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Gretchen Steele: May in southern Illinois an example of ‘give and take’

The month of May in southern Illinois “gives and takes,” Steele explains. One of the things it gives are regular sights and sounds of red-winged blackbirds. (Photo courtesy of Bill Key)

By mid-May in southern Illinois, the countryside no longer feels gentle; it presses in close, demanding attention and resilience from those who venture out. April is a flirt. May is a commitment.
The woods that just weeks ago felt airy and forgiving now press in close, green and insistent. Trails blur at the edges.

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