Rare bird spotted in Sterling

STERLING, N.D. (KFYR) - A bird from a different part of the country has taken up residence in a backyard in Sterling.

A woman spotted a bird called a Pyrrhuloxia just outside of her home this week. It has a lot of people scratching their heads, wondering why a creature that is commonly found in the southern part of the United States is hanging out in frigid North Dakota.

It was a typical day for Melinda Berg, watching sparrows and blue jays land on her bird feeders, and observing them on Tuesday.

“I was doing my dishes and looking out my window, that’s why I have the bird feeders where they are, and I noticed the bird,” said Berg.

She thought it might be another type of songbird, and posted on the North Dakota Birding Facebook group to find answers.

Soon, birdwatchers across the state flocked to her messages, asking to come see him. For many, this is the chance of a lifetime.

“I always imagined the first time I’d maybe see this bird would be in Texas on some trip in the summertime, warm, maybe in shorts and a t-shirt, but this is just as good,” said Chris Langland, a birdwatcher from Washburn. “Honestly, it’s probably more memorable that way.”

An NDSU faculty member came to her home to see it and told her what kind of bird it was and that it usually lives in the southern part of the United States or northern Mexico.

Berg said spotting and sharing it online has opened a door to new friendships and communities, or in other words, “birds of a feather flock together.”

“I’m excited about this because I’ve been birding kind of solo for many years, and it’s brought me, made some new friends through the birding group, and I think I’ll be able to join them,” said Berg.

She said she doesn’t know how long he plans to stick around, but she prepared a warm sandbox for him to rest on.

So far, the desert cardinal seems to be fitting in with the other birds nicely.