Laura Erickson's For the Birds

Since the pandemic, I’ve learned to do Zoom programs which I enjoy a lot and are extremely easy to do, especially for groups far from Duluth, but there’s nothing like being in a room with a lot of kindred spirits sharing my stories about birds.

Unfortunately, being 73, I don’t have the stamina I once did. I used to be able to drive to southern Minnesota, do a program, and drive straight home again, but after trying that recently, I decided never again. So on the rare occasions that I do schedule an out-of-town program, I’ll need a place to stay the night before and/or after. But as I grow older, my time has become more precious to me. To consent to ANY long distance travel and giving up whole days to do a program or birding festival, especially out of my usual stomping grounds in the Upper Midwest, I’ll want some birding opportunities, too.

Because of the added time and exhaustion from travel, for an in-person program outside of Minnesota and Wisconsin, I must charge $500 plus mileage and housing. (I’m usually fine staying at someone’s house rather than booking a hotel room, and if it’s where I have friends or family nearby, I don’t mind trying to arrange staying with them.) Within Minnesota and Wisconsin, I must charge $250 plus mileage and, for locations further than 100 miles away, I’ll also need to be put up overnight. Again, I’m usually fine staying at someone’s house rather than booking a hotel room, and if it’s where I have friends or family nearby, I don’t mind trying to arrange staying with them.

For remote programs, I can host a Zoom meeting (as long as necessary with up to 100 people) or do one via your group’s online meeting setup. For these, I charge $250 with two caveats: If you pay other people with my level of expertise and experience more than that, well, that’s what I should get, too. And if your group doesn’t have that kind of budget but promotes causes important to me (bird education, conservation, environmental protection, etc.), the price is very negotiable.

I’m usually quite healthy, but in the past few years, a few unexpected health issues have required me to cancel speaking engagements. If I agree to do a program, you can be certain I’ll do my best to be there, but you would be wise to have an emergency backup just in case.

(This doesn’t include workshops, field trips, etc.).
- Hampshire Bird Club meeting, Massachusetts, 2019 .
- Brookline Bird Club meeting, Massachusetts, 2019.
- Southeast Arizona Birding Festival Banquet Keynote, Arizona, 2019 .
- L.L.Bean/Maine Audubon Birding Festival, Maine, 2019.
- Indiana Dunes Birding Festival Banquet Keynote, Indiana, 2019 .
- Fremont Area District Library Saturday Morning Lecture, Michigan, 2019.
- Ocean State Bird Club annual meeting, Rhode Island, 2019
- Acadia Birding Festival, Maine, 2018.
- Iowa Ornithologists’ Union spring meeting, Iowa, 2018.
- High Plains Snow Goose Festival, Colorado, 2017.
- Hog Island Audubon Camp “Joy of Birding”, Maine, 2016 and 2018.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology Monday Night Seminar, New York, 2015.
- The Biggest Week in American Birding, Ohio, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018.
- Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Migratory Bird Day, Wisconsin, 2015, 2018.
- Wings ‘N Wetlands, Kansas, 2015.
- Georgia Ornithological Society Fall Meeting, Georgia, 2014.
- Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, Minnesota, 2014.
- Chequamagon Bay Birding and Nature Festival, Wisconsin, 2014.
- Lesser Prairie-Chicken Festival, Oklahoma, 2014.
- East Central Illinois Bluebird Society Annual Conference, Illinois, 2014.
- Red Slough Birding Festival, Oklahoma, 2013.
- Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Annual Convention, Wisconsin, 2013.
- Northwoods Birding Festival, Wisconsin, 2012.
- North American Bluebird Society Annual Meeting, California, 2012.
- Cleveland Metroparks North Shore Nature Festival, Ohio, 2011.
- Audubon Society of Missouri Fall Meeting, Missouri, 2011.
- Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, Florida, 2010.
- Sax-Zim Bog Birding Festival, Minnesota, 2008, 2018.
- Environmental Education Association of New Mexico Meeting, New Mexico, 2007.
- Central Valley Birding Symposium, California, 2007.
- American Birding Association Convention, Minnesota, 2002.
- Lake Erie Wing Watch Weekend, Ohio, 2000.
- Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds, Minnesota, 1990s.

“I had the pleasure of hearing Laura speak at The Biggest Week in American Birding in 2012. Her talk centered around common birds that were familiar even to beginners, but she described so many fascinating details about their lives and behaviors that the veteran birders in the audience were just as enthralled as the rookies. I would recommend her presentations to birders of all levels of interest and experience—you will be both educated and entertained!” —Barb Padgett

“The information that Laura shared with us, along with the large screen visuals, was extensive and fascinating, but what made the evening memorable was Laura herself. She has a wonderful sense of humor, is a natural storyteller, and is highly articulate yet completely down-to-earth.” —Donna Miller, regarding Laura’s talk at Crex Meadows, 2015, Friends of Crex Meadows Spring 2015 newsletter

“I have heard Laura speak to an audience of children and teachers about owls and hummingbirds in Houston, Minnesota, and to a group of local birders describing her Big Year, and she was sufficiently knowledgable and entertaining to maintain the rapt attention of all attendees! The exquisite photos are icing on the cake—or suet on the pine cone?” —Kerry Everett