue Jay counts at Hawk Ridge?</description><pubDate>Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13545/when-numbers-get-serious/</guid><enclosure length="7895506" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/When_Numbers_Get_Serious__Hawk_Ridge_Blue_Jay_Count.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>How accurate are those Blue Jay counts at Hawk Ridge?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:23</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Odd-tober!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13544/odd-tober/</link><description>A late Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Rose-breasted Grosbeak? More record-breaking numbers of Blue Jays? Flamingos in Wisconsin? This month is already on track to be an outlier.  
  3.  
  4. *CORRECTION* A newspaper article that I consulted got the name of the St. Marks NWR flamingo wrong, but I didn't discover this until I'd recorded the program. The name is not Phineas Phlamingo but Pinky. Also, the bird turned up there after Hurricane Michael in 2018, not in 2019.</description><pubDate>Wed, 04 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13544/odd-tober/</guid><enclosure length="7844505" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Odd-tober.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A late Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Rose-breasted Grosbeak? More record-breaking numbers of Blue Jays? Flamingos in Wisconsin? This month is already on track to be an outlier.  
  5.  
  6. *CORRECTION* A newspaper article that I consulted got the name of the St. Marks NWR flamingo wrong, but I didn't discover this until I'd recorded the program. The name is not Phineas Phlamingo but Pinky. Also, the bird turned up there after Hurricane Michael in 2018, not in 2019.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:23</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Drama on Peabody Street</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13543/drama-on-peabody-street/</link><description>A Barred Owl turned up in Laura's yard, distressing all the nearby birds except two hopeful crows.</description><pubDate>Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13543/drama-on-peabody-street/</guid><enclosure length="8527177" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Drama_on_Peabody_Street.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A Barred Owl turned up in Laura's yard, distressing all the nearby birds except two hopeful crows.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:45</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Jim Baker Comments on New Hawk Ridge Record</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13542/jim-baker-comments-on-new-hawk-ridge-record/</link><description>On September 26, 2023, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth set a new season total for the number of Blue Jays flying past: an amazing 75,860, with more still coming! Jim Baker from Baker's Blue Jay Barn has a few thoughts.</description><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13542/jim-baker-comments-on-new-hawk-ridge-record/</guid><enclosure length="5292164" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Jim_Baker_Comments_on_New_Hawk_Ridge_Record.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>On September 26, 2023, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth set a new season total for the number of Blue Jays flying past: an amazing 75,860, with more still coming! Jim Baker from Baker's Blue Jay Barn has a few thoughts.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>3:31</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Late Outlier Hummingbirds</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13541/late-outlier-hummingbirds/</link><description>You never know when a late hummingbird is going to show up, or what species it will be.</description><pubDate>Mon, 25 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13541/late-outlier-hummingbirds/</guid><enclosure length="7417905" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Late_Hummingbirds.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>You never know when a late hummingbird is going to show up, or what species it will be.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:05</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Oops</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13540/oops/</link><description>Whether you're a fledgling woodpecker or a person on a bike, landings can be much more awkward than takeoffs.</description><pubDate>Thu, 21 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13540/oops/</guid><enclosure length="7049539" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Oops.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Whether you're a fledgling woodpecker or a person on a bike, landings can be much more awkward than takeoffs.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:47</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Whatever Happened to National Blue Jay Awareness Month?</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13538/whatever-happened-to-national-blue-jay-awareness-month/</link><description>Even though Laura, in her dotage, is growing forgetful and consumed with her grandson, she says it's not her fault that she didn't mention Blue Jays again after announcing that August was National Blue Jay Awareness Month. She blames the Blue Jays.</description><pubDate>Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13538/whatever-happened-to-national-blue-jay-awareness-month/</guid><enclosure length="8807597" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/What_Happened_to_National_Blue_Jay_Awareness_Month_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Even though Laura, in her dotage, is growing forgetful and consumed with her grandson, she says it's not her fault that she didn't mention Blue Jays again after announcing that August was National Blue Jay Awareness Month. She blames the Blue Jays.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:00</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Meet Christian Cooper!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13539/meet-christian-cooper/</link><description>In this week's episode of her wonderful podcast, ["Going Wild,"](https://link.chtbl.com/LTZFSlMP?sid=FortheBirds) Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant talks with Christian Cooper, author of *Better Living Through Birding* and host of the National Geographic *Extraordinary Birder* television series.</description><pubDate>Mon, 18 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13539/meet-christian-cooper/</guid><enclosure length="7785173" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Meet_Christian_Cooper.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>In this week's episode of her wonderful podcast, ["Going Wild,"](https://link.chtbl.com/LTZFSlMP?sid=FortheBirds) Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant talks with Christian Cooper, author of *Better Living Through Birding* and host of the National Geographic *Extraordinary Birder* television series.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:22</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Hummingbird Migration</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13537/hummingbird-migration/</link><description>Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are lingering in Duluth longer than usual this year. Why is that, and where are they headed?</description><pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13537/hummingbird-migration/</guid><enclosure length="8765256" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird_Migration.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are lingering in Duluth longer than usual this year. Why is that, and where are they headed?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:00</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Tunnel Vision, Part 2</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13535/tunnel-vision-part-2/</link><description>Conservation biologists tend to compete and undercut one another rather than cooperating, which can hurt the birds they think they're helping. Laura's hero Chandler Robbins provided a stellar example of how cooperation can make things better for everyone, humans and birds alike.  
  7.  
  8. The blog link provides the transcript for Tunnel Vision, Part 1 as well, so you'll need to scroll down to get today's transcript.</description><pubDate>Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13535/tunnel-vision-part-2/</guid><enclosure length="10942385" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Tunnel_Vision_Part_2.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Conservation biologists tend to compete and undercut one another rather than cooperating, which can hurt the birds they think they're helping. Laura's hero Chandler Robbins provided a stellar example of how cooperation can make things better for everyone, humans and birds alike.  
  9.  
  10. The blog link provides the transcript for Tunnel Vision, Part 1 as well, so you'll need to scroll down to get today's transcript.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>7:26</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Tunnel Vision, Part I</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13536/tunnel-vision-part-i/</link><description>Conservation biologists have to look beyond their specialties and cooperate if they really want to help birds. My blog link includes the transcript for both this and the next program.</description><pubDate>Mon, 11 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13536/tunnel-vision-part-i/</guid><enclosure length="7976643" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Tunnel_Vision_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Conservation biologists have to look beyond their specialties and cooperate if they really want to help birds. My blog link includes the transcript for both this and the next program.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:20</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Generational Amnesia</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13533/generational-amnesia/</link><description>People have a deep-rooted tendency to see the natural world as they first experienced it as "normal," without recognizing the many changes, including tragic, fairly recent losses, that were happening before they started paying attention.  
  11.  
  12. The illustration for today's podcast was created by John Schoenherr for Sterling North's 1963 book, *Rascal*, a memoir of his experiences as a child while his big brother was fighting in World War I. Schoenherr also illustrated the Caldecott Award-winning *Owl Moon*. Schoenherr gave me permission to use it in my own work, and I thought it worked well to illustrate how abundant nighthawks once were.</description><pubDate>Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13533/generational-amnesia/</guid><enclosure length="5873808" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Generational_Amnesia.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>People have a deep-rooted tendency to see the natural world as they first experienced it as "normal," without recognizing the many changes, including tragic, fairly recent losses, that were happening before they started paying attention.  
  13.  
