Skip to content
Stay in the know with
our free newsletter.

BirdWatching Your source for becoming a better birder

Log In
Sign In
  • Gear & Books
    • Binoculars
    • Spotting Scopes
    • Books
    • Feeders & Other Backyard Items
    • Preventing Bird-Window Collisions
  • Locations & Travel
    • Featured Destinations
    • Hotspots Near You
    • Birding-Tour Providers
    • Travel with Us
  • Bird Identification
    • ID Tips
    • ID Toolkit
    • Field Guides and Apps
  • Birding for Beginners
    • Getting Started
    • Attracting Birds
    • Bird-friendly Yards
    • Bird Cams
    • Helping Birds
    • Migration
    • Feeding Tips
    • Birding FAQ
  • Events
    • Birding Festival and Events
    • Submit event
  • News & Features
    • Birdwatching
    • Conservation
    • Species Profiles
    • Science
  • Photography
    • How to Photograph Birds
    • Reader Galleries
    • Featured Galleries
  • Contests
    • Birds in Flight
    • Past Contests
BirdWatching  •  Laura Erickson

Laura Erickson

Laura Erickson is the 2014 recipient of the American Birding Association’s highest honor, the Roger Tory Peterson Award. She has written many books about birds and hosts the long-running radio program and podcast “For the Birds.” Her column  “Attracting Birds,” about attracting, feeding, sheltering, and understanding the birds in your backyard, appears in every issue of BirdWatching. “Snow Bird,” her first article in the magazine, appeared in December 2003. It described the migration and winter habits of the American Robin.

Laura Erickson on social media

Black-capped Chickadees are cute, endearing, and amazing

Black-capped Chickadees are cute, endearing, and amazing

By Laura Erickson
Published February 21, 2023

Black-capped Chickadees cache food, survive frigid northern winters, and have long memories.

New understanding of how woodpeckers hammer trees

New understanding of how woodpeckers hammer trees

By Laura Erickson
Published December 22, 2022

Study shows that when woodpeckers are pecking trees, the bill and skull are designed to work as a single unit.

Photographing birds through windows

Photographing birds through windows

By Laura Erickson
Published October 11, 2022

Avoid the pain of missed or poor photos with these tips for shooting through panes of glass.

Summer bird feeding precautions

Summer bird feeding precautions

By Laura Erickson
Published June 9, 2022

How to continue feeding birds after the weather warms up.

Reflecting on the gift of an out-of-range hummingbird

Reflecting on the gift of an out-of-range hummingbird

By Laura Erickson
Published February 1, 2022

An out-of-range hummingbird at our feeders comes fraught with responsibilities, especially in winter.

The joy of finding a backyard owl

The joy of finding a backyard owl

By Laura Erickson
Published January 11, 2022

Spotting an owl in your yard or neighborhood can be like winning the World Series.

Nowhere is safe from climate change impacts — for birds or people

Nowhere is safe from climate change impacts — for birds or people

By Laura Erickson
Published September 24, 2021

Contributing Editor Laura Erickson asks if we don’t make changes now, when will we?

How to help birds during heat waves and droughts

How to help birds during heat waves and droughts

By Laura Erickson
Published August 17, 2021

As hot weather intensifies worldwide, those of us who can help birds may take some satisfaction in easing their suffering during hard times.

Tips for attracting bluebirds to your yard

Tips for attracting bluebirds to your yard

By Laura Erickson
Published July 13, 2021

The blue beauties prefer wide-open spaces, nest boxes, and the occasional mealworm.

Hearing aids can help us hear high-frequency birdsongs

Hearing aids can help us hear high-frequency birdsongs

By Laura Erickson
Published May 4, 2021

Laura’s digital hearing aids have a setting that is programmed to help her hear birds again.

Dealing with birds of prey at your feeders

Dealing with birds of prey at your feeders

By Laura Erickson
Updated April 12, 2022

It’s OK to rethink your feeder setup if a raptor shows up.

Keys to attracting orioles to your yard

Keys to attracting orioles to your yard

By Laura Erickson
Updated May 10, 2022

Oranges, nectar, jelly, and native plants can bring the pretty songbirds to your yard.

