On December 1, 2011 (the same day that the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve was taken off the closure list), a new bird for Mono County was discovered by Jean Dillingham in June Lake. A Common Redpoll hit Jean’s window in the morning. She collected the dazed bird outside and brought it in to see if it could be saved. To her amazement, the bird was unlike any she had ever seen in the Eastern Sierra. She quickly figured it was a Common Redpoll, a first for Mono County! Jean called friends with the news. In the meantime, the bird revived and took flight in her house! It is one thing to pursue a County record outside, but highly unusual to spot one inside someone’s house. Unfortunately the bird sustained head trauma from its collision and did not survive long. These images were taken shortly before the bird passed on.
According to Kristie Nelson (current California Bird Records Committee member and Mono Basin resident) who arrived to see the bird that morning, Common Redpolls have occurred in California only nine winters since 1899. Kristie says, “They are notorious for staging irregular southward invasions. This record stands out as being exceptionally far south early in the winter.”
Great story! Also shows the importance of protecting birds from windows that reflect and appear to them to be an opening to fly through.