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.