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

Rare bird documentation form for Field Sparrow near Tiffin, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-16	1978-12-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Field Sparrow near Tiffin in Johnson County, IA on December 16, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Field Sparrow	Tiffin	~1/2 mi. s. of Tiffen [sic], Johnson Co., Ia. at Clear Creek Bridge	Creek bed with forested area to north and open field to south. Deep snow covered most of area. South-facing north slope of creek provided open grassy area as snow had mostly melted. Several song sparrows were in same area.	The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: The Tree Sparrow, usually abundant in winter around Iowa City, has a dark upper bill and lacks the white eye ring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:05:00/08:06:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	51
Rare bird documentation form for Hermit Thrush near Tiffin, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-16	1978-12-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hermit Thrush near Tiffin in Johnson County, IA on December 16, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Hermit Thrush	Tiffin	1/4 mile south of US Rte 6, 1 mi. west of Tiffen [sic], Johnson Co., Iowa	General: Small forested area on hilly terrain with some underbush. Woods cut by country road and interspersed with a few houses. Specific: Bushes growing at bottom of ditch alongside county road. Several of bushes contained berries that the bird was eating.	The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington, Mike Lewis-Beck, and Arline Lewis-Beck. \| Elimination of similar species: Other small brown thrushes do not have reddish-brown tail contrasting with brown back. Tail-pumping and white eye ring also unique to Hermit Thrush. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/08:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	9
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike at Babcock Access, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-16	1978-12-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike at Babcock Access in Johnson County, IA on December 16, 1978.	Newlon, Carol S.	Northern Shrike	Swan Lake	West of Swan Lake and east of Babcock Lake rd on Swan lake road at intersection with county road to the south.		The documentation form by Carol S. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Staudt, Ruth Williams, Mona Brown, and Noel Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: too clingy on the breast and to be a loggerhead shrike - also, the mask stopped at the bill too chunky to be mockingbird - also heavy hooked bill rather than slender one. \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 09:00:00/09:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Oxford, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-09	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Oxford in Johnson County, IA on December 9, 1978.	Folk, G. Edgar	Northern Goshawk	Oxford	Oxford, Iowa	Meadow surrounded by deep woods	The documentation form by G. Edgar Folk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Marsh Hawk eliminated. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull at Lake Manawa in 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1978-12-06	1978-12-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 6 and 7, 1978.	Kovanda, James, Jr. Kovanda, Sandra	Glaucous Gull	Lake Manawa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Lake Manawa, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-06	1979-01-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 6, 1978.	Green, Ruth	Great Black-backed Gull	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Council Bluffs, Iowa	Most of Lake Manawa was frozen over at this time but there were small patches of open water. The bird was standing on the ice at the edge of one of these patches.	The documentation form by Ruth Green is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Sandra and James Kovanda. \| Elimination of similar species: There were only two gulls at this time there--this bird and the glaucous. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull at Lake Manawa, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 6, 1978.	Bray, Tanya Kovanda, Sandra Padelford, Babs	Glaucous Gull	Lake Manawa State Park	Lake Manawa, Iowa	Large, fresh water lake - 3/4 frozen	The documentation form by Tanya Bray, Sandy Kovanda, and Babs Padelford is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rushton G. Cortelyou. \| Elimination of similar species: All of us are familiar with herring gulls. The large size, white plumage, and absence of black on wing tips eliminated this species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	37
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Oxford, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Oxford in Johnson County, IA on December 2, 1978.	Folk, G. Edgar	Northern Goshawk	Oxford	Oxford, Iowa	corn fields, deep woods on edge.	The documentation form by G. Edgar Folk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Marsh Hawk eliminated. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Bird sightings checklist, winter 1978-1979	Checklists Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification Birds--Research	1978-12-01	1979-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Bird sightings checklist, winter 1978-1979. Includes handwritten annotations with locations and weather information. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Field Report of winter 1978-1979.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Bald Eagle American Kestrel Boreal Chickadee Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Pileated Woodpecker Great Blue Heron American Black Duck Northern Shrike	Boone Booneville Guthrie County Harrison County Osage Pleasantville Sweet Marsh Buena Vista County Lake Panorama				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Ringed Turtle-Dove at Des Moines in 1976	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird banding Birds--Identification Introduced birds Rare birds	1978-12-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Ringed Turtle-Dove at Des Moines in Polk County, IA in the summer of 1976. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication That Ringed Turtle Dove again by Woodward H. Brown in Iowa Bird Life 48:143 and seen by Dean Mosman.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Ringed Turtle-Dove	Des Moines				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	8
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike west of Spirit Lake, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike west of Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on November 29, 1978.	Bierman, Dick	Northern Shrike	Spirit Lake	1 mile west of Spirit Lake	Open country 100 yds from farm grove	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Mockingbird, Gray Jay. I am very familiar with both of these. Loggerheaded Shrike. This bird was much lighter, on the back than Loggrehead [sic]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at George Wyth State Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-23	1978-12-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on November 23, 1978.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Black-legged Kittiwake	George Wyth Memorial State Park	Waterloo, Iowa George Wyth State Park G.W.S.P.	Deciduous woodland with manmade lake with island in middle, woodland is thick all around lake. Cedar River 1 qtr. mile away from lake. It is a very good migration route for gulls.	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The Ring-billed Gull and Herring Gull have much larger wingspread. The Franklin Gull does not have black feet and the Franklins feet extend almost to the tip of the tail. The Kittiwakes feet extended only to the underwing. Bonaparte's Gull does not have gray nape in winter. Both Franklin and Bonapartes have dark gray backs in winter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Little Wall Lake, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-18	1978-11-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on November 18, 1978.	Dinsmore, James J.	Surf Scoter	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake, Hamilton County, Iowa	fresh water lake, open water near center of lake	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark and Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Most ducks - general dark color and the heavy bill. White-winged Scoter-no white on wing. Black Scoter-head not 'two-toned' (dark above, light below). