Category Archives: Natural and Agricultural Sciences

12.11.23

Fall 2023 bird banding highlights

Fall 2023 was LLCC’s 22nd banding season (12th spring season) since the station’s inception (fall 2012). Below are a few of the highlights:

  • We banded 1,410 birds of 77 species over 64 banding days. This translates into 22.0 birds banded per day.
  • We also had 197 repeat captures (birds banded earlier during the fall 2023 season) and 29 return captures (birds banded during a previous season).
    • Two of the more interesting recaptures were a Black-capped Chickadee that was originally banded in 2016 and a Northern Cardinal that was originally banded in 2017.
  • Our highest one-day total for the season was 91 birds banded on Oct. 30.
  • The top five species banded (by abundance) for the season were as follows — species (# banded): Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco (139), American Goldfinch (136), House Finch  (122), Chipping Sparrow (95) and Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler (93).
  • The cumulative total number of birds banded (over 22 seasons) at the LLCC BBS is 36,040 birds of 135 species.
  • We continue to host many volunteers and guests, including a number of LLCC biology classes, UIS graduate students, and employees from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Natural History Survey.
  • Our spring banding operations are scheduled to begin March 14, 2024.

If you are interested in following our daily/weekly banding activities, we have two Facebook pages you are welcome to follow: Lincoln Land Community College Bird Banding Station (daily reports/photos of our banding activities at LLCC) and Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders – LLABB (~ weekly reports/photos of banding activities at other sites throughout central Illinois).

Tony Rothering, professor of biology

12.05.23

Last week’s LLCC Ag events

Group of volunteers at Ag ExpoLast week, LLCC Ag hosted an invitational agronomy career development event for schools across Illinois. Ten FFA chapters competed. The event included equipment, insect, crop and weed identification, crop judging and an exam. LLCC Ag also hosted a dairy foods workout for FFA members to practice their skills for their section and state FFA events. The workout included an exam, cheese identification, milk grading and real versus artificial food identification. Seven schools competed in dairy foods.

In addition, LLCC’s second Ag Expo of the year took place on Friday, Dec. 1. There were 115 students in attendance who participated in workshops on ag sales, ag technology, food labels and information about the LLCC Ag program. Students also got to propagate a plant in the greenhouse and take it home with them. LLCC Ag ambassadors and student volunteers facilitated workshops, led groups and answered questions on a student panel.

Plant propagationweed identificationCheese tastingFood label workshop

11.06.23

Scholarship donors receive honey from LLCC West Lake Nature Grove

The LLCC Foundation would like to give a special thanks to David Cox, professor of biology and LLCC West Lake Nature Grove extraordinaire, for sharing his time and talents with our scholarship donors! Professor Cox bottled over 200 honey bears to provide a gift from “home” to our donors near and far. The honey bears were included in the gift packages and represent a hive of activity and growth for our LLCC campus, students and community. Thank you!

Dave Cox holding "honey bear"donor gift bags with popcorn, honey and other treats

10.30.23

In the news

Chris Russell, police chief, and student Ellie Lieber were interviewed regarding the “Fear 101” haunted house by WCIA TV Oct. 27. Students Faith Barnett and Hunter Woods also led the reporter through the haunted house.

Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies posted information on their FlowCam Blog highlighting Dave Cox, professor biology, and Jennifer Davis, lab coordinator, for their upcoming project using FlowCam technology to expand students’ understanding of biological diversity.

10.30.23

Ag Club completes tree planting project at Wilcox Elementary

Ag Club students planting a tree with elementary students looking on
Members of the LLCC Agriculture Club and their advisors Liz Conrady and Bill Harmon recently completed a tree planting service project at District 186 Wilcox Elementary School in Springfield.

The club was contacted by the school about a lack of shade trees on their playground, asking if they could help. The club applied for a grant from the Central Chapter of the Illinois Native Plant Society to help cover part of the cost of the trees. After being approved for the grant, three trees were purchased from Green View Company, who sold them to the club at half price to help reduce the costs for the project.

The trees planted were a swamp white oak, a red oak and a thornless honey locust. The planting was timed so that the K-5 grade classes at Wilcox could watch the installation, ask questions and learn about the importance of trees. The club members fertilized, mulched and watered the trees after planting to help ensure that they were off to a good start.

