Nocturnal bird banding efforts continued at LLCC Monday evening, and a Northern Saw-whet Owl successfully caught and banded!
Category Archives: Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Promoting GIS in Education
LLCC and Think Geospatial Education will host a workshop for educators on “Promoting GIS in Education” on Nov. 12, 4-7:30 p.m. in Sangamon Hall, Room 2309. The event takes place during Geography Awareness Week, Nov. 11-15.
“ArcGIS online mapping allows students to design maps, analyze data and create story maps. These tools help students to learn valuable geospatial and critical thinking skills for problem solving,” says Dean Butzow, LLCC professor of geography.
Participants will learn what GIS is and why it is important, basic GIS skills that can be used with students, the potential of GIS in curriculum, how to set up a free ArcGIS online account and about the K-12 Esri GIS competition. The workshop offers three, free professional development hours (PDHs) for teachers and is sponsored by LLCC, Think Geospatial Education, Esri, the Illinois Geographic Alliance and the Geographic Society of Chicago.
Space is limited for this event. The cost of the workshop is $10, and registration is required by Friday, Nov. 8. A light dinner will be included. Register online at https://thinkgeospatial.education.
Nocturnal bird banding
This past weekend nocturnal bird banding was conducted at LLCC in hopes of capturing some of the resident and migratory owl species, in particular a specific migratory owl (Northern Saw-whet Owl). Unfortunately, one of these owls has not been caught to date. But a resident species – Eastern Screech Owl – was caught. After banding and collecting various metrics, the owl was placed in a dark box outside the building for about 10 minutes to let its eyes acclimate to the darkness. When the box was opened, the owl flew off!
In the community
Tony Rothering, professor of biology, provided a bird banding demonstration at Jubilee Farm on Oct. 5. He shared information about the purpose of banding and migratory patterns.
Genetic research presentation today at 2:30 p.m.
Faculty, staff and students are invited to join the LLCC Chemistry Club for a presentation on genetic research today, Sept. 25, from 2:30-3:15 p.m. in S2216. Becky Rose, a former LLCC student, will be discussing her summer research project as part of the PRECS program (Phenotypic Plasticity Research Experience for Community College). Becky was one of only 10 community college students chosen for this competitive program. Refreshments will be provided.
Genetic research presentation tomorrow 2:30-3:15 p.m.
Faculty, staff and students are invited to a presentation on genetic research on Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 2:30-3:15 p.m. in S2216. Becky Rose, a former LLCC student, will be discussing her summer research project as part of the PRECS program (Phenotypic Plasticity Research Experience for Community College). Becky was one of only 10 community college students chosen for this competitive program. Refreshments will be provided.
Bluebird houses installed on campus
Tony Rothering, professor of biology, worked with Boy Scout Troop 210 to install 28 bluebird houses on the LLCC campus in Springfield on Saturday, Aug. 24. The undertaking was Zach Rothering’s Eagle Scout project. WICS/Fox Illinois covered the event.
“Bluebirds like the habitat at LLCC, and adding these houses means more bluebirds will come to campus, likely roosting over the winter as well,” explains Professor Rothering.
The bluebird boxes were made by Rothering and his son Zach, and funded by memorial gifts for Rothering’s mother, Kay.
LLCC is the only community college in Illinois with a continuous bird banding research project on site. In cooperation with the Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders, LLCC biology students can participate in the capture, banding and release of birds, recording information which is added to a massive data pool on bird migration patterns. The bird banding program began in fall 2012. Since then, more than 23,000 birds have been banded with the help of LLCC students and community members.
BIO 208 students participated in cleanup of Tobacco Cave Reef
Biology 208 students, taught by Dave Cox, professor of biology, participated in a cleanup of Tobacco Caye Reef in Belize last May. A progress report just issued from Tobacco Caye Marine Station thanked all of the cleanup volunteers. “Thanks to all of you it was a huge success with over 1,100 pounds of trash collected. We hope that all participants … continue to spread the word about ocean plastic and how each one of us has an impact.” The next LLCC Belize trip will be in January 2020 (Bio 209-Biological Field Studies) where students will continue jaguar research. For more information, contact Professor Cox at dave.cox@llcc.edu.
Congratulations to LLCC Agriculture!
Congratulations to LLCC Agriculture for receiving one of six national Postsecondary All-Star Awards from the National Association of Agricultural Educators! The award honored LLCC as an outstanding postsecondary agriculture program from the Midwest region. LLCC will be recognized at the NAAE Conference in Anaheim, Calif. in December.
Boys and Girls Club Teens learn about agriculture at LLCC
As part of a summer program, Teen Career Launch, Boys and Girls Club teens are getting to learn about a variety of career fields and areas of study at Lincoln Land Community College! On Monday, they participated in hands-on activities in agriculture, including operating the combine simulator, learning about topographic changes in farmland with the augmented reality sandbox and flying drones to monitor crop growth.
