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 Red-throated Loon at Lock and Dam 18, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Lock and Dam 18 in Des Moines County, IA on December 18, 1998. Incorrectly recorded as Lack and Dam 18 on the documentation form.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Red-throated Loon	Lock and Dam Number 18	Lack [sic] and Dam 18, Des Moines Co., IA	Mississippi River above dam, swimming on Iowa side	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Smaller and slimmer than Common, smaller bill. I could not see whether the eye was in the dark or light part of the face. The size and upturned bill argue against Pacific Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry in Ames, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-08	1999-05-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry in Ames in Story County, IA on May 8, 1999.	Overton, Michael D.	Pacific Loon	Ada Hayden Heritage Park	Iowa, Story co., Ames, Hallett's Quarry	Lake in old quarry at edge of urban residential area	The documentation form by Michael D. Overton is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dixie Overton, Michael Freiberg, Kevin Healy, and Hank Zaletel. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-throated Loon by parallel sided bill, horizontal bill and head position, no white areas above or in front of the eye, distinct straight demarcation between light and dark areas on head and sides of neck, lack of white spots on back. Arctic Loon by presence of "chinstrap", lack of white flank patches, realistic attitude. Common Loon by smaller size, smaller parallel sided bill, rounded crown, no white areas in front of or above eye, nape lighter than back, white auricular area, distinct straight demarcation between light and dark areas on head and sides of neck. Yellow-billed Loon by smaller size, smaller parallel sided bill, rounded crown, no white areas in front of or above eye, white auricular area, distinct straight demarcation between light and dark areas on head and side of neck.\| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:30:00/17:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Horned Grebe at New Lake, 1987	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-03-27	1987-08-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Horned Grebe at New Lake in Woodbury County, IA on March 27, 1987.	Livermore, Bob	Horned Grebe	New Lake	New Lake, Woodbury County, Iowa	small Mo. River oxbow with marshy borders	The documentation form by Bob Livermore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Huser and Jerry Probst. \| Elimination of similar species: Eared Grebe: The tuft was starting on a line from the eye and above. Also since the bird was mostly in winter plummage [sic] it still had a very light neck down to water line. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	12
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-08	1999-05-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames in Story County, IA on May 8, 1999.	Dinsmore, James J.	Pacific Loon	Ada Hayden Heritage Park	Hallett's Quarry, n. edge of Ames, Story County	gravel pit	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Kevin Healy, Roseanne Healy, Wolf Oesterreich, Hank Zaletel, Pam Allen, and Reid Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon seen next to it with side-by-side comparison. 1. No chin stripe on this bird. 2. Back of head and neck uniformly dark colored 3. White on side of head extended further forward and included the eye. Also there was a white 'bump' that extended back into dark color of side of neck. 4. Bill seemed darker than other bird and was all light colored. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:15:00/13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1998	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-10-31	1998-11-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on October 31, 1998.	Proescholdt, Mark	Pacific Loon	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Reservoir - Marion County	Big reservoir just above the dam on north side	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Chuck Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: A Common Loon is bigger with a big bill, has light areas above and in front of eye, and a jagged heavily patterned side of the neck. Red-throated Loon has upturned bill mandibles and the division between dark and light on the neck is not nearly as defined as in a Pacific Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/15:16:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Saylorville Lake, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Clear Lake in Polk County, IA on November 6, 1999.	Engebretsen, Bery	Red-throated Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Lake	above dam	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dennis Thompson and Jim Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Small loon, small head slightly upturned beak and head. White visible on flanks. Faint fleck on dark back at tips of feathers. No chin strap, but from front had faint inverted V. Head, neck brownish/gray. Darker on back of neck, top of hood, much lighter chin, front of neck, sides of neck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Red-throated Loons at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 7, 1999.	Dinsmore, James J.	Red-throated Loon	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Reservoir, off of west end of dam	freshwater lake	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bery Engebretsen and Dennis Thompson. \| Elimination of similar species: I spent a long time puzzling over these birds, both in the field and later when I had several references to consult. None of the guides I looked at showed a bird that looked like these. Common (a small one): removed on the basis of size (birds too small for Common Loon), the thinner and bicolored bill, and the color pattern on the neck. At this time of year, all of the Common Loons I have seen (and saw on Saylorville that day) were distinctly white on the front of the neck with some partial bands of brown extending back in to the white. Pacific Loon: Eliminated on behavior (head posture), lack of a distinct dark/white line along the side of the neck, lack of chin straps across neck, and presence of brown on front of neck. Also the gray/brown contrast between neck and back would point away from Pacific but not eliminate it. Red-throated Loon: This is what I first thought the birds were but as I viewed them, I convinced myself several times that they were Pacific Loons. However, the combination of characters listed above seem to eliminate the other two possible species and also are positive characters for the Red-throated Loon. One character that puzzled me was the size of the bill. At least some of the guides (Advanced Birding esp) show the Red-throated Loon as having a tiny bill, much smaller than on this bird but those illustrations do not match those in other guides which emphasize more the shape of the bill than the size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake in 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1984-04-14	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on April 14, 1984. This is one of two forms for this bird sighting.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Red-necked Grebe	Little Wall Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 3, 1999.	Fuller, James L	Red-throated Loon	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Red Rock Reservoir (Marion County) Off Whitebreast Point.		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observer includes Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Pacific Loon is generally darker, shows less white on the side of the neck and face, and usually exhibits a chin strap. Winter adult Pacific does not show light flecking on the back. Common Loon is larger with a larger bill, and shows an angular head outline. The dark-white line on the side of the neck is irregular and indistinct, compared to the Red-throated. Both other loons hold their bills horizonatally [sic]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Spirit Lake, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-06-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on June 28, 1999.