Introduction

Today our guests are Tony Rothering, who teaches biology at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield and Angelea Cook, a biology student, who works with Tony managing the bird banding site at Jubilee Farm.

Next week marks the tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis ground-breaking encyclical about the urgent need to care for Earth, our common home. In addition, this year, we celebrate a quarter-century of care for creation at Jubilee Farm.

 

About our guests

Tony Rothering is a biology professor in the natural and agricultural Science department at LinconLand Community College, Springfield. He’s been banding birds since 2012, often at the Midwest Migration Network Station at Jubilee Farm, under the auspices of the Land of Lincoln Association of Bird Banders.  The LLABB is authorized by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Lab. 

Angelea Cooke, a Springfield native, is in the third year of her college studies and attends the University of Illinois, Springfield. She is majoring in biology with an environmental studies minor. Her interest in birds began when she had her first course with Tony Rothering at Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC).  She was inspired to get involved with the bird banding project through Tony's encouragement and her desire to have a positive impact on the well-being of birds. 

 

Our host

Sister Sharon Zayac is a co-founder of Jubilee Farm, the Springfield Dominican Sisters’ ecospirituality center. She is a globally sought-after speaker on the climate change circuit, and loves to think, write, and talk about our expanding universe and its implications for our spiritual lives. 

 

Takeaways

• Living sustainably keeps earth’s ecosystems healthy 
• Birds are an indicator species that tell us about the health of whole ecosystems. 
• There is a decline in the prevalence of bird species globally 
• Conserving and restoring quality bird habitat is critical for healthy bird populations and healthy ecosystems. 
• Planting native vegetation is key to sustaining bird habitat. 

 

More to Explore 

Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders 

Jubilee Farm 

Motus wildlife tracking system 

Audubon tips for creating a bird-friendly yard 

Support the Butterfly Garden at Sacred Heart Convent