Update: Rare bird spotted near Duluth dies, but a 2nd one spotted

Two ivory gulls have been spotted hundreds of miles away from where they usually live, which has bird watchers flocking to Duluth.

These birds normally spend winters on pack ice around Newfoundland and the Bering Sea, according to Audubon, but two have been spotted hanging out around Duluth's Canal Park – and the rare sight has bird watchers excited.

https://twitter.com/birdchick/status/684031517924831233

The first was seen on New Year's Day, and since then hundreds of birders have traveled from across Minnesota and Wisconsin to catch a glimpse, the Duluth News Tribune says.

But on Tuesday night, the bird was found dead near Superior, Wisconsin, Laura Erickson wrote on her blog and told the Duluth News Tribune, apparently killed by another animal.

But she did say another ivory gull was seen in Canal Park Wednesday, telling the paper: "I've got the dead one in my car, and I'm looking at the live one."

YouTube user ChetCochon posted a video of the first bird, which was white with speckles of black indicating it was a juvenile bird, while it dined on salmon in Canal Park on New Year's Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydynud3TXyA

Bird watcher Rich Hoeg posted photos of the bird on his blog, 365 Days of Birds, noting he was with 35 of his birding buddies when he saw the ivory gull. Another birder posted photos on the blog The Photonaturalist, view them here.

https://twitter.com/sparkyphotos/status/683160387169071104

https://twitter.com/qt_animals/status/684232283860107264

https://twitter.com/joelindell/status/683693146514034689

These birds have been spotted before in Minnesota, but it happens rarely, Jim Williams wrote in the Star Tribune's Wingnut blog. He notes the best time to see them is around dawn, but you may be able to catch a glimpse in the early to mid afternoon.

Uncommon and rare birds are occasionally spotted in the Duluth area, but the ivory gull is among the rarest, the Duluth News Tribune notes.