Laura Erickson's For the Birds

The Florida Scrub-Jay has many endearing habits which, tragically, don't seem to resonate with Florida's human population.

Why does Laura have such a *personal* love for Florida Scrub-Jays?

The American Ornithological Society just announced that they are changing the names of American birds named for people.

Is respecting private property too much to ask?

An astonishing 84 percent of Americans older than 65 think they will have to make just minor sacrifices in their lives, or none at all, because of global climate change. Laura is most seriously displeased.

One of the friendliest, most approachable birds on the planet deserves serious protection from the Endangered Species Act, but isn't getting it.

Sometimes Plan B turns out to be better than Plan A.

A wild flamingo chase becomes a family affair.

Laura has wanted to see a wild American Flamingo in Florida since her first days of birding half a century ago, without luck. Would this trip to Florida be any different? (This episode was recorded in my motel room, so the sound isn't ideal.)

How accurate are those Blue Jay counts at Hawk Ridge?

A late Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Rose-breasted Grosbeak? More record-breaking numbers of Blue Jays? Flamingos in Wisconsin? This month is already on track to be an outlier. *CORRECTION* A newspaper article that I consulted got the name of the St. Marks NWR flamingo wrong, but I didn't discover this until I'd recorded the program. The name is not Phineas Phlamingo but Pinky. Also, the bird turned up there after Hurricane Michael in 2018, not in 2019.

A Barred Owl turned up in Laura's yard, distressing all the nearby birds except two hopeful crows.

On September 26, 2023, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth set a new season total for the number of Blue Jays flying past: an amazing 75,860, with more still coming! Jim Baker from Baker's Blue Jay Barn has a few thoughts.