Documents • Iowa State University • Avian Archives of Iowa Online

Title	Genres	Topics	Date (Start)	Date (End)	Type	Description	Creator/Author	Birds	Locations	Locality	Habitat	Remarks

Letter to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union regarding the fall bird movement in Iowa	Correspondence	Bird watchers Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Parulidae \| Warblers	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union regarding the fall bird movement in Iowa. The letter includes names and locations where birds were observed by members. Includes information about several excursions and locations members have visited to view birds. The letter is written by Kenneth R. Nelson. The name A. J. Palas appears in parentheses at the end of the letter. The letter does not have a date.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Nelson, Kenneth R. Palas, Arthur J.		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	15
Field notes and Thomas H. Kent letter to James J. Dinsmore, July 29,1985	Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Birds--Counting Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-07-29	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of birds and locations contributed by Thomas H. Kent. Included with the field report is a note from Thomas H. Kent to James J. Dinsmore regarding setting up a new filing system for storing field reports. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of summer 1985.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Bell's Vireo Hooded Merganser Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Acadian Flycatcher Veery Belted Kingfisher Great Blue Heron Least Sandpiper	Coralville Lake Johnson County Swan Lake Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	21	7
Mark D. Bro letter to James J. Dinsmore regarding photographs of a Short-eared Owl and an unusual Northern Cardinal, August 1, 1988	Correspondence	Ornithology--Societies, etc Photography of birds	1988-08-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Mark D. Bro letter to James J. Dinsmore regarding photographs of a Short-eared Owl and a white-headed Northern Cardinal. The photographs are not included with the letter. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of summer 1988.	Bro, Mark D.	Northern Cardinal Short-eared Owl	Tama County Montour				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	23	6
Ross Silcock memo to Thomas Kent regarding Eastern Phoebe sighting, Winter 1986-87	Correspondence	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Photography of birds Rare birds	1986-12-01	1987-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Memo from Ross Silcock to Thomas Kent. Silcock thanks Kent for slides for an upcoming presentation, updates Kent about the correct location of an Eastern Phoebe sighting and progress on the Winter 1986-1987 winter report, and mentions the sighting of five Western Grebes.	Silcock, W. Ross	Western Grebe Eastern Phoebe	Glenwood Lake Manawa State Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	69
Neil Bernstein letter to James J. Dinsmore regarding personal papers, summer 1988	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-06-01	1988-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Neil Bernstein is interested in Jim's personal papers regarding photography measurement studies and species population wetland studies. The letter also includes bird sightings. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of summer 1988.	Bernstein, Neil	American White Pelican Black-crowned Night Heron American Coot	Dan Green Slough Wildlife Management Area Jemmerson Slough Wildlife Management Area Rush Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	23	6
Neil Bernstein letter to James J. Dinsmore regarding aerial photographs, June 12, 1988	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-06-12	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Neil Bernstein letter to James J. Dinsmore requesting aerial photographs of Rush Lake and Dan Green Slough Wildlife Management Area. The letter includes two bird sightings. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of summer 1988.	Bernstein, Neil	Common Moorhen White-throated Sparrow	Jemmerson Slough Wildlife Management Area Iowa Lakeside Laboratory				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	23	6
Opal Uher letter to James J. Dinsmore regarding a request to purchase a Peter C. Petersen publication, August 9, 1988	Correspondence Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching Birds--Nests Birds--Research Ornithology--Societies, etc Birds--Infancy	1988-08-09	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Opal Uher letter to James J. Dinsmore regarding a request to purchase a copy of a publication by Peter C. Petersen. The letter includes field notes on House Finch nesting. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of summer 1988.	Uher, Opal	House Finch	Waterloo				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	23	6
Record Book of the Iowa Ornithologists' Association	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence	Ornithology--Societies, etc Meetings Societies--History, organization, etc	1894-06-15	1898-01-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Record book for the Iowa Ornithological Association. The book covers the period from the group's founding as the Iowa Ornithologist's Association on June 15, 1894 to January 16, 1898. The record book includes meeting minutes, copies of the organization's constitution, financial reports, officer and membership lists, and letters regarding the Iowa Ornithological Association.	Iowa Ornithological Association		Iowa City Iowa Mount Vernon Salem Manchester				Iowa Ornithological Association Records \| MS 581	1	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mute Swan at South Clay County, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-04-08	1994-01-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a a Mute Swan at South Clay County, IA on April 8, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, a page of copied photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, internal correspondence, summary of review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Mute Swan	Clay County	5 East of 71 on 374	Large farm pond, rolling hills most of which were in cultavation [sic]	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vernon Beirman. \| Elimination of similar species: Was from the mute swan because of the straight neck and the Tundra swan because of the dark base of the bill. The wings were not held high like on the Mute swan. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Band-tailed Pigeon west of Fort Dodge, 1970	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1970-09-05	1995-02-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Band-tailed Pigeon west of Fort Dodge in Webster County, IA on September 5, 1970. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Crawford, John	Band-tailed Pigeon	Fort Dodge	[...] seven miles West of Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa on the farm of Joseph R. Crawford.		The documentation article by John A. Crawford is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joseph R. Crawford. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] This bird first caught my attention by the fact that it lacked the typical white rump of a Rock Dove.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black Scoter at Volga Lake, 1980	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-11-21	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black Scoter at Volga Lake in Fayette County, IA on November 21, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Tom Kent to Joe Schaufenbuel, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Black Scoter	Volga Lake	Northwest a rea [sic] of Volga Lake, in the Volga Lake Recreation Area, Fayette County, Iowa.		The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The only bird that this duck reminded me of was a Ruddy Duck female, but this bird was difinitely [sic] not this species, and is mentioned because of vague plumage characteristic similarities. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:20:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area, 1999.	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-09-27	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area in Pottawattamie County, IA on September 27, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, an e-mail from Sue Mattix to Jim Fuller, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Mattix, Sue	Black-billed Magpie	Hitchcock Nature Area	Hitchcock Wildlife Area, Crescent, IA	forest	The documentation form by Sue Mattix is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Howard Mattix. \| Elimination of similar species: Only similar species would be yellow billed magpie - this one had a black bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Amana Woods, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-05-10	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Amana Woods in Iowa County, IA on May 10, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Black-headed Grosbeak	Amana Woods	Amana Woods	Deciduous woods. Trail through woods along ridge.	The documentation form by W. Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Thomas Kent was submitted later. Other observers include Tom Staudt and Carl Bendorf. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:30:00/18:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Warren County Conservation Board Headquarters, 1996	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-12	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Conservation Board Headquarters in Warren County, IA on May 12, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Ken Brock to Tom Kent and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Black-headed Grosbeak	Lake Ahquabi State Park	Warrren Co. Conservation Board Headquarters	small deciduous trees	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was David Youngblut. \| Elimination of similar species: Several [female symbol] Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were present for comparison. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:45:00/07:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Decorah, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-07-29	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Decorah in Winneshiek County, IA on July 29, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, a summary of the review, and a letter from Jeri McMahon to Tom Kent.	McMahon, Jeri	Black-headed Grosbeak	Decorah	Trout River, near Decorah		A letter from Jeri McMahon to Tom Kent forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The female rose-breasted grosbeak, plus juveniles, were also present that day, so I could compare the 2 species very well. It was not an im. male rose-breasted, although I saw several of those.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Elkhart, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-11-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Elkhart in Polk County, IA on November 23, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Mosman, Dean	Black-headed Grosbeak	Elkhart	2 M.E. Elkhart, IA	in wooded area	The documentation form by Darwin (Dean) Mosman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Mosman and Diane Mosman. \| Elimination of similar species: Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak only species close to same appearance. No voice heard, behavior and habitat the same. Color and streaking only difference. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:15:00/07:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Little Swan Lake, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-07-14	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Little Swan Lake in Dickinson County, IA on July 14, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, a letter from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harr, Douglas C.	Black-headed Grosbeak	Christopherson Slough / Little Swan Lake Wildlife Management Area	Woods, N. edge Little Swan Lake, Dickinson Co., Iowa (near Superior)	General: woodlands near lakeshore. Specific: bare branch understory of plum thicket (deep shade), at edge of planting of 25 ft. Austrian pines and black walnut trees.	The documentation form by Douglas C. Harr is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Rose-breasted grosbeak (female)--little or no yellow-tan color to breast & more heavily spotted or streaked. Blue Grosbeak (female)--a more uniform, unstreaked brown or tan. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:22:00/13:23:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Marble Rock, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-09	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Marble Rock in Floyd County, IA on May 9, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Knoop, Pearl	Black-headed Grosbeak	Marble Rock	Floyd county, about a mile south of Marble Rock, along river	Narrow tree and shrubby area along the Shellrock. This type of habitat extends along the river on both sides. More bushy in some places than others. There are nearby cultivated fields and tree areas.	