Last Wednesday (9/24), Biology Professor Tony Rothering and Vern Kleen, licensed bird bander, were walking back to the banding station after checking the nets when they noticed a couple of Cooper’s Hawks trapped in one of the batting cages! They were able to capture, band and release them. Math Professor Peter Embalabala captured this photo when he went to investigate after seeing the commotion from the parking lot.

On Monday (9/29), an Ash-throated Flycatcher was captured. This bird is a western species that typically is not found east of Kansas and Oklahoma. Historically, there have only been a handful of documented sightings of this species in Illinois! Read more info on this particular species HERE.

On Monday (10/1), the 6,000th bird was banded since the banding station opened in the fall of 2012! It was a Red-eyed Vireo (no photo).

LLCC biology students have the unique opportunity to hold and band birds while studying migration patterns at the campus bird banding station. Research data collected is shared in a national scientific database.