What birders should know about GMO products in bird food

What birders should know about GMO products in bird food

By Laura Erickson
Published May 13, 2020

Why we should think twice before offering birds food with corn.

A birdfeeding shopping list

A birdfeeding shopping list

By Laura Erickson
Updated April 2, 2020

Contributing Editor Laura Erickson provides advice on how to buy birdseed, suet, and other feeder fare.

What birders can do to reduce threats to birds

What birders can do to reduce threats to birds

By Laura Erickson
Published February 24, 2020

How a ‘culture of conservation’ can have a positive ripple effect for birds.

Why it’s difficult to tally your backyard chickadees

Why it’s difficult to tally your backyard chickadees

By Laura Erickson
Published January 29, 2020

Flock sizes vary, and the birds wander along a route in their winter ranges, passing through the best areas several times a day.

Our noisy world stifles the joy of listening to birds

Our noisy world stifles the joy of listening to birds

By Laura Erickson
Published August 22, 2019

Contributing Editor Laura Erickson laments on how loud our world is and how she is missing the silence.

How to avoid rats when feeding birds

How to avoid rats when feeding birds

By Laura Erickson
Published May 8, 2019

Laura Erickson provides tips for how to deter the rodents from your feeding station.

Some day, you may be able to offer hemp seed as bird food

Some day, you may be able to offer hemp seed as bird food

By Laura Erickson
Published December 28, 2018

Hemp seed hasn’t been available as bird food for decades, but that may soon change.

After losing a favorite tree, it’s time to plant anew

After losing a favorite tree, it’s time to plant anew

By Laura Erickson
Published November 1, 2018

Contributing Editor Laura Erickson reflects on the loss of a favorite tree — a huge Norway spruce — and considers her options for what to plant next.

Why you should participate in Project FeederWatch

Why you should participate in Project FeederWatch

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 28, 2022

The annual winter bird count tracks trends at North American feeders and has helped scientists monitor populations and uncover avian diseases

Not looking for lawns: Quail want plants that provide food and cover

Not looking for lawns: Quail want plants that provide food and cover

By Laura Erickson
Updated January 8, 2019

The best way to attract quail to your yard is by having native plants and trees that provide natural food and cover.

Natural food and water are key to luring warblers

Natural food and water are key to luring warblers

By Laura Erickson
Updated January 8, 2019

The best ways to attract warblers to your yard is by having natural food and water sources for the birds.

Laura Erickson on insect population decline

Laura Erickson on insect population decline

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

Where have all the insects gone? Last summer, the journal Science published a summary of several long-term studies from America and Western Europe documenting massive declines … Read More “Laura Erickson on insect population decline”

Laura Erickson on the pros and cons of feeding birds jelly

Laura Erickson on the pros and cons of feeding birds jelly

By Laura Erickson
Updated March 1, 2019

Several decades ago, one of my friends suggested that I set out jelly and oranges for orioles. She said orioles in her yard lost interest … Read More “Laura Erickson on the pros and cons of feeding birds jelly”

New Year’s resolutions that can make your backyard birds’ lives easier

New Year’s resolutions that can make your backyard birds’ lives easier

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

As every year draws to a close, I start planning how to make the next year better, especially for my backyard birds. When we first … Read More “New Year’s resolutions that can make your backyard birds’ lives easier”

Vagrant birds: Unpredictable, surprising, and cherished

Vagrant birds: Unpredictable, surprising, and cherished

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

On January 20, 2017, when I was staying at my daughter’s place in Brooklyn, New York, I took a train to Valley Stream, walked a … Read More “Vagrant birds: Unpredictable, surprising, and cherished”

How backyard birds benefit from the Duck Stamp

How backyard birds benefit from the Duck Stamp

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

Every summer, I am thrilled anew by the bounty of birds in my backyard. Our cherry trees draw in tanagers, orioles, warblers, and a host … Read More “How backyard birds benefit from the Duck Stamp”

Laura Erickson: One of the best ways to see birds up close

Laura Erickson: One of the best ways to see birds up close

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

Luring birds close is one reason to improve backyard habitat, add birdbaths, and set out feeders. Away from home, we may pish or, outside of … Read More “Laura Erickson: One of the best ways to see birds up close”

