New understanding of how woodpeckers hammer trees
Study shows that when woodpeckers are pecking trees, the bill and skull are designed to work as a single unit.
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
Photographing birds through windows
Avoid the pain of missed or poor photos with these tips for shooting through panes of glass.
Summer bird feeding precautions
How to continue feeding birds after the weather warms up.
Reflecting on the gift of an out-of-range hummingbird
An out-of-range hummingbird at our feeders comes fraught with responsibilities, especially in winter.
The joy of finding a backyard owl
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
Contributing Editor Laura Erickson asks if we don’t make changes now, when will we?
How to help birds during heat waves and droughts
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
The blue beauties prefer wide-open spaces, nest boxes, and the occasional mealworm.
Hearing aids can help us hear high-frequency birdsongs
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
It’s OK to rethink your feeder setup if a raptor shows up.
Keys to attracting orioles to your yard
Oranges, nectar, jelly, and native plants can bring the pretty songbirds to your yard.
What birders should know about GMO products in bird food
Why we should think twice before offering birds food with corn.
A birdfeeding shopping list
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
How a ‘culture of conservation’ can have a positive ripple effect for birds.
Why it’s difficult to tally your backyard chickadees
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
An expert birder describes how she makes her own recordings of calling owls, singing warblers, and clacking rails
Point, zoom, and shoot
You can take great photos of birds without a spotting scope or a telephoto lens
Species profile: The Uncommon Common Nighthawk
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
Fruit-bearing plants allow robins to spend the coldest months of winter in the coldest of places