The LLCC Agriculture Club currently has 54 members and provides extracurricular recreation, career development and service opportunities to its members.

Ag club students filling in soil around the newly planted treeAg Club students patting down the soil around the tree just planted

10.13.23

Dual credit students conduct lab work at Jim Edgar Panther Creek

Five students wearing gloves, holding nets and sample jars, and walking on rocks near creekLLCC dual credit students from Lanphier High School recently had an opportunity to conduct aquatic and terrestrial ecology lab work at Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area with assistance from Jennifer Davis, laboratory coordinator, and LLCC Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Mrs. Laura Allen’s dual credit biology class collected aquatic macroinvertebrates, plankton and water samples.

“My students were so excited and we have had a lot of fun this week analyzing everything we collected,” said Allen. “It’s always such a joy to watch my students actually do science! We also completed chemical testing for dissolved oxygen, phosphate, pH, chlorine and nitrates. Microscopy yielded an abundance of protists, among many other organisms. The students were thrilled!”

Student collecting sample from creekStudent look at sample collected from creek.Student in creek collecting a sampleGloved hand holding a frog

09.26.23

Thank you to expo volunteers

Students visiting employers at rows of outdoor exhibitsA huge shout out and thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Workforce Careers and Ag Expos a huge success! Volunteers included Robin Ackman, Shawn Allen, April Bergman, Dr. Laurel Bretz, Mackenzie Bryant, Michelle Burger, Shanda Byer, Rhilee Cochran, Josh Collins, Cody Cox, Lyndsey Craigmiles, Brandon Davis, Sarah Frey, Caitlin Davis, Barbara Eades, Brenda Elliot, Kelly Ellis, Kathi Frieden, Lynn Gerton, Dr. Bryan Goers, Megan Hallberg, Bobbi Henry, Leslie Johnson, Kyla Kruse, Ashley Krzesinski, Chelsy Lovelace, Barbara Messner, Tisha Miller, Karina Moore, Crystal Norris, Michelle Pulce-Flynn, Ron Riggle, Andre Rye, Misty Schierer, Kalith Smith, Shelly Smothers, Tiffany Sunderlin, Brent Todd, Greg Walbert, Vickie Ward, Mac Warren, Lynn Whalen, Kim Wilson, Diane Wilson, Carley Young, Debbie Bell and LLCC Facilities, Police, PRM and Foundation.

Our army of green worked together to support an awesome day for over 870 students and 70 employers. Your help is so important to the success of this event, and we cannot thank you enough.

09.21.23

Workforce and Ag Expos today

LLCC’s Workforce Careers and Agriculture Expos will be held on campus today, Sept. 21. The outdoor Workforce Expo connects high school students with local employers to learn about careers in the skilled trades. More than 900 high school students and 70 employers are expected at the event. Two sessions will be held: from 8-11 a.m. and noon-3 p.m. The Ag Expo will begin at 9 a.m. in the LLCC Kreher Agriculture Center.

Lots 2, 4, 6 and 8 on the southwest side of campus and the exit drive heading north from the Workforce Careers Center are closed for the event. Parking spots on the east side of the Workforce Careers Center parking lot are reserved for guests, and Lots 17 and 18 north of the Kreher Agriculture Center are reserved for bus parking.

09.20.23

Parking lot closures for Workforce and Ag Expos

LLCC’s Workforce Careers and Agriculture Expos will be held on campus Thursday, Sept. 21. The outdoor Workforce Expo connects high school students with local employers to learn about careers in the skilled trades. More than 900 high school students and 70 employers are expected at the event. Two sessions will be held: from 8-11 a.m. and noon-3 p.m. The Ag Expo will begin at 9 a.m. in the LLCC Kreher Agriculture Center.

Lots 2, 4, 6 and 8 on the southwest side of campus and the exit drive heading north from the Workforce Careers Center are currently closed.

Tomorrow, parking spots on the east side of the Workforce Careers Center parking lot will be reserved, and Lots 17 and 18 north of the Kreher Agriculture Center will be reserved for bus parking.