Four bird killers that may be lurking in your backyard

Four bird killers that may be lurking in your backyard

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

Attracting birds to a backyard involves more than feeders and a bath. Quality habitat is also critical, for the same reason that we humans would … Read More “Four bird killers that may be lurking in your backyard”

How Red-bellies turned a bad spot into a good nest

How Red-bellies turned a bad spot into a good nest

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

When we moved into our house in northern Minnesota in 1981, a wonderfully healthy young box elder stood next to our driveway. Now, 35 years … Read More “How Red-bellies turned a bad spot into a good nest”

Laura Erickson: Feeding birds entails serious responsibilities

Laura Erickson: Feeding birds entails serious responsibilities

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

This winter, a wolf killed a golden retriever in a popular park on the edge of Duluth. The dog was off leash, so wolf conservationists … Read More “Laura Erickson: Feeding birds entails serious responsibilities”

Laura Erickson: Nests in your yard are delightful, most of the time

Laura Erickson: Nests in your yard are delightful, most of the time

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

Every summer, I hear from people who just discovered a nest or got a glimpse of parents caring for fledglings. Seeing bird families in your … Read More “Laura Erickson: Nests in your yard are delightful, most of the time”

Steps to take to keep baths and fountains safe for birds

Steps to take to keep baths and fountains safe for birds

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

Ryan Brady is a research scientist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, a member of the state’s eBird team, and a friend of mine. … Read More “Steps to take to keep baths and fountains safe for birds”

Dealing with smart and spirited Blue Jay, for better or worse

Dealing with smart and spirited Blue Jay, for better or worse

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

I love Blue Jays. They combine beauty, brains, and spirit in a sleek three-ounce package topped with a perky little crest. People who’ve watched robins … Read More “Dealing with smart and spirited Blue Jay, for better or worse”

Laura Erickson: How planting a tree can ensure a brighter future

Laura Erickson: How planting a tree can ensure a brighter future

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

Sometime in the 1990s, I got a phone call from a man who had grown up in the house we live in. He had been … Read More “Laura Erickson: How planting a tree can ensure a brighter future”

Laura Erickson: Why I’m drawn to Cedar Waxwings

Laura Erickson: Why I’m drawn to Cedar Waxwings

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

Late every summer and into the fall, when I’m ambling down a country road in northern Wisconsin, watching raptors at Duluth’s Hawk Ridge, birding along … Read More “Laura Erickson: Why I’m drawn to Cedar Waxwings”

The pleasures of finding life birds for a new puppy

The pleasures of finding life birds for a new puppy

By Laura Erickson
Updated August 26, 2020

On March 20, I got a puppy, a Havanese named Pip. I’ve taken her on a few birding walks, but my first goal is teaching … Read More “The pleasures of finding life birds for a new puppy”

Simple chickadees observe a complex social hierarchy

Simple chickadees observe a complex social hierarchy

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

I’ve been hand-feeding mealworms to Black-capped Chickadees in my yard for many years, so I’ve had extraordinary opportunities to observe their behavior. They’re not banded … Read More “Simple chickadees observe a complex social hierarchy”

Laura Erickson: How photography can open up a whole new world of birding

Laura Erickson: How photography can open up a whole new world of birding

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

When I started birding, in 1975, I wasn’t interested in photography. I was a college student and couldn’t afford a telephoto lens or the expenses … Read More “Laura Erickson: How photography can open up a whole new world of birding”

Why even a Big Year can’t compete with the comforts, and the birds, of home

Why even a Big Year can’t compete with the comforts, and the birds, of home

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

In 2013, I tried to see as many birds as I could in the Lower 48. I recorded 604 species, each one a thrill. From … Read More “Why even a Big Year can’t compete with the comforts, and the birds, of home”

A reluctant farewell to a favorite spot for Le Conte’s Sparrow

A reluctant farewell to a favorite spot for Le Conte’s Sparrow

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

In fall 1975, my husband and I went to Port Wing, Wisconsin, on Lake Superior, where his parents were fixing up a house for retirement. … Read More “A reluctant farewell to a favorite spot for Le Conte’s Sparrow”

How habitat created by neighbors brought warblers, waxwings, and other birds to Laura Erickson’s yard

How habitat created by neighbors brought warblers, waxwings, and other birds to Laura Erickson’s yard