  14. The illustration for today's podcast was created by John Schoenherr for Sterling North's 1963 book, *Rascal*, a memoir of his experiences as a child while his big brother was fighting in World War I. Schoenherr also illustrated the Caldecott Award-winning *Owl Moon*. Schoenherr gave me permission to use it in my own work, and I thought it worked well to illustrate how abundant nighthawks once were.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:03</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Exploration, Discovery, and Triumph</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13532/exploration-discovery-and-triumph/</link><description>As long as Laura has been birding, and specifically as long as she's been watching Pileated Woodpeckers, she's still making new discoveries. (As usual, all the photos mentioned in this program are on today's blogpost.)</description><pubDate>Mon, 04 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13532/exploration-discovery-and-triumph/</guid><enclosure length="7731570" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Exploration_Discovery_and_Triumph.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>As long as Laura has been birding, and specifically as long as she's been watching Pileated Woodpeckers, she's still making new discoveries. (As usual, all the photos mentioned in this program are on today's blogpost.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:14</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Nighthawks: Reason for hope</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13531/nighthawks-reason-for-hope/</link><description>Nighthawks are not recovering their former numbers, but their massive decline seems to have at least leveled off.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13531/nighthawks-reason-for-hope/</guid><enclosure length="7804141" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Nighthawks__Their_Decline_May_Be_Leveling_Off.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Nighthawks are not recovering their former numbers, but their massive decline seems to have at least leveled off.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:17</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Nighthawks: Why are they declining?</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13530/nighthawks-why-are-they-declining/</link><description>Nighthawks have declined enormously between 1966 and 2015. Why?</description><pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13530/nighthawks-why-are-they-declining/</guid><enclosure length="8615211" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Why_are_nighthawks_declining_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Nighthawks have declined enormously between 1966 and 2015. Why?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:57</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Nighthawks! Part I: Why I love them so much</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13529/nighthawks-part-i-why-i-love-them-so-much/</link><description>Laura recounts two experiences--when she saw her first nighthawk, and when she rehabbed her first one--to explain why she loves this species so very much.</description><pubDate>Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13529/nighthawks-part-i-why-i-love-them-so-much/</guid><enclosure length="8548189" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Nighthawks_Part_1__Why_I_Love_Them.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura recounts two experiences--when she saw her first nighthawk, and when she rehabbed her first one--to explain why she loves this species so very much.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:49</itunes:duration></item><item><title>The Road to Extinction</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13528/the-road-to-extinction/</link><description>Paying attention to nature and the environment is every bit as important as paying attention to the marketplace.</description><pubDate>Tue, 22 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13528/the-road-to-extinction/</guid><enclosure length="8203265" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/The_Road_to_Extinction.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Paying attention to nature and the environment is every bit as important as paying attention to the marketplace.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:26</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Making Our Yards Safe for Blue Jays (and other birds)</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13527/making-our-yards-safe-for-blue-jays-and-other-birds/</link><description>This episode includes important warnings about birdbaths, feeders, and especially peanut butter! (IMPORTANT takeaway--never get peanut butter with xylitol or "birch sugar" as an ingredient.)</description><pubDate>Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13527/making-our-yards-safe-for-blue-jays-and-other-birds/</guid><enclosure length="8225615" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Make_Your_Yards_Safe_for_Blue_Jays_and_Other_Birds.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>This episode includes important warnings about birdbaths, feeders, and especially peanut butter! (IMPORTANT takeaway--never get peanut butter with xylitol or "birch sugar" as an ingredient.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:35</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Two Little Boys Turn Three!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13525/two-little-boys-turn-three/</link><description>Laura's grandson Walter and her backyard Pileated Woodpecker are both three years old!</description><pubDate>Mon, 14 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13525/two-little-boys-turn-three/</guid><enclosure length="8408503" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Two_Little_Boys_Turn_Three.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's grandson Walter and her backyard Pileated Woodpecker are both three years old!</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:43</itunes:duration></item><item><title>National Blue Jay Awareness Month</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13524/national-blue-jay-awareness-month/</link><description>This August will have a blue moon, making this what Laura calls National Blue Jay Awareness Month. It's a good time to think about how Blue Jay adults look their scruffiest and most bedraggled in August, before they start looking their old selves again.</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13524/national-blue-jay-awareness-month/</guid><enclosure length="7155059" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/National_Blue_Jay_Awareness_Month.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>This August will have a blue moon, making this what Laura calls National Blue Jay Awareness Month. It's a good time to think about how Blue Jay adults look their scruffiest and most bedraggled in August, before they start looking their old selves again.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:49</itunes:duration></item><item><title>New Wheels for Birding!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13523/new-wheels-for-birding/</link><description>Laura plans to reduce her carbon footprint and have a lot of fun on a new e-bike.</description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13523/new-wheels-for-birding/</guid><enclosure length="8134984" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/New_Wheels_for_Birding.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura plans to reduce her carbon footprint and have a lot of fun on a new e-bike.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:21</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Disney Wilderness Preserve</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13522/disney-wilderness-preserve/</link><description>Laura loves a truly wild little piece of central Florida protected and maintained by The Nature Conservancy.</description><pubDate>Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13522/disney-wilderness-preserve/</guid><enclosure length="8041239" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Disney_Wilderness_Preserve.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura loves a truly wild little piece of central Florida protected and maintained by The Nature Conservancy.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:31</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Wild Florida</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13520/wild-florida/</link><description>Wild Florida's main attractions for visitors are alligators, sloths, and a "wild animal safari," but Laura was impressed with the wild birds she saw, and especially with the knowledge of an airboat captain who pointed out lots of cool things including her lifer Gray-headed Swamphens.</description><pubDate>Tue, 08 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13520/wild-florida/</guid><enclosure length="7490037" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Wild_Florida.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Wild Florida's main attractions for visitors are alligators, sloths, and a "wild animal safari," but Laura was impressed with the wild birds she saw, and especially with the knowledge of an airboat captain who pointed out lots of cool things including her lifer Gray-headed Swamphens.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:00</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Discovery Cove</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13519/discovery-cove/</link><description>In April, Laura and her Explore Kissimmee group visited Discovery Cove, a limited-admission park owned by SeaWorld. Laura got great photos and had a lot of fun, but wishes the park provided more information about how and where these animals survive in the wild.</description><pubDate>Mon, 07 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13519/discovery-cove/</guid><enclosure length="7698677" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Discovery_Cove.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>In April, Laura and her Explore Kissimmee group visited Discovery Cove, a limited-admission park owned by SeaWorld. Laura got great photos and had a lot of fun, but wishes the park provided more information about how and where these animals survive in the wild.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:16</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Lake Tohopekalipa</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13517/lake-tohopekalipa/</link><description>Lake Tohopekaliga is the best place Laura knows for getting good looks at Limpkins and Snail Kites.</description><pubDate>Wed, 02 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13517/lake-tohopekalipa/</guid><enclosure length="6952718" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Lake_Tohopekaliga.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Lake Tohopekaliga is the best place Laura knows for getting good looks at Limpkins and Snail Kites.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:43</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Kissimmee!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13518/kissimmee/</link><description>Kissimmee, Florida, in the most touristy part of Florida, is still rich in birdlife.</description><pubDate>Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13518/kissimmee/</guid><enclosure length="6301409" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Kissimmee.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Kissimmee, Florida, in the most touristy part of Florida, is still rich in birdlife.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:12</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Florida in Crisis</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13516/florida-in-crisis/</link><description>Florida's biodiversity and human diversity are at risk right now even as their governor is driving the state off a cliff, asleep at the wheel.  
  15.  
  16. Warning: Three times in this program I use the word "bullshit," twice near the beginning and once near the end. Some radio stations may have to bleep that out.</description><pubDate>Mon, 31 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13516/florida-in-crisis/</guid><enclosure length="7998401" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Florida_in_Crisis.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Florida's biodiversity and human diversity are at risk right now even as their governor is driving the state off a cliff, asleep at the wheel.  
  17.  
  18. Warning: Three times in this program I use the word "bullshit," twice near the beginning and once near the end. Some radio stations may have to bleep that out.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:26</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Parasitic Jaeger in July!!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13515/parasitic-jaeger-in-july/</link><description>A Parasitic Jaeger turned up on Park Point in Duluth last weekend, and Laura spent some time watching it Wednesday.</description><pubDate>Fri, 28 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13515/parasitic-jaeger-in-july/</guid><enclosure length="8379205" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Parasitic_Jaeger_in_July_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A Parasitic Jaeger turned up on Park Point in Duluth last weekend, and Laura spent some time watching it Wednesday.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:47</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Hummingbirds!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13514/hummingbirds/</link><description>It's time to pay attention to hummingbirds again!</description><pubDate>Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13514/hummingbirds/</guid><enclosure length="8502183" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Lee_Guthries_Hummingbird_Nest.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>It's time to pay attention to hummingbirds again!</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:52</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Teach Your Children Well, Part 2</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13512/teach-your-children-well-part-2/</link><description>Loons must teach their babies about danger, weighing just how dangerous every threat might be. The loon recordings used in this program were made by me during the pontoon boat experience recounted in the episode.</description><pubDate>Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13512/teach-your-children-well-part-2/</guid><enclosure length="7223632" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Teach_Your_Children_Well_Part_2.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Loons must teach their babies about danger, weighing just how dangerous every threat might be. The loon recordings used in this program were made by me during the pontoon boat experience recounted in the episode.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:56</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Teach Your Children Well, Part 1</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13511/teach-your-children-well-part-1/</link><description>How do Blue Jays, Crows, and Pileated Woodpeckers teach their babies to avoid danger?</description><pubDate>Thu, 20 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13511/teach-your-children-well-part-1/</guid><enclosure length="8620308" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Teach_Your_Children_Well_Part_I.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>How do Blue Jays, Crows, and Pileated Woodpeckers teach their babies to avoid danger?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:49</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Of Magpie Nests and "Man's Pitiful Confusions"</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13510/of-magpie-nests-and-mans-pitiful-confusions/</link><description>Magpies and crows in Europe are incorporating metal anti-bird spikes into their nests to keep other birds away. Laura finds this doubly "ironic," reminding us we're all in this together.  