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Hanover Township in Allamakee County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-11	1978-12-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles at Hanover Township in Allamakee County, IA on November 11, 1978.	Koenig, Darwin	Golden Eagle	Hanover Township	Allamakee County, Hanover Twp.	rugged hills with open fields and timber interspersed. Soaring along a long ridge which rises about 200 ft above the Upper Iowa River valley	The documentation form by Darwin Koenig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Rough-legged Hawk (dark phase) --smaller, different proportions (long, narrow, tapered wings, small head, and bill), underwings usually have more white and the white patches rarely show on the upper wing surface. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Owl at Eden Township in Marshall County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-10-29	1978-10-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Owl at Eden Township in Marshall County, IA on October 29, 1978.	Jones, Greig D.	Barn Owl	Eden Township	Rhodes Farm, Iowa, Marshall Co., Eden Twnsp, T82N, R20W, Sec 20	pastured farmland scattered with woodlots, several ponds, & 1 main stream Perched in a dead cottonwood located along a run of trees which bounded a moist grassy travelway for cattle	The documentation form by Greg D. Jones is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The Barn Owl is a fairly distinctive species. Its uniformly cream breast, short neck, and dual face eliminate other species of owls & hawks commonly found in central Iowa farmlands. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:05:20.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Birds: verifying documentation of an extraordinary sight record for White-winged Scoter, October 1978	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Rare birds Water birds	1978-10-24	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting documentation submitted by Joseph P. Schaufenbuel, October 24, 1978. Consists of a detailed description of a October 24 sighting of a White-winged Scoter at Nashua. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	White-winged Scoter	Nashua				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	7
Rare bird documentation form for Ibis species at Colo, 1978	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-09-29	1978-10-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an Ibis species at Colo in Story County, IA on September 29, 1978	Zaletel, Hank	Glossy Ibis	Colo	2 1/2 miles east of Colo on old highway 30 in a flooded field	flooded field marsh grass and mud flat	The documentation form by Hank Zaletel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Dinsmore and Woodward Brown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:30:00 on September 29 and 14:30:00/15:15:00 on October 1.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Viking Lake State Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-09-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Viking Lake State Park in Red Oak in Montgomery County, IA on September 24, 1978.	Bray, Tanya	Merlin	Viking Lake State Park	Viking Lake State Park	Man-made lake surrounded by scrubby fields; some mature woodland	The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for an Ibis species at Davenport in 1978	Administrative records Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1978-09-24	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for an Ibis species at Davenport in Scott County, IA on September 24, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee		Davenport				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Rare bird documentation form for American Golden-Plover at Sugar Bottom Recreation Area at Coralville Reservoir, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-09-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a American Golden-Plover at Sugar Bottom Recreation Area at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 20, 1978.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	American Golden Plover	Sugar Bottom Campground	Sugar Bottom Recreation Area by Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa	grainy-sandy uplands - periphery of short span-sand picnic. RV camping area on N shore of Coralville Reservoir, with sandy [illegible] extending into water.	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas H. Kent and Thomas K. Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: gestalt and most details like lesser golden Plover, but very distinct white wingstripe incongruous. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00/09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	3
Rare bird documentation form for Western Kingbird at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-09-03	1978-09-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Kingbird at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on September 3, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Western Kingbird	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh - 1/2 mile east of bridge	General: flat farmland. Specific: along gravel road with corn field on one side and melon field on other side	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Eastern Kingbird and Crested Flycatcher are the only remotely similar species that could occur in the area \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	72
Rare bird documentation form for Say's Phoebe southeast of Missouri Valley, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-08-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Say's Phoebes southeast of Missouri Valley in Harrison County, IA on August 25, 1978.	Gochenour, Ruth A.	Say's Phoebe	Missouri Valley	S.E. of Missouri Valley, Iowa. Boyer River bridge on County Road F66. Harrison County.	General--river. Specific--small willow and other small trees and rather high grasses along the river dike. The bird was first observed in this habitat from the river bridge.	The documentation form by Ruth Gochenour is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ardyth Newberry. \| Elimination of similar species: The female Vernillion [sic] flycatcher--streaking was absent. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	70
Rare bird documentation form for Least Tern at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-08-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Least Tern at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on August 24, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Least Tern	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh - N. of bridge	open marshy lake with mud flats	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: See above. Two Forster's terns were seen earlier in the morning - larger, slower, overall and white wing with white areas in primaries were distinctly different from the least tern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/08:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Rare bird documentation form for Cattle Egret at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-08-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Cattle Egrets at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on August 21, 1978	Newlon, Michael C.	Cattle Egret	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co, IA	Weedy wet pasture at edge of large area of marshes, ponds, river bottom woods and fields.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard Hollis and Carl Bendorf. \| Elimination of similar species: yellow bill, dark legs rule out all other species, but great egret. Small size, short bill, rapid wingbeat, habit of following stock, rule out that species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:40:00/08:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	21
Rare bird documentation form for Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-08-13	1978-08-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on August 13, 1978	Newlon, Michael C.	Little Blue Heron	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co, IA	large shallow, algae-filled pond; part of a much larger area of marsh, ponds, river bottom woods and fields.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rich DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: Small size, bill & leg color rule out great egret (large, yellow bill, black legs); Snowy egret (smaller black bill, black legs & yellow feet), cattle egret (thicker neck, yellow bill), great white heron (much larger, yellow bill + legs), white phase reddish egret (bulkier neck, pink bill & dk tip, pink legs). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00 - 10:30:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	20