Professor Tony Rothering, LLCC Natural & Agricultural Sciences, presented, “Hope Is A Thing with Feathers: The Science and Value of Bird Banding,” at the Grand Prairie Bird Alliance on March 3, 2025. Rothering discussed his work at the Midwest Migration Network Bird Banding Station at Jubilee Farm in Springfield during the spring and fall migration seasons. He also shared insights from his research on breeding bird productivity at the station during the summer months and his efforts to determine the sex of species where males and females have similar appearances.
Tag Archives: bird banding
Fall 2024 bird banding highlights
Fall 2024 was LLCC’s 24th banding season (13th fall season) since the station’s inception (fall 2012). Below are a few of the highlights:
- We banded 1,199 birds of 73 species over 36 banding days. This translates into 33.3 birds banded per day.
- We also had 169 repeat captures (birds banded earlier during the fall 2024 season) and 64 return captures (birds banded during a previous season).
- Four of the more interesting recaptures were an American Goldfinch that was originally banded in fall 2017, and a Red-bellied Woodpecker and two Black-capped Chickadees that were originally banded in fall 2018.
- Our highest one-day total for the season was 89 birds banded on Oct. 9.
- The top five species banded (by abundance) for the season were as follows — species (# banded): Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler (246), Chipping Sparrow (95), American Goldfinch (91), Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco (58) and Northern Cardinal (50).
- The cumulative total number of birds banded (over 24 seasons) at the LLCC BBS is 38,126 birds of 136 species. One new species was added this fall: American Woodcock.
- 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 mid-March 2025.
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
Tony Rothering presents at IBBA Annual Meeting
Tony Rothering, professor, biology, recently presented his research on bird capture rates at the 2024 Inland Bird Banding Association’s annual meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas. His presentation, titled “Bird Capture Rate by Shelf Using a Standard 4-shelf, 12-meter Mist Net,” explored innovative methods for enhancing the effectiveness of bird banding efforts.
The research, conducted at the Midwest Migration Network Station at Jubilee Farm in Springfield, analyzed bird capture data collected over four banding seasons using a new telescoping net pole design. This design allowed nets to extend 0.5 meters higher than the previous setup, optimizing the capture potential of each net shelf, particularly the uppermost one. Rothering and his team recorded capture rates by shelf, collecting data on approximately 1,500 birds, with findings that included habitat-specific and species-specific comparisons. These insights provide valuable information on improving bird capture methods and contribute to a greater understanding of migration patterns.
This is Rothering’s second presentation at IBBA’s annual meeting. He currently serves as vice president of the organization, contributing his expertise to furthering research and conservation efforts in migratory bird populations.
Spring 2024 bird banding highlights
Blue-headed Vireo
Below are the highlights of the spring 2024 banding season at the LLCC Bird Banding Station. This was our 23rd banding season (11th spring season) since the station’s inception (fall 2012).
- We banded 877 birds of 66 species over 31.5 banding days. This translates into 28.2 birds banded per day.
- We also had 197 repeat captures (birds banded earlier during the spring 2024 season) and 67 return captures (birds banded during a previous season).
- Two of the more interesting recaptures were a House Sparrow that was originally banded in fall 2016 and a Northern Cardinal and Red-winged Blackbird, which were both originally banded in 2017.
- Our highest one-day total was 87 birds banded on March 18.
- The top five species banded (by abundance) for the season were as follows – species (# banded): Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco (282), Swamp Sparrow (64), Gray Catbird (55), Swainson’s Thrush (54) and White-throated Sparrow (46).
- The cumulative total number of birds banded (over 23 seasons) at the LLCC BBS is 36,927 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 fall banding operations are scheduled to begin Aug. 14, 2024.
All banding, marking and sampling is being conducted under a federal Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s BBL.
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).
You are most welcome to stop by the banding station whenever your schedule allows! (Hours of operation: 7~11:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday during the fall and spring migration seasons.)
Tony Rothering, professor of biology
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
Spring 2023 bird banding highlights
Spring 2023 was LLCC’s 21st banding season (10th spring season) since the station’s inception (fall 2012). Below are a few of the highlights:
- We banded 1,488 birds of 82 species over 54 banding days. This translates into 27.6 birds banded per day.
