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.

Happy 2024

"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/.

Natural Sciences

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Outdoor

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Sports &amp; Recreation

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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.)

May Day!

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.

Don't Count Your Chickens...

If chickens found their way to Hawaii on their own, things would have worked out okay for everyone. Unfortunately, they brought humans along, too.

Here come the chickens!

During spring migration, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds usually arrive a couple of weeks after Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers do, for a very good reason.

The Sapsucker–Hummingbird Connection

Millions of years ago, Hawaii was off to a rocky start.

Happy 2024

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