December 16, 2020 at 10:50 pm CST
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A student photographs a bird with a smartphone during the University of Illinois Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences New Student Field Day. (Piper Hodson)
URBANA, Ill. â Ashli Trudeau wrapped her hand around the little bird ever so gently, carefully following instructions to keep the American Goldfinch safe. She could feel the birdâs tiny feathery heart racing against her fingers, and her own skipped a beat.
âIts feathers were one of the softest things I have ever felt,â she recalled. âI only held the bird for 10 or 15 seconds, but that memory will stay with me forever.â