  19.  
  20. The Eurasian Magpie recording was made by [Uku Paal](https://xeno-canto.org/contributor/XIBLXHRPJO).</description><pubDate>Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13510/of-magpie-nests-and-mans-pitiful-confusions/</guid><enclosure length="9733407" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Anti-Bird_Spikes.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Magpies and crows in Europe are incorporating metal anti-bird spikes into their nests to keep other birds away. Laura finds this doubly "ironic," reminding us we're all in this together.  
  21.  
  22. The Eurasian Magpie recording was made by [Uku Paal](https://xeno-canto.org/contributor/XIBLXHRPJO).</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:11</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Ten Year Anniversary of My Quitting Beef</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13507/ten-year-anniversary-of-my-quitting-beef/</link><description>Laura stopped eating beef ten years ago this week, and received a completely unexpected reward in the form of Pacific Golden-Plovers.</description><pubDate>Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13507/ten-year-anniversary-of-my-quitting-beef/</guid><enclosure length="8760206" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/10_Year_Anniversary_of_Giving_Up_Beef.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura stopped eating beef ten years ago this week, and received a completely unexpected reward in the form of Pacific Golden-Plovers.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:59</itunes:duration></item><item><title>BB's Babies!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13504/bbs-babies/</link><description>Laura's favorite Pileated Woodpecker has at least two fledglings.</description><pubDate>Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13504/bbs-babies/</guid><enclosure length="8591685" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/BBs_Babies.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's favorite Pileated Woodpecker has at least two fledglings.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:50</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Summer Update</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13503/summer-update/</link><description>What's happening on Peabody Street?</description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13503/summer-update/</guid><enclosure length="7758876" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Summer_Update.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>What's happening on Peabody Street?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:17</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Finding Baby Winter Wrens</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13502/finding-baby-winter-wrens/</link><description>Lang Elliott's free "Hear Birds Again" app with his recommended headphones is "fantabulous."</description><pubDate>Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13502/finding-baby-winter-wrens/</guid><enclosure length="9842019" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Hear_Birds_Again.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Lang Elliott's free "Hear Birds Again" app with his recommended headphones is "fantabulous."</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:10</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Air Quality Alert: Are birdbaths safe? And how about bird flu?</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13500/air-quality-alert-are-birdbaths-safe-and-how-about-bird-flu/</link><description>When the Air Quality Index is high due to smoke particulates, is it safe to set out birdbaths?</description><pubDate>Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13500/air-quality-alert-are-birdbaths-safe-and-how-about-bird-flu/</guid><enclosure length="8834442" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Smoke_and_Bird_Flu.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>When the Air Quality Index is high due to smoke particulates, is it safe to set out birdbaths?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:54</itunes:duration></item><item><title>The Value of eBird, Part 4: Science, Conservation, and Education</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13499/the-value-of-ebird-part-4-science-conservation-and-education/</link><description>Birders using eBird are making an invaluable contribution to science, conservation, and education. This summer the New York Times is collaborating with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to encourage more birders to use it.</description><pubDate>Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13499/the-value-of-ebird-part-4-science-conservation-and-education/</guid><enclosure length="8078570" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/The_Value_of_eBird_Part_4-Science_Conservation_and_Education.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Birders using eBird are making an invaluable contribution to science, conservation, and education. This summer the New York Times is collaborating with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to encourage more birders to use it.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:30</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Tools before eBird: Weather radar</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13498/tools-before-ebird-weather-radar/</link><description>Weather radar provides an excellent picture of the movements of migrating birds that has helped demonstrate how serious the losses of birds in North America have been.</description><pubDate>Tue, 04 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13498/tools-before-ebird-weather-radar/</guid><enclosure length="7590899" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Monitoring_Populations_before_eBird__Radar.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Weather radar provides an excellent picture of the movements of migrating birds that has helped demonstrate how serious the losses of birds in North America have been.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:04</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Tools before eBird: The Breeding Bird Survey</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13497/tools-before-ebird-the-breeding-bird-survey/</link><description>The first test we had to measure changes in bird populations, the Breeding Bird Survey, was wonderful but had important shortcomings.</description><pubDate>Mon, 03 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13497/tools-before-ebird-the-breeding-bird-survey/</guid><enclosure length="8597208" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Monitoring_Bird_Populations_before_eBird__the_Breeding_Bird_Survey.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The first test we had to measure changes in bird populations, the Breeding Bird Survey, was wonderful but had important shortcomings.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:49</itunes:duration></item><item><title>The Value of eBird, Part 2</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13496/the-value-of-ebird-part-2/</link><description>eBird has been a game changer in allowing birders to keep track of every bird they see, and to be able to access information about any of those birds quickly and easily.</description><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13496/the-value-of-ebird-part-2/</guid><enclosure length="8447025" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/eBird_Part2.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>eBird has been a game changer in allowing birders to keep track of every bird they see, and to be able to access information about any of those birds quickly and easily.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:52</itunes:duration></item><item><title>The Value of eBird, Part 1</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13495/the-value-of-ebird-part-1/</link><description>When Laura started birding, the only ways of getting the word out about rare birds were slow and inefficient. eBird has been a game changer.</description><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13495/the-value-of-ebird-part-1/</guid><enclosure length="8415177" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/eBird_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>When Laura started birding, the only ways of getting the word out about rare birds were slow and inefficient. eBird has been a game changer.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:45</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Great Crested Flycatcher</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13494/great-crested-flycatcher/</link><description>A quirky bird that is much more often heard than seen.</description><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13494/great-crested-flycatcher/</guid><enclosure length="6214774" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Great_Crested_Flycatcher.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A quirky bird that is much more often heard than seen.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:12</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Smoke Gets in Your Lungs</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13493/smoke-gets-in-your-lungs/</link><description>How do we explain to toddlers and nesting birds that they must stay indoors with filtered air to be safe as smoke fills the atmosphere?</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13493/smoke-gets-in-your-lungs/</guid><enclosure length="9201625" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Smoke_Gets_in_Your_Lungs.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>How do we explain to toddlers and nesting birds that they must stay indoors with filtered air to be safe as smoke fills the atmosphere?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:33</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Book Review: What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13490/book-review-what-an-owl-knows-by-jennifer-ackerman/</link><description>New York Times Bestseller author Jennifer Ackerman has a brand new book about owls. *What an Owl Knows* is extensively researched, beautifully written, and comprehensive, covering just about every imaginable aspect of owl biology, behavior, and psychology, as well as how they figure in the human imagination. And Laura is delighted that her beloved education owl Archimedes is covered in depth. She used recordings of Archimedes at the start and finish of this program.</description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13490/book-review-what-an-owl-knows-by-jennifer-ackerman/</guid><enclosure length="7015973" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Book_Review__What_an_Owl_Knows.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>New York Times Bestseller author Jennifer Ackerman has a brand new book about owls. *What an Owl Knows* is extensively researched, beautifully written, and comprehensive, covering just about every imaginable aspect of owl biology, behavior, and psychology, as well as how they figure in the human imagination. And Laura is delighted that her beloved education owl Archimedes is covered in depth. She used recordings of Archimedes at the start and finish of this program.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:48</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Merlin: A Different Kind of Magician</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13489/merlin-a-different-kind-of-magician/</link><description>The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has developed an ever-improving but always free non-commercial app to help us identify bird songs.