Laura Erickson's For The Birds

How can we find owls on our own?

The more bird banders learn about owls, the more questions they have.

After saw-whet owls molt out of their baby feathers in summer, it's impossible to look at any Northern Saw-whet Owl and know what sex it is or how old it is unless it's in the hand and we're armed with measuring tools and a black light.

Laura got to spend Saturday night watching saw-whet owls get banded at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory.

Birds flying at night must avoid collisions with obstructions as they take off and land, and with one another as they cruise along. How do they do it?

Park Point's been a happenin' place this week! A couple of extremely rare vagrants were there for days or at least hours, but Laura wasn't as lucky as she wished.

How can birds find their way in the dark? The answer is nuanced, so today's program is condensed from the much longer blogpost.

Why do birds with poor night vision migrate at nighttime?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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