The documentation form by Pearl Knoop is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: female rose-breased [sic] grosbeak. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Rush Lake, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-05-20	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Rush Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on May 20, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, a letter from Ann Sernett to Thomas Kent, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harms, Ronald	Black-headed Grosbeak	Rush Lake	South side Rush Lake, Palo Alto Co. and Mable [sic] Grous grove, Pocahontas Co.	Open woods	The documentation form by Ronald Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers were Ann Luther, Mabel Grous, Ken Sernett and Ann Sernett. \| Elimination of similar species: there were many [female symbol] Rose-brested [sic] around to compare.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Woodpecker Marsh, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-09-07	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Woodpecker Marsh in Wayne County, IA on September 7, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, two letters from Charlotte Scott to Thomas Kent, and a letter from Thomas Kent to Charlotte Scott.	Scott, Charlotte	Black-headed Grosbeak	Woodpecker Marsh	on a country road near Woodpecker Marsh			Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Riverton State Wildlife Management Area, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-04-26	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Riverton State Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on April 26, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of the review, correspondence from Barb Wilson to Tom Kent about the sighting, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Black-headed Gull	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton State Wildlife Management Area Fremont County, Iowa		The documentation form by Tanya Bray forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, Rick Wright, and W. Ross Silcock were submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonoparte's [sic] Gull; The main differences noted were the size and shape of the bill(much longer and heavier than Bonoparte's [sic]) and the style of flight.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-legged Kittiwake at Estherville, 1980	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-11-02	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Estherville in Emmet County, IA on November 2, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about bird sightings and the review, and field notes submitted to the committee.	Henrickson, Dennis	Black-legged Kittiwake	Estherville	RR4 Estherville, Iowa 51334		The field notes by Dennis Henrickson are the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Most were mature and immature Franklins with a few Ring billed. Eventually one appeared within 20 ft of the tractor that was different. During its first pass I noticed its size between a Franklin and Ring billed, a dark spot and streak behind the eye and that the upper wing front was blackish.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-legged Kittiwake at Lake Manawa, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-legged Kittiwake at the dredge ponds near Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on April 23, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, a summary of the review, and a documentation submitted to the committee.	Otto, Rebecca Otto, William	Black-legged Kittiwake	Lake Manawa State Park	[...] at the dredge ponds near Lake Manawa, Council Bluffs, Iowa.		The documentation by William and Rebecca Otto is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] We eliminated the possibility of the gull being an immature Bonaparte's gull by the following criterion: 1. Leg color. The gulls legs and feet were entirely black. Bonaparte's gull have reddish legs. This was apparent at great distance on the immature Bonaparte's gulls present. 2. Primary feathers. The gull had black outer primaries and gray inner primaries. Immature Bonaparte's having some obvious white inner primaries.) 3. Behavior. Although this may seem rather unscientific, the gull not joining the groups of feeding or loafing gulls present seems significant to me. \| The original documentation form event lasted around 30 minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Bullock's Oriole at Cedar Falls, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-20	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Bullock's Oriole at Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County, IA on December 20, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, photographs, e-mail correspondence between Jon Dunn, Jim Fuller, James Rising, David Sibley, and Paul Lehman, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Bullock's Oriole	Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, Iowa - Black Hawk County	coming to feeder in residential area	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers includes Don Irwin and Paulina Irwin. \| Elimination of similar species: The 'Baltimore' subspecies has the yellow-orange on breast going down the breast thru belly and has a more yellowish back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-07	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 7, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting and a request for re-evaluation of sighting, summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	California Gull	Cherry Glen Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co. (Cherry Glen Recreation Area)	sitting on ice with other gulls	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull eliminated by larger size, lighter mantle color, lack of black and red spots on bill, and wrong leg color (pink, although a very few Herring Gull show yellowish legs). Ring-billed Gull eliminated by smaller size, lighter mantle color, lack of a black ring on bill, and by yellower leg color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:13:00/14:08:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1