</description><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13489/merlin-a-different-kind-of-magician/</guid><enclosure length="8132724" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Merlin.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has developed an ever-improving but always free non-commercial app to help us identify bird songs.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:38</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Reflections on a Wall on Flag Day</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13488/reflections-on-a-wall-on-flag-day/</link><description>Birds use song, not fences, walls, or flags, to mark off their territories, and never send anyone else off to fight their battles. (I'm using Lang Elliott's Mourning Dove recording to open and close this one because in 1998, Michigan declared the Mourning Dove its official Bird of Peace.</description><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13488/reflections-on-a-wall-on-flag-day/</guid><enclosure length="9246078" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Reflections_on_a_Wall.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Birds use song, not fences, walls, or flags, to mark off their territories, and never send anyone else off to fight their battles. (I'm using Lang Elliott's Mourning Dove recording to open and close this one because in 1998, Michigan declared the Mourning Dove its official Bird of Peace.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:09</itunes:duration></item><item><title>The Cornell Lab of Ornithology:</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13486/the-cornell-lab-of-ornithology/</link><description>Starting the first day Laura started birding, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has been her most valuable and beloved ornithological resource.</description><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13486/the-cornell-lab-of-ornithology/</guid><enclosure length="7858061" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Cornell_Lab_of_Ornithology__The_Gold_Standard.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Starting the first day Laura started birding, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has been her most valuable and beloved ornithological resource.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:21</itunes:duration></item><item><title>LeConte's Sparrow!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13485/lecontes-sparrow/</link><description>Laura got some photos of this gorgeous little sparrow at the Bog last week, reminding her of the first time she ever saw one.</description><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13485/lecontes-sparrow/</guid><enclosure length="7325754" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Le_Contes_Sparrow__Tiny_Ahab.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura got some photos of this gorgeous little sparrow at the Bog last week, reminding her of the first time she ever saw one.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:57</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Ross's Gull</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13484/rosss-gull/</link><description>One of the rarest birds seen in the Lower-48, a Ross's Gull turned up last week at Wisconsin Point.</description><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13484/rosss-gull/</guid><enclosure length="7144237" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Rosss_Gull.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>One of the rarest birds seen in the Lower-48, a Ross's Gull turned up last week at Wisconsin Point.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:45</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Jelly is killing hummingbirds!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13483/jelly-is-killing-hummingbirds/</link><description>REGI, the state-of-the-art bird rehab clinic in Antigo, Wisconsin, has been admitting hummingbirds covered in grape jelly. Jelly is apparently just too dangerous to feed birds.</description><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13483/jelly-is-killing-hummingbirds/</guid><enclosure length="10035784" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Jelly_Is_Killing_Hummingbirds.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>REGI, the state-of-the-art bird rehab clinic in Antigo, Wisconsin, has been admitting hummingbirds covered in grape jelly. Jelly is apparently just too dangerous to feed birds.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:56</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Fascinating Robin Story</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13482/fascinating-robin-story/</link><description>One of Laura's friends gave her yet another reason to love robins.</description><pubDate>Fri, 02 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13482/fascinating-robin-story/</guid><enclosure length="7807311" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Perry_Donhams_Robin_Story.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>One of Laura's friends gave her yet another reason to love robins.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:17</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Like a Box of Chocolates</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13481/like-a-box-of-chocolates/</link><description>When we set out for a day of birding, we never know what we're going to get, but even when there aren't many birds, the ones we do see can be pretty sweet.</description><pubDate>Wed, 31 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13481/like-a-box-of-chocolates/</guid><enclosure length="7713833" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Like_a_Box_of_Chocolates.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>When we set out for a day of birding, we never know what we're going to get, but even when there aren't many birds, the ones we do see can be pretty sweet.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:16</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Circular Firing Squad: Windows v. Habitat Part II</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13480/circular-firing-squad-windows-v-habitat-part-ii/</link><description>Helping birds requires us to attack more than one issue at a time.</description><pubDate>Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13480/circular-firing-squad-windows-v-habitat-part-ii/</guid><enclosure length="7539973" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Circular_Firing_Squad__Windows_v._Habitat_Part_2.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Helping birds requires us to attack more than one issue at a time.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:05</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Circular Firing Squad: Windows v. Habitat Part I</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13479/circular-firing-squad-windows-v-habitat-part-i/</link><description>It took mainstream conservation biologists decades to notice how dangerous collisions with windows are for birds.</description><pubDate>Mon, 29 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13479/circular-firing-squad-windows-v-habitat-part-i/</guid><enclosure length="9509688" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Circular_Firing_Squad__Windows_v._Habitat_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>It took mainstream conservation biologists decades to notice how dangerous collisions with windows are for birds.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:30</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Dee Dee Nana and Walter's first official Bird Walk</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13478/dee-dee-nana-and-walters-first-official-bird-walk/</link><description>On May 25, Laura took her grandson on a long bird walk, but they saw a lot more than birds.</description><pubDate>Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13478/dee-dee-nana-and-walters-first-official-bird-walk/</guid><enclosure length="8329124" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/A_Bird_Walk_with_Walter.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>On May 25, Laura took her grandson on a long bird walk, but they saw a lot more than birds.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:24</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Spring Update: Too Much Windy</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13477/spring-update-too-much-windy/</link><description>The exceptionally high wind on so many days this spring is hard on birds.</description><pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13477/spring-update-too-much-windy/</guid><enclosure length="8001354" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Spring_Update___Too_Much_Windy_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The exceptionally high wind on so many days this spring is hard on birds.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:20</itunes:duration></item><item><title>700: A Memorable Achievement—I Hope!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13476/700-a-memorable-achievementi-hope/</link><description>What was the 700th bird on Laura's continental US life list? (Photo of Smooth-billed Ani is from Panama in 2019.)</description><pubDate>Tue, 23 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13476/700-a-memorable-achievementi-hope/</guid><enclosure length="7523650" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/700.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>What was the 700th bird on Laura's continental US life list? (Photo of Smooth-billed Ani is from Panama in 2019.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:02</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Snail Kite</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13475/snail-kite/</link><description>A splendid bird that was on the original Endangered Species List is now doing well by making the best of a bad situation.</description><pubDate>Mon, 15 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13475/snail-kite/</guid><enclosure length="8153563" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Snail_Kite.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A splendid bird that was on the original Endangered Species List is now doing well by making the best of a bad situation.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:36</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Lesser Prairie-Chicken</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13474/lesser-prairie-chicken/</link><description>In the past 3 weeks, the U.S. House Natural Resource Committee and the U.S. Senate both voted to rescind Endangered Species protections from the imperiled Lesser Prairie-Chicken, a slap in the face to the scientists and managers charged with safeguarding our natural resources, and to all Americans who love this splendid all-American bird, found nowhere on the planet except in the United States, vanishing before our eyes.</description><pubDate>Fri, 12 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13474/lesser-prairie-chicken/</guid><enclosure length="8660614" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Lesser_Prairie-Chicken.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>In the past 3 weeks, the U.S. House Natural Resource Committee and the U.S. Senate both voted to rescind Endangered Species protections from the imperiled Lesser Prairie-Chicken, a slap in the face to the scientists and managers charged with safeguarding our natural resources, and to all Americans who love this splendid all-American bird, found nowhere on the planet except in the United States, vanishing before our eyes.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:50</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Gray-headed Swamphen</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13473/gray-headed-swamphen/</link><description>An unexpected four-day trip to Kissimmee, Florida, gave Laura a lifer!