- We also had 348 repeat captures (birds banded earlier during the spring 2023 season) and 130 return captures (birds banded during a previous season).
- One of the more interesting recaptures was a Blue Jay that was originally banded in fall 2013.
- Our highest one-day total for the season was 136 birds banded on May 4.
- The top five species banded (by abundance) for the season were as follows — species (# banded): Dark-eyed (slate-colored) Junco (184), Gray Catbird (128), White-throated Sparrow (116), Swainson’s Thrush (88) and Common Yellowthroat (57).
- The cumulative total number of birds banded (over 21 seasons) at the LLCC BBS is 34,360 birds of 135 species.
- We did add a new species this season to our cumulative station list: Mallard.
- We continue to host many volunteers and guests, including a number of LLCC biology classes, dual credit biology classes (Lanphier High School), UIS graduate students and employees from the Illinois Natural History Survey.
- Our fall banding operations are scheduled to begin Aug. 15, 2023.
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
Fall 2022 bird banding highlights
Fall 2022 was LLCC’s 20th banding season (11th fall season) since the station’s inception (fall 2012). Below are a few of the highlights:
- We banded 1,568 birds of 78 species over 68 banding days. This translates into 23.1 birds banded per day.
- We also had 325 repeat captures (birds banded earlier during the fall 2022 season) and 58 return captures (birds banded during a previous season).
- One of the more interesting recaptures was a Black-capped Chickadee that was originally banded in fall 2015.
- Our highest one-day total for the season was 121 birds banded on Oct. 7.
- The top five species banded (by abundance) for the season were as follows — species (# banded): Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler (214), Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco (204), American Goldfinch (117), White-throated Sparrow (84) and American Robin (80).
- The cumulative total number of birds banded (over 20 seasons) at the LLCC BBS is 33,142 birds of 134 species.
- We did add a new species this season to our cumulative station list: Pine Warbler.
- The weekend after Halloween (Nov. 4-7), we had an owl banding event during which we captured/banded one Northern Saw-whet Owl.
- We continue to host many volunteers and guests, including a number of LLCC biology classes, dual credit biology classes (Lanphier High School), UIS graduate students and employees from the Illinois Natural History Survey’s Havana Field Office.
- This past November, a UIS graduate student (Kayla Ferron) presented a poster at the annual meeting of the Inland Bird Banding Association. For this project, Kayla utilized data collected at the LLCC BBS. Stacey Olson and I were co-authors of this poster, and we are continuing to work on this project.
- Our spring banding operations are scheduled to begin March 15, 2023.
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
Bird Banding Station fall season
Aug. 18 will be the opening day at the LLCC Bird Banding Station for the fall season.
If you are interested in following daily/weekly banding activities, there are two Facebook pages: 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).
Spring 2022 bird banding highlights
Spring 2022 was LLCC’s 19th banding season (ninth spring season) since the station’s inception (fall 2012). Below are a few of the highlights:
- We banded 1,776 birds of 99 species over 51 banding days. This translates into 34.8 birds banded per day.
- We also had 467 repeat captures (birds banded earlier during the spring 2022 season) and 105 return captures (birds banded during a previous season).
- Two of the more interesting recaptures were a Blue Jay that was originally banded in fall 2013 (at least nine years old), and a Downy Woodpecker and Black-capped Chickadee that were both originally banded in fall 2015 (each at least seven years old).
- Our highest one-day total for the season was 129 birds banded on May 4.
- The top five species banded (by abundance) for the season were as follows — species (# banded): Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler (184), Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco (152), Swainson’s Thrush (147), (Western) Palm Warbler (142) and Gray Catbird (101).
- The cumulative total number of birds banded (over 19 seasons) at the LLCC BBS is 31,574 birds.
- We added five new species banded this season to the cumulative station total (currently at 133 species): Great Blue Heron, Eastern Screech-Owl, Yellow-throated Vireo, Hooded Warbler and Lark Sparrow.
- Regarding milestones, our 30,000th bird (a Swamp Sparrow) was banded on April 8.
- Our fall banding operations are scheduled to begin Aug. 18, 2022.
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
30,000th bird banded
On Friday, April 8, the 30,000th bird was banded at the LLCC Bird Banding Station! It was a Swamp Sparrow.
