11: The Birding World of Harry Potter with Laura Erickson

Happy Birthday, Harry Potter! In honor of our favorite wizard's 39th birthday, we're talking about the wonderful birding world of Harry Potter. Special guest and birding guru Laura Erickson—the internet's Professor McGonagowl—joins us to discuss details on all of the real (and magical) birds of Harry Potter. For instance: why is Ravenclaw's emblem an eagle? Could a snowy owl really carry a Nimbus 2000? What's up with phoenixes?

Laura is an expert in the bird field with more than a dozen books written about birds, including National Geographic’s Pocket Guide to the Birds of North America, the American Birding Association’s Field Guide to Birds of Minnesota, and the one she considers most important, 101 Ways to Help Birds. She was science editor at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for a couple of years and the first woman (and, shamefully, so far the last) to win the American Birding Association’s highest honor: the Roger Tory Peterson Award. She even dresses up as Professor McGonagowl for Harry Potter events! Learn some amazing facts, like if a snowy owl can carry a broom, to share with your Harry Potter friends!

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USEFUL RESOURCES
SWEET HARRY POTTER SHIT

• Laura Erickson's incredible website on the birds of Harry Potter...this woman is amazing!
• Meet the real-life Nicholas Flammel (and sorcerer’s stone)
• The etymology of some Harry Potter names 
• JK Rowling's love of owls, said from the legendary lady herself. 
• Get sorted into your house on Pottermore!
• Depictions of ravens throughout magical history
• All about the birds of alchemy: this is some serious shit, you guys.
• The mythology of the phoenix

BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)

• Snowy Owl (Hedwig)
• Great Grey Owl (Errol)
• Little Owl
• Eurasian Scops Owl (Pigwidgeon)
• Common Raven
• Carrier/Homing Pigeons