</description><pubDate>Thu, 04 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13473/gray-headed-swamphen/</guid><enclosure length="7582179" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Gray-headed_Swamphen.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>An unexpected four-day trip to Kissimmee, Florida, gave Laura a lifer!</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:13</itunes:duration></item><item><title>A Chickadee in Florida</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13472/a-chickadee-in-florida/</link><description>Traveling to Florida raised several ethical issues for Laura.</description><pubDate>Wed, 03 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13472/a-chickadee-in-florida/</guid><enclosure length="6311884" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/A_Chickadee_in_Florida.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Traveling to Florida raised several ethical issues for Laura.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:20</itunes:duration></item><item><title>When Numbers Get Serious</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13471/when-numbers-get-serious/</link><description>Laura talks about the listing and numerical elements of her birding life.</description><pubDate>Tue, 02 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13471/when-numbers-get-serious/</guid><enclosure length="8831261" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/When_Numbers_Get_Serious.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura talks about the listing and numerical elements of her birding life.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:01</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Record-breaking Snow and Climate Change</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13469/record-breaking-snow-and-climate-change/</link><description>Yesterday's ice storm in Duluth was harsher on birds than it was on us. (This program mentions the loon fallout happening right now. To report a downed loon, call REGI at 715-623-4015 or Loon Rescue at 715-966-5415.)</description><pubDate>Fri, 21 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13469/record-breaking-snow-and-climate-change/</guid><enclosure length="7668597" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Record-breaking_Snow_and_Climate_Change.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Yesterday's ice storm in Duluth was harsher on birds than it was on us. (This program mentions the loon fallout happening right now. To report a downed loon, call REGI at 715-623-4015 or Loon Rescue at 715-966-5415.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:15</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Spring Update</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13467/spring-update/</link><description>What's happening at the western tip of Lake Superior right now?</description><pubDate>Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13467/spring-update/</guid><enclosure length="7615588" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Western_Lake_Superior_Spring_Update.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>What's happening at the western tip of Lake Superior right now?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:04</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Avian Influenza Update</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13466/avian-influenza-update/</link><description>Bird flu is far from over. If we are feeding backyard birds, we need to be paying attention to them.</description><pubDate>Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13466/avian-influenza-update/</guid><enclosure length="8849479" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Avian_Influenza_Update.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Bird flu is far from over. If we are feeding backyard birds, we need to be paying attention to them.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:04</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Yellow-rumped Warblers</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13464/yellow-rumped-warblers/</link><description>Yellow-rumped Warblers return well before other warblers because they literally have intestinal fortitude.</description><pubDate>Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13464/yellow-rumped-warblers/</guid><enclosure length="6826035" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Yellow-rumped_Warblers.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Yellow-rumped Warblers return well before other warblers because they literally have intestinal fortitude.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:30</itunes:duration></item><item><title>First Robin of Spring</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13463/first-robin-of-spring/</link><description>Robins appeal to our eyes and ears, and also to our hearts and souls.</description><pubDate>Tue, 11 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13463/first-robin-of-spring/</guid><enclosure length="7760042" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/First_Robin_of_Spring.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Robins appeal to our eyes and ears, and also to our hearts and souls.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:09</itunes:duration></item><item><title>April Is the Cruelest Month</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13462/april-is-the-cruelest-month/</link><description>April is cruelest for lonely souls who may not discern all the pairings and romantic songs and surging new life all around. Perhaps we must feel a part of nature, rather than bitter onlookers, to take joy in the reawakening of song and romance and nesting and new life.  
  23.  
  24. (This program was recast from a 2004 "For the Birds" program for which the audio is lost.)</description><pubDate>Mon, 10 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13462/april-is-the-cruelest-month/</guid><enclosure length="8181767" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/April_Is_the_Cruelest_Month._Or_is_it_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>April is cruelest for lonely souls who may not discern all the pairings and romantic songs and surging new life all around. Perhaps we must feel a part of nature, rather than bitter onlookers, to take joy in the reawakening of song and romance and nesting and new life.  
  25.  
  26. (This program was recast from a 2004 "For the Birds" program for which the audio is lost.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:33</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Spring Reunions</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13461/spring-reunions/</link><description>Mother Nature loves to play tricks on us on April Fool's Day, but sometimes it's worth braving the weather, whether we're swans or humans.</description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13461/spring-reunions/</guid><enclosure length="16406708" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Spring_Reunions.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Mother Nature loves to play tricks on us on April Fool's Day, but sometimes it's worth braving the weather, whether we're swans or humans.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:21</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Baker's Blue Jay Podcast (for April Fools Day)</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13459/bakers-blue-jay-podcast-for-april-fools-day/</link><description>Jim Baker, from Baker's Blue Jay Barn, "Up the Shore a Ways," has an exciting announcement! (Stations can play this on Friday if they want.)</description><pubDate>Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13459/bakers-blue-jay-podcast-for-april-fools-day/</guid><enclosure length="8109849" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Announcing_Bakers_Blue_Jay_Podcast_April_Fools_2023.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Jim Baker, from Baker's Blue Jay Barn, "Up the Shore a Ways," has an exciting announcement! (Stations can play this on Friday if they want.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:29</itunes:duration></item><item><title>BB, My Special Pileated Woodpecker</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13458/bb-my-special-pileated-woodpecker/</link><description>Laura's been keeping track of a banded Pileated Woodpecker since November 2021, and now he seems to have found love.</description><pubDate>Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13458/bb-my-special-pileated-woodpecker/</guid><enclosure length="7727645" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/BB_the_Pileated_Woodpecker.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's been keeping track of a banded Pileated Woodpecker since November 2021, and now he seems to have found love.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:15</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Heartbreak on Peabody Street</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13457/heartbreak-on-peabody-street/</link><description>Laura found herself with a hurt Hairy Woodpecker last week, which reminded her of her old rehab days and why she no longer does this every day.</description><pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13457/heartbreak-on-peabody-street/</guid><enclosure length="8413646" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Heartbreak_on_Peabody_Street.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura found herself with a hurt Hairy Woodpecker last week, which reminded her of her old rehab days and why she no longer does this every day.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:43</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Looking for Spring in All the Wrong Places</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13456/looking-for-spring-in-all-the-wrong-places/</link><description>It's the sixth snowiest winter on record in Duluth, and Laura is hungry for spring.</description><pubDate>Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13456/looking-for-spring-in-all-the-wrong-places/</guid><enclosure length="7016188" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Looking_for_Spring_in_All_the_Wrong_Places.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>It's the sixth snowiest winter on record in Duluth, and Laura is hungry for spring.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:51</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Flaco the Eagle Owl: To Count or Not to Count?</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13455/flaco-the-eagle-owl-to-count-or-not-to-count/</link><description>Last month, a Eurasian Eagle-Owl escaped from the Central Park Zoo in New York City and, despite many efforts to capture him, seems to be doing fine on his own so far. David McArthur, one of Laura's podcast listeners in New York, wonders if he can count this bird on his life list?  
  27.  
  28. The Eurasian Eagle-Owl recording used in this program was made in France by Dominique Guillerme, XC780278 via xeno-canto.org. And the photo of Flaco is from Wikipedia, taken by Rhododendrites.</description><pubDate>Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13455/flaco-the-eagle-owl-to-count-or-not-to-count/</guid><enclosure length="7426597" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Flaco_the_Eagle_Owl__To_Count_or_Not_to_Count_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Last month, a Eurasian Eagle-Owl escaped from the Central Park Zoo in New York City and, despite many efforts to capture him, seems to be doing fine on his own so far. David McArthur, one of Laura's podcast listeners in New York, wonders if he can count this bird on his life list?  
  29.  
