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AUSTIN, Minn. (AP)

Rare bird turns up in southern Minnesota yard

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Bird watchers are atwitter about the sighting of a rare bird in southern Minnesota.

A spotted towhee has been staying in John and Sally Garry's backyard in Austin since October. Local birders say the spotted or western towhee rarely makes its way east of western Iowa.

The Garrys have had nearly a dozen visitors in their yard during the past few weeks, hoping to catch a glimpse of the bird.

Austin members of the National Audubon Society spotted the bird during their Christmas Bird Count. The sighting made the spotted towhee the 100th species recorded on Austin's Christmas bird count in more than 30 years of counting.

The Austin Daily Herald reports many point to the mild winter as the reason why the bird may be hanging around.

___ Information from: Austin Daily Herald, http://www.austindailyherald.com

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)