Laura Erickson's For the Birds

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Natural Sciences
**Laura Erickson’s For the Birds**

“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/.

Latest Episodes:

For the Birds Retrospective Part 2-Radio?! Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Laura never imagined doing anything on the radio, until a cataclysmic event made her rush in to fill a vacuum.

For the Birds Retrospective: Part 1, seeking my niche in the Duluth birding community Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

As "For the Birds" approaches its 40th anniversary next month, Laura's thinking back on what made her start this radio show in the first place. The family portrait photo was taken within a month or two of my starting "For the Birds." (No April Fools Day program this year--Laura couldn't find anything fun in the news.)

OLDIE: Baker's Blue Jay Video Games Mar 29, 2026

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This was from a December sometime in the 90s.

OLDIE: Baker's Blue Jay Blend: Not Just for Blue Jays Anymore Mar 29, 2026

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Jim Baker discovers the wonder of chickadees!

OLDIE: Testimonials about Earth Angel Bird Identification Binoculars Mar 29, 2026

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Earth Angel hears from two satisfied customers, "Lars," whose Earth Angel Bird Identification Binoculars saved his life, and Juliet Montague, who settled an argument with her husband thanks to these amazing optics. For one month, I launched an hour-long program, "Wake Robin," with interviews, music, silly ads, and lots of fun stuff about birds. But I couldn't get anyone at KUMD interested in helping with production. Tim Winker, "the VOICE of the North Woods" and one of KUMD's most creative volunteers, helped me each week, running the board and making sure everything went okay, but without sponsors, I couldn't pay anyone (much less myself), and it took about 60 hours each week for me to get the pre-recorded segments written and produced. So it didn't last. This was one of the segments on that program. Tim Winker introduced the piece, Karen Keenan played Earth Angel, Russ Erickson played Lars, and Stephanie Hemphill played Juliet Montague.

OLDIE: Where, Oh Where Mar 29, 2026

Show notes

When this oldie got stuck in my head with new lyrics, I wanted to record it, but my normal accompanist plays piano and this needed a different sound. KUMD was in the basement of UMD's music department, and one day I mustered the courage to ask a professor I often saw in the hall if he had any kids who could do the musical background. They were Darin Bergsven, Nate Perbix, and John Sommerfeld, and were very fun to record in the studio—I’d never done that before! Of course, there was no way in heck I could record my own voice while they were listening! At the time, I was in the Duluth Symphony Chorus, but unless my voice is hidden within a chorus, I am strictly a closet singer.

OLDIE: Jim Baker's Jaybelline Eye Cosmetics Mar 29, 2026

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Another oldie from 20 or 30 years ago, an ad for a new line of products available at Baker's Blue Jay Barn. (Jim Baker voiced by John Keenan.)

OLDIE: Turn Around Mar 29, 2026

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The California Ravens sang this oldie sometime around 2000. Katherine Erickson on piano.

OLDIE: Jim Baker's Blue Jay Board Games Mar 29, 2026

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A commercial for Jim Baker's new assortment of board games to keep your Blue Jays entertained.

OLDIE: Jim Baker's Oil of Ojay Mar 29, 2026

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I'm not sure when this first aired--probably around 2000--but I am adding it now because I'm posting several funny programs in time for April Fool's Day.