  30. The Eurasian Eagle-Owl recording used in this program was made in France by Dominique Guillerme, XC780278 via xeno-canto.org. And the photo of Flaco is from Wikipedia, taken by Rhododendrites.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:05</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Eurasian Tree Sparrow!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13454/eurasian-tree-sparrow/</link><description>This year, some plucky little Eurasian Tree Sparrows, far from their species' established range, have been wintering in Superior, Wisconsin. Laura and Erik Bruhnke spent Saturday morning looking for them.</description><pubDate>Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13454/eurasian-tree-sparrow/</guid><enclosure length="7957510" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Eurasian_Tree_Sparrow.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>This year, some plucky little Eurasian Tree Sparrows, far from their species' established range, have been wintering in Superior, Wisconsin. Laura and Erik Bruhnke spent Saturday morning looking for them.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:26</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Enhance Your Nest Boxes with Bark!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13453/enhance-your-nest-boxes-with-bark/</link><description>Just in time for spring, Laura's friend, wildlife biologist, and all-around good person Jerry Wayne Davis has a great suggestion for improving our nest boxes--add bark to the front to give birds a more secure and comfortable perch.</description><pubDate>Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13453/enhance-your-nest-boxes-with-bark/</guid><enclosure length="7009769" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Enhance_Your_Nest_Boxes_with_Bark.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Just in time for spring, Laura's friend, wildlife biologist, and all-around good person Jerry Wayne Davis has a great suggestion for improving our nest boxes--add bark to the front to give birds a more secure and comfortable perch.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:28</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Spring Update</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13452/spring-update/</link><description>It may not look like it yet, but spring has sprung.</description><pubDate>Thu, 09 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13452/spring-update/</guid><enclosure length="6936739" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Spring_Update.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>It may not look like it yet, but spring has sprung.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:44</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Chickadee Day</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13451/chickadee-day/</link><description>Most birders do not keep track of the date on which they saw the first bird on their life list, but that doesn't matter.</description><pubDate>Wed, 08 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13451/chickadee-day/</guid><enclosure length="7704870" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Life_Lists.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Most birders do not keep track of the date on which they saw the first bird on their life list, but that doesn't matter.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:10</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Together and Apart</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13450/together-and-apart/</link><description>Family vacations can be fun for everyone, as long as we remember that every one of us enjoys different things.</description><pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13450/together-and-apart/</guid><enclosure length="7367185" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Together_or_Apart.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Family vacations can be fun for everyone, as long as we remember that every one of us enjoys different things.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:02</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Earning Trust in the Age of Climate Change</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13448/earning-trust-in-the-age-of-climate-change/</link><description>Birds and grandchildren learn to trust us to do the right thing.</description><pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13448/earning-trust-in-the-age-of-climate-change/</guid><enclosure length="8408936" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Earning_Trust_in_the_Age_of_Climate_Change.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Birds and grandchildren learn to trust us to do the right thing.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:42</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Birding Basics: Binoculars</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13447/birding-basics-binoculars/</link><description>Laura talks about things to consider when buying new binoculars</description><pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13447/birding-basics-binoculars/</guid><enclosure length="7898895" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Birding_Basics__Binoculars.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura talks about things to consider when buying new binoculars</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:16</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Superb Owl Sunday 2023</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13446/superb-owl-sunday-2023/</link><description>Laura went out with her husband Russ Sunday in hopes of seeing an owl on Superb Owl Sunday.</description><pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13446/superb-owl-sunday-2023/</guid><enclosure length="7343398" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Superb_Owl_Sunday_2023.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura went out with her husband Russ Sunday in hopes of seeing an owl on Superb Owl Sunday.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:59</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Birds Specializing on Conifers</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13444/birds-specializing-on-conifers/</link><description>Some birds depend on conifers for very specific reasons.</description><pubDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13444/birds-specializing-on-conifers/</guid><enclosure length="7695010" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Conifer_Specialists.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Some birds depend on conifers for very specific reasons.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:17</itunes:duration></item><item><title>100 Plants to Feed the Birds: Conifers</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13443/100-plants-to-feed-the-birds-conifers/</link><description>Today Laura talks about the importance of conifers—both trees and shrubs—in backyard habitat, for providing food and shelter both.</description><pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13443/100-plants-to-feed-the-birds-conifers/</guid><enclosure length="8404231" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/100_Plants_to_Feed_the_Birds__Conifers.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Today Laura talks about the importance of conifers—both trees and shrubs—in backyard habitat, for providing food and shelter both.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:39</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Slow Birding</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13442/slow-birding/</link><description>A birder named Bridget Butler has been teaching wonderful workshops and online classes about "Slow Birding"—connecting with the birds we see rather than rushing and listing. She did not write the new book titled *Slow Birding*, a new book by Joan E. Strassmann, which would better have been titled *Detailed Descriptions of Some Ornithological Research Projects on Some Familiar Birds*.    
  31.  
  32. Many of the tagged species are not mentioned in the podcast but are discussed in the blogpost.</description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13442/slow-birding/</guid><enclosure length="7639872" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Slow_Birding.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A birder named Bridget Butler has been teaching wonderful workshops and online classes about "Slow Birding"—connecting with the birds we see rather than rushing and listing. She did not write the new book titled *Slow Birding*, a new book by Joan E. Strassmann, which would better have been titled *Detailed Descriptions of Some Ornithological Research Projects on Some Familiar Birds*.    
  33.  
  34. Many of the tagged species are not mentioned in the podcast but are discussed in the blogpost.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:17</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Dawn Comes to Peabody Street</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13441/dawn-comes-to-peabody-street/</link><description>As night transitions into morning, Laura likes watching the birds show up in her yard, one by one.</description><pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13441/dawn-comes-to-peabody-street/</guid><enclosure length="8076708" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Dawn_Comes_to_Peabody_Street.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>As night transitions into morning, Laura likes watching the birds show up in her yard, one by one.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:32</itunes:duration></item><item><title>What to do BEFORE improving backyard habitat: Windows</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13440/what-to-do-before-improving-backyard-habitat-windows/</link><description>Cats and glass windows each kill about a BILLION birds every year in the United States. Before inviting birds to your yard, consider making your windows bird safe.</description><pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13440/what-to-do-before-improving-backyard-habitat-windows/</guid><enclosure length="7661724" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/What_to_do_BEFORE_improving_backyard_habitat__Windows.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Cats and glass windows each kill about a BILLION birds every year in the United States. Before inviting birds to your yard, consider making your windows bird safe.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:15</itunes:duration></item><item><title>What to do BEFORE improving backyard habitat: Cats</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13439/what-to-do-before-improving-backyard-habitat-cats/</link><description>As important as quality backyard habitat is, we must first make sure we're not luring birds to their deaths. Cats and windows each kill about a BILLION birds in the United States every year. Laura talks about outdoor cats today.</description><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13439/what-to-do-before-improving-backyard-habitat-cats/</guid><enclosure length="7422283" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/What_to_do_BEFORE_improving_backyard_habitat__Cats.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>As important as quality backyard habitat is, we must first make sure we're not luring birds to their deaths. Cats and windows each kill about a BILLION birds in the United States every year. Laura talks about outdoor cats today.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:01</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Mourning Doves!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13438/mourning-doves/</link><description>Most Mourning Doves leave northern Minnesota in winter, but listener Kelli Alseth wrote to Laura about one visiting her Proctor feeder this winter. Doves are very vulnerable to cold, but a few stick it out up here. Kelli is doing everything right to ensure that her bird has as good a chance of surviving as possible</description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13438/mourning-doves/</guid><enclosure length="7711927" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Kelli_Alseths_Mourning_Dove.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Most Mourning Doves leave northern Minnesota in winter, but listener Kelli Alseth wrote to Laura about one visiting her Proctor feeder this winter. Doves are very vulnerable to cold, but a few stick it out up here. Kelli is doing everything right to ensure that her bird has as good a chance of surviving as possible</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:18</itunes:duration></item><item><title>A Million Ways to Bird</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13437/a-million-ways-to-bird/</link><description>After growing irritated with the birdwatchers who smugly criticize the way *other* birdwatchers watch birds, Laura talks about the many ways people can enjoy birds, hoping every individual can find their own individual path.</description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13437/a-million-ways-to-bird/</guid><enclosure length="7248759" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/A_Million_Ways_to_Bird.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>After growing irritated with the birdwatchers who smugly criticize the way *other* birdwatchers watch birds, Laura talks about the many ways people can enjoy birds, hoping every individual can find their own individual path.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:49</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Two More Ways to Eat a Sunflower Seed</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13436/two-more-ways-to-eat-a-sunflower-seed/</link><description>Blue Jays and chickadees have two different ways to eat a sunflower seed.</description><pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13436/two-more-ways-to-eat-a-sunflower-seed/</guid><enclosure length="6427668" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Two_More_Ways_to_Eat_a_Sunflower_Seed.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Blue Jays and chickadees have two different ways to eat a sunflower seed.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:23</itunes:duration></item><item><title>How to Eat a Sunflower Seed If You're a Dove or a Finch</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13435/how-to-eat-a-sunflower-seed-if-youre-a-dove-or-a-finch/</link><description>There are at least four ways that birds eat sunflower seeds. Today Laura explains two of them.</description><pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13435/how-to-eat-a-sunflower-seed-if-youre-a-dove-or-a-finch/</guid><enclosure length="6569252" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/How_to_Eat_a_Sunflower_Seed_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>There are at least four ways that birds eat sunflower seeds. Today Laura explains two of them.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:20</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Stranger in a Strange Land: Adapting to a Novel Environment</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13434/stranger-in-a-strange-land-adapting-to-a-novel-environment/</link><description>Seeing videos of a rescued baby beaver building a dam out of plush toys and Christmas decorations last week reminded Laura of when she was a rehabber, and how wild birds adapted to an unnatural environment.  