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

Several years ago, our neighbors decided to establish natural habitat in their front and back yards. They constructed a small pond with a recirculating pump … Read More “How habitat created by neighbors brought warblers, waxwings, and other birds to Laura Erickson’s yard”

Laura Erickson tells why you shouldn’t feed pigeons

Laura Erickson tells why you shouldn’t feed pigeons

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

In the 1964 movie Mary Poppins, “the little old bird woman” played by actress Jane Darwell sits on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral in … Read More “Laura Erickson tells why you shouldn’t feed pigeons”

Laura Erickson describes a joyful return to a long-neglected feeder

Laura Erickson describes a joyful return to a long-neglected feeder

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

One of my favorite birding spots has long been my mother-in-law’s place in the woods in northern Wisconsin. She started feeding birds there in 1975, … Read More “Laura Erickson describes a joyful return to a long-neglected feeder”

Why finches might not eat the Nyjer seed you provide

Why finches might not eat the Nyjer seed you provide

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

Redpolls invaded northern Minnesota in the fall of 2012. The tiny finches appeared in my Duluth yard in November and fed in droves in my … Read More “Why finches might not eat the Nyjer seed you provide”

Attract ground-feeding sparrows without subsidizing House Sparrows

Attract ground-feeding sparrows without subsidizing House Sparrows

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

American sparrows are among my favorite birds. Their understated beauty appeals to my very soul, but their subtle markings and limited color palette intimidate birders. … Read More “Attract ground-feeding sparrows without subsidizing House Sparrows”

You can attract birds even when you’re traveling

You can attract birds even when you’re traveling

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

I’ve spent much of 2013 crisscrossing the United States, trying to see as many birds of conservation concern as possible in what I’m calling my … Read More “You can attract birds even when you’re traveling”

Comfort and solace: The healing power of birds in the backyard

Comfort and solace: The healing power of birds in the backyard

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

In August 2011, my husband was diagnosed with cancer that required surgery. The night he came home, he was in pain. We had trouble sleeping … Read More “Comfort and solace: The healing power of birds in the backyard”

Five simple ways to grow your yard list

Five simple ways to grow your yard list

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 7, 2018

When my husband and I were lugging boxes into our new house in 1981, a Bald Eagle flew overhead low enough for us to see … Read More “Five simple ways to grow your yard list”

Species profile: The wonder of the Wichita Mountains, Black-capped Vireo

Species profile: The wonder of the Wichita Mountains, Black-capped Vireo

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 2, 2018

One of the best places in the country for Black-capped Vireos lies at the intersection of passion and science in southwestern Oklahoma

How to make your own recordings of bird calls

How to make your own recordings of bird calls

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 3, 2018

An expert birder describes how she makes her own recordings of calling owls, singing warblers, and clacking rails

Point, zoom, and shoot

Point, zoom, and shoot

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 2, 2018

You can take great photos of birds without a spotting scope or a telephoto lens

Species profile: The Uncommon Common Nighthawk

Species profile: The Uncommon Common Nighthawk

By Laura Erickson
Updated August 26, 2020

Much remains to be learned about the mesmerizing and beautiful Common Nighthawk, including why it may be disappearing from our nighttime skies

Species profile: Snow bird, American Robin

Species profile: Snow bird, American Robin

By Laura Erickson
Updated October 3, 2018

Fruit-bearing plants allow robins to spend the coldest months of winter in the coldest of places

Advertisement

Editor's Picks

  • Species profile: Snow bird, American Robin
    News
    House committee votes to delist the Lesser Prairie-Chicken
  • Species profile: Snow bird, American Robin
    News
    The trouble with oil and gas infrastructure
  • Species profile: Snow bird, American Robin
    News
    Lawsuit aims to save birds from exploding rockets
Advertisement

Hotspots Near You: View up-to-date info from local birders about easily accessible places to watch birds.

Current IssueBirdWatching Magazine

See Inside
Advertisement

Subscribe Now

Save over 25% and get all-access: print+iPad

Follow Us
Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, contests and more!

Start your free trial

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Manage Your Consent
  • About Us
  • Meet the Staff
  • Contact Us
  • Submissions
© 2023 Madavor Media, LLC. All rights reserved.