  35.  
  36. Virtually all of the transcripts of "For the Birds" programs are available on my blog, usually with photos. I didn't take a lot of pictures back when I was rehabbing in the 80s and 90s--film and getting it developed were expensive! But for this program I did post photos of my little daughter holding this particular Sora. Listeners may enjoy seeing them.</description><pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13434/stranger-in-a-strange-land-adapting-to-a-novel-environment/</guid><enclosure length="8084845" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land__Adapting_to_a_Novel_Environment.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Seeing videos of a rescued baby beaver building a dam out of plush toys and Christmas decorations last week reminded Laura of when she was a rehabber, and how wild birds adapted to an unnatural environment.  
  37.  
  38. Virtually all of the transcripts of "For the Birds" programs are available on my blog, usually with photos. I didn't take a lot of pictures back when I was rehabbing in the 80s and 90s--film and getting it developed were expensive! But for this program I did post photos of my little daughter holding this particular Sora. Listeners may enjoy seeing them.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:31</itunes:duration></item><item><title>First Pileated of 2023</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13433/first-pileated-of-2023/</link><description>For the first time ever, Laura didn't wonder what her first bird of the new year would be--she was thinking about which individual Pileated Woodpecker she'd see first in 2023.</description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13433/first-pileated-of-2023/</guid><enclosure length="7714017" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/First_Pileated_of_2023.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>For the first time ever, Laura didn't wonder what her first bird of the new year would be--she was thinking about which individual Pileated Woodpecker she'd see first in 2023.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:16</itunes:duration></item><item><title>American Birding Association's Bird of the Year for 2023: Belted Kingfisher!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13431/american-birding-associations-bird-of-the-year-for-2023-belted-kingfisher/</link><description>The Belted Kingfisher has been selected as the 2023 Bird of the Year by the American Birding Association, stirring up lots of memories for Laura.</description><pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13431/american-birding-associations-bird-of-the-year-for-2023-belted-kingfisher/</guid><enclosure length="7291383" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/ABA_Bird_of_the_Year__Belted_Kingfisher.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>The Belted Kingfisher has been selected as the 2023 Bird of the Year by the American Birding Association, stirring up lots of memories for Laura.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:00</itunes:duration></item><item><title>100 Plants to Feed the Birds</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13430/100-plants-to-feed-the-birds/</link><description>Laura talks about her brand new book.</description><pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13430/100-plants-to-feed-the-birds/</guid><enclosure length="9985255" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/100_Plants_to_Feed_the_Birds.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura talks about her brand new book.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:53</itunes:duration></item><item><title>2022 Duluth Christmas Bird Count, Part 2</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13432/2022-duluth-christmas-bird-count-part-2/</link><description>This year's Duluth Christmas Bird Count was a little low on both species and total numbers, but as always, Laura got to see and photograph some wonderful birds.</description><pubDate>Thu, 29 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13432/2022-duluth-christmas-bird-count-part-2/</guid><enclosure length="8387632" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Duluth_Christmas_Bird_Count_Part_2.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>This year's Duluth Christmas Bird Count was a little low on both species and total numbers, but as always, Laura got to see and photograph some wonderful birds.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:34</itunes:duration></item><item><title>2022 Duluth Christmas Bird Count results, Part 1</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13429/2022-duluth-christmas-bird-count-results-part-1/</link><description>Laura did her annual trek on Saturday, December 17.</description><pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13429/2022-duluth-christmas-bird-count-results-part-1/</guid><enclosure length="7517654" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Duluth_Christmas_Bird_Count_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura did her annual trek on Saturday, December 17.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:07</itunes:duration></item><item><title>She's Back!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13427/shes-back/</link><description>Wisdom, the oldest wild bird in the known universe, returned to Midway Island again!</description><pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13427/shes-back/</guid><enclosure length="8703398" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Wisdom.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Wisdom, the oldest wild bird in the known universe, returned to Midway Island again!</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:00</itunes:duration></item><item><title>A Belated Thank You to Randal Robinson</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13426/a-belated-thank-you-to-randal-robinson/</link><description>One of Laura's college Shakespeare classes made a huge difference in her life.</description><pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13426/a-belated-thank-you-to-randal-robinson/</guid><enclosure length="7905677" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Thank_You_Dr._Robinson.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>One of Laura's college Shakespeare classes made a huge difference in her life.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:12</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Why Shakespeare has been so important to me</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13425/why-shakespeare-has-been-so-important-to-me/</link><description>Laura explains why she has taken more Shakespeare courses than most non-English majors.</description><pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13425/why-shakespeare-has-been-so-important-to-me/</guid><enclosure length="6725778" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Shakespeare_Part_I.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura explains why she has taken more Shakespeare courses than most non-English majors.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:23</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Make the Belted Kingfisher the official mascot of the University of Illinois</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13423/make-the-belted-kingfisher-the-official-mascot-of-the-university-of-illinois/</link><description>Laura attended the University of Illinois from 1969-1971, when their mascot was the offensive and stereotypical "Chief Illiniwek." Due to pressure from students, alumni, staff, and the community, the U. of I. got rid of that mascot in 2008, but haven't replaced it with anything. A wonderful student, and now alumnus, named Spencer Halsey spearheaded a campaign to name a real-life blue-and-orange local bird, the Belted Kingfisher, the new official mascot. This is a splendid idea that deserves support.</description><pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13423/make-the-belted-kingfisher-the-official-mascot-of-the-university-of-illinois/</guid><enclosure length="8034148" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/University_of_Illinois_Mascot.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura attended the University of Illinois from 1969-1971, when their mascot was the offensive and stereotypical "Chief Illiniwek." Due to pressure from students, alumni, staff, and the community, the U. of I. got rid of that mascot in 2008, but haven't replaced it with anything. A wonderful student, and now alumnus, named Spencer Halsey spearheaded a campaign to name a real-life blue-and-orange local bird, the Belted Kingfisher, the new official mascot. This is a splendid idea that deserves support.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:33</itunes:duration></item><item><title>The Chickadee deserves a place in Guinness World Records</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13422/the-chickadee-deserves-a-place-in-guinness-world-records/</link><description>It takes verifiable documentation for anyone, bird or human, to make the grade in *Guinness World Records*. But based on the standard for the entry "lowest temperature endured by a bird," the Black-capped Chickadee is definitely a contender.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13422/the-chickadee-deserves-a-place-in-guinness-world-records/</guid><enclosure length="7489223" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Chickadees_belong_in_Guinness.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>It takes verifiable documentation for anyone, bird or human, to make the grade in *Guinness World Records*. But based on the standard for the entry "lowest temperature endured by a bird," the Black-capped Chickadee is definitely a contender.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:06</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Record-breakers, from turkeys to godwits</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13421/record-breakers-from-turkeys-to-godwits/</link><description>Laura's been spending a lot of time perusing the *Guinness Book of World Records* this week.</description><pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13421/record-breakers-from-turkeys-to-godwits/</guid><enclosure length="8514213" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Record_Breakers.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's been spending a lot of time perusing the *Guinness Book of World Records* this week.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:41</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Godwits!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13420/godwits/</link><description>Laura talks about the four godwit species in the world.</description><pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13420/godwits/</guid><enclosure length="7284417" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Godwits.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura talks about the four godwit species in the world.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:54</itunes:duration></item><item><title>In My Prime</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13419/in-my-prime/</link><description>Laura's 71st birthday, as usual, has her thinking about birds.</description><pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13419/in-my-prime/</guid><enclosure length="8205093" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/In_My_Prime.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's 71st birthday, as usual, has her thinking about birds.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:37</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Phainopepla: A Bird as Unique as Its Name.</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13417/phainopepla-a-bird-as-unique-as-its-name/</link><description>A bird with a cool name is unique in other ways, too.</description><pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13417/phainopepla-a-bird-as-unique-as-its-name/</guid><enclosure length="8121602" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Phainopepla__A_Bird_As_Unique_As_Its_Name.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A bird with a cool name is unique in other ways, too.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:32</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Phainopepla: Which way did she go?</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13418/phainopepla-which-way-did-she-go/</link><description>Minnesota's first record of a Phainopepla stuck around the McQuade boat landing from October 29 through November 1. Where is she now? No one will ever know.</description><pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13418/phainopepla-which-way-did-she-go/</guid><enclosure length="8039113" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Phainopepla__Which_Way_Did_She_Go_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Minnesota's first record of a Phainopepla stuck around the McQuade boat landing from October 29 through November 1. Where is she now? No one will ever know.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:27</itunes:duration></item><item><title>The New Kid on the Block</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13415/the-new-kid-on-the-block/</link><description>A new Pileated Woodpecker spent some time in Laura's yard making her wonder how Pileateds figure out bird feeders.</description><pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13415/the-new-kid-on-the-block/</guid><enclosure length="6501380" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/The_New_Kid_on_the_Block.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>A new Pileated Woodpecker spent some time in Laura's yard making her wonder how Pileateds figure out bird feeders.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:24</itunes:duration></item><item><title>What's the Name of That Song?</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13414/whats-the-name-of-that-song/</link><description>New apps can identify songs for us, whether those songs were produced by a person or a bird. (The program opens with a Sesame Street recording of "What's the Name of That Song?" and uses the "Li'l Darlin'" tract from the album *The Atomic Mr. Basie*.</description><pubDate>Wed, 02 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13414/whats-the-name-of-that-song/</guid><enclosure length="8749884" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Whats_the_Name_of_That_Song_.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>New apps can identify songs for us, whether those songs were produced by a person or a bird. (The program opens with a Sesame Street recording of "What's the Name of That Song?" and uses the "Li'l Darlin'" tract from the album *The Atomic Mr. Basie*.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>6:00</itunes:duration></item><item><title>When Rarity Begets Rarity</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13413/when-rarity-begets-rarity/</link><description>When birders gather to see one rare bird, they often spot another one.</description><pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13413/when-rarity-begets-rarity/</guid><enclosure length="7897063" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Rarities_Beget_Rarities.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>When birders gather to see one rare bird, they often spot another one.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:19</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Birds in Art, Part 3: When Birds and Humans Intersect</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13412/birds-in-art-part-3-when-birds-and-humans-intersect/</link><description>Laura's favorite thing about the Woodson Art Museum's annual "Birds in Art" exhibit is how each artist has a unique spin on the theme.</description><pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13412/birds-in-art-part-3-when-birds-and-humans-intersect/</guid><enclosure length="7613373" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Birds_in_Art_Part_3__Where_humans_and_birds_intersect.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's favorite thing about the Woodson Art Museum's annual "Birds in Art" exhibit is how each artist has a unique spin on the theme.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:11</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Birds in Art, Part 2: The 2022 Exhibit at the Woodson Art Museum</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13411/birds-in-art-part-2-the-2022-exhibit-at-the-woodson-art-museum/</link><description>Laura talks about her visit last month to the Leigh Yawkkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau to see the 2022 Birds in Art exhibit.</description><pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13411/birds-in-art-part-2-the-2022-exhibit-at-the-woodson-art-museum/</guid><enclosure length="7697383" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Birds_In_Art_Part_2.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura talks about her visit last month to the Leigh Yawkkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau to see the 2022 Birds in Art exhibit.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:14</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Birds in Art, Part I: A little history</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13410/birds-in-art-part-i-a-little-history/</link><description>Laura's annual sojourn to the Woodson Art Museum in Wausau to see this year's Birds in Art exhibit got her thinking about the history of bird art.</description><pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13410/birds-in-art-part-i-a-little-history/</guid><enclosure length="7874571" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Birds_in_Art_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's annual sojourn to the Woodson Art Museum in Wausau to see this year's Birds in Art exhibit got her thinking about the history of bird art.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:18</itunes:duration></item><item><title>The Value of Certified Coffee</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13409/the-value-of-certified-coffee/</link><description>Laura's quiet morning routine would be far less satisfying if the coffee she drank had robbed tropical birds of habitat or hurt the people growing and harvesting it.</description><pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13409/the-value-of-certified-coffee/</guid><enclosure length="6361183" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Coffee_Certification.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's quiet morning routine would be far less satisfying if the coffee she drank had robbed tropical birds of habitat or hurt the people growing and harvesting it.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:20</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Joy in the Morning</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13408/joy-in-the-morning/</link><description>Starting the day with a cup of coffee while watching chickadees, Blue Jays, and a Pileated Woodpecker just inches away--what could be better? (Any time I mention a photo or video, it appears on that program's blog post. Today's shows video of the Pileated bobbing her head.)</description><pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13408/joy-in-the-morning/</guid><enclosure length="7992372" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Joy_in_the_Morning.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Starting the day with a cup of coffee while watching chickadees, Blue Jays, and a Pileated Woodpecker just inches away--what could be better? (Any time I mention a photo or video, it appears on that program's blog post. Today's shows video of the Pileated bobbing her head.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:27</itunes:duration></item><item><title>When Numbers Get Serious</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13407/when-numbers-get-serious/</link><description>Blue Jays broke a record this month--over 60,000 of them migrated over Hawk Ridge in Duluth. What does this mean? And what the heck does it have to do with baseball?</description><pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13407/when-numbers-get-serious/</guid><enclosure length="7394576" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Numbers.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Blue Jays broke a record this month--over 60,000 of them migrated over Hawk Ridge in Duluth. What does this mean? And what the heck does it have to do with baseball?</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:02</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Saw-whet Owl!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13405/saw-whet-owl/</link><description>This week, a little saw-whet owl turned up behind Laura's backyard.</description><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13405/saw-whet-owl/</guid><enclosure length="8324511" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Saw-whet_Owl.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>This week, a little saw-whet owl turned up behind Laura's backyard.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:40</itunes:duration></item><item><title>October!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13404/october/</link><description>Saturday morning was a splendid start to the month, at least on Laura's corner of Peabody Street.</description><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13404/october/</guid><enclosure length="7569583" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/October.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Saturday morning was a splendid start to the month, at least on Laura's corner of Peabody Street.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:11</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Hit By Pitch</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13403/hit-by-pitch/</link><description>Baseball players sometimes get hit by pitches--nowadays no one more than Laura's favorite player of all, Anthony Rizzo. But those players have a much greater survival rate than the hapless dove who got beaned by a baseball. (The accompanying blog post has a LOT more information than I could fit into the podcast.)</description><pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13403/hit-by-pitch/</guid><enclosure length="11601423" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Hit_By_Pitch.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Baseball players sometimes get hit by pitches--nowadays no one more than Laura's favorite player of all, Anthony Rizzo. But those players have a much greater survival rate than the hapless dove who got beaned by a baseball. (The accompanying blog post has a LOT more information than I could fit into the podcast.)</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>7:53</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Dee Dee Nana</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13402/dee-dee-nana/</link><description>Laura's grandson Walter has a brand new name for her.</description><pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13402/dee-dee-nana/</guid><enclosure length="6722923" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Dee_Dee_Nana.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Laura's grandson Walter has a brand new name for her.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:32</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Hawk Ridge: Fifty Years and Counting!</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13401/hawk-ridge-fifty-years-and-counting/</link><description>This is the fiftieth anniversary of Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth. People will be celebrating this weekend.</description><pubDate>Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13401/hawk-ridge-fifty-years-and-counting/</guid><enclosure length="6584889" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Hawk_Ridge__50_Years_and_Counting.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>This is the fiftieth anniversary of Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth. People will be celebrating this weekend.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>4:26</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Part 2</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13399/fork-tailed-flycatcher-part-2/</link><description>Stony Point was filled with happy birders on Saturday morning.</description><pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13399/fork-tailed-flycatcher-part-2/</guid><enclosure length="7732968" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Fork-tailed_Flycatcher_Part_2.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>Stony Point was filled with happy birders on Saturday morning.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>5:15</itunes:duration></item><item><title>Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Part 1</title><link>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13398/fork-tailed-flycatcher-part-1/</link><description>It's hard to get anything accomplished when an extremely rare Fork-tailed Flycatcher appears.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate><guid>http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/program/13398/fork-tailed-flycatcher-part-1/</guid><enclosure length="5611319" type="audio/mpeg" url="http://media.lauraerickson.com/radio/Fork-tailed_Flycatcher_Part_1.mp3"></enclosure><itunes:summary>It's hard to get anything accomplished when an extremely rare Fork-tailed Flycatcher appears.</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>3:47</itunes:duration></item></channel></rss>

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