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Red-throated Loon	Spirit Lake	Spirit Lake, Dickinson County	open water	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon + Pacific Loon - size, upturned bill & brownish, speckled neck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:35:00/16:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Clear Lake, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-04-21	1999-05-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Red-throated Loons at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 21, 1999.	Fischer, Carolyn J.	Red-throated Loon	Clear Lake	Clear Lake, Clear Lake Ia	Large lake, northside	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Curt Nelson, Jan Walter, and Carolyn Fischer. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon - was also present, could see larger loon, heavy bill, Pacific Loon - straight bill, black cap extends to eye -	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Clear Lake, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-04-20	1999-08-22	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 20, 1999.	Goranson, Rita	Red-throated Loon	Clear Lake	Clear Lake, Iowa - on lake north side	water	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jan Walter and Carolyn Fischer. \| Elimination of similar species: Common loons were out further but darker with dark around face and around neck, bill larger & darker. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Details for birds seen on Burlington CBC 12/19/98	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1998-12-19	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Details of birds seen during the Burlington Christmas Bird Count, December 19, 1998 reported by Jim Fuller. Notable sighting includes a Red-Throated Loon.	Fuller, James L	Red-throated Loon Brewer's Blackbird Eastern Phoebe Common Loon Sharp-shinned Hawk	Burlington Lock and Dam Number 18 Crapo Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Buffalo Creek Conservation Area in 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1978-02-28	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two to five Hoary Redpolls at Buffalo Creek Conservation Area in Kossuth County, IA on February 12, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the field notes submitted by Ray Cummins, and referenced in the publication Field Reports in Iowa Bird Life 48(1):47-52 by Nicholas S. Halmi.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Hoary Redpoll	Buffalo Creek State Game Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Coralville Reservoir, 1998	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-11-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Red-throated Loons at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on November 27, 1998.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Red-throated Loon	Coralville Lake	Coralville Res., Johnson Co., IA	reservoir	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:00:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Lake Macbride, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-11-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Lake Macbride in Johnson County, IA on November 25, 1998.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Red-throated Loon	Lake MacBride	Lake Macbride, Johnson Co., IA	large artificial lake	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The size, bill shape, and gray head and neck eliminate Pacific Loon or small Common Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:20:00/11:30:00 and 12:30:00/12:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Mid-America Power Plant south pond, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-11-13	1998-11-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Mid-America Power Plant south pond in Pottawattamie County on November 13, 1998.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Red-throated Loon	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Mid-America Power Plant south pond, Pottawattamie County, Iowa		The documentation form by Babs and Loren Padelford is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:05:00/15:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Baird's Sparrow at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, 1976	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-04-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Baird's Sparrow at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on April 27, 1976.	Bray, Tanya	Baird's Sparrow	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto Bend N. Wildlife Refuge, Missouri Valley, Iowa	River Bottom Land - Nat. Wildlife Refuge Plowed strip with road on one side, small trees and underbrush bordering it on the other.	The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marian Meier.\| Elimination of similar species: This bird had no yellow above eye as in Savannah. Also the breast stripes were confined to necklace. No noticable [sic] white on tail as in Vesper. No buff on breast as in Lincolns, LeContes, or Henslows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:50:00/12:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	7
Thomas Kent letter and enclosed documentation form regarding Hwa-Mei sighting, March 4, 1993	Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1993-02-28	1993-03-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for two Hwa-Mei (Chinese Thrush) at Ottumwa in Wapello County, IA on February 14, 1993. It is reported in a documentation form completed by Nelson Hoskins and submitted in a letter from Thomas Kent to Ross Silcock on March 4, 1993. Thomas also reports a late sighting of a Brown Thrasher.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934- Hoskins, Nelson R.	Brown Thrasher Chinese Hwamei	Iowa City Ottumwa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	6
Charlotte Scott letter to Thomas Kent regarding Ruddy Shelduck sightings, December 1, 1981	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1981-12-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for two Ruddy Shelducks at Promise City in October 1981. The sighting is reported in a letter from Charlotte Scott to Tom Kent on December 1, 1981. Charlotte also reports a sighting of a Snowy Owl at Benny Davis Lake.	Scott, Charlotte	Snowy Owl Ruddy Shelduck	Benny Davis Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	6
Rare bird sighting for Reeve's Pheasant at Red Haw State Park in 1966	Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1966-10-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Reeve's Pheasant at Red Haw State Park in Lucas County, IA on October 18, 1966. The sighting is found in the publication Field reports by Woodward H. Brown in Iowa Bird Life 36:103-105	Brown, Woodward H.	Reeves' Pheasant	Red Haw State Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Manti Memorial Park in 1968	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird banding Birds--Identification Rare birds	1907-03-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for Black-headed Grosbeaks at Manti Memorial Park in Fremont County, IA on October 30, 1968. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Black-headed Grosbeak in Western Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 39(2):43 by Genevieve Edna DeLong, and two publications used as reference for the review.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Black-headed Grosbeak	Manti Memorial Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great-tailed Grackle near Wheatland in 1961	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Rare birds	1961-12-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Record Committee review for a Great-tailed Grackle near Wheatland in Clinton County, IA on October 18, 1961. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication A Sight Record of the Boat-tailed Grackle in Iowa Bird Life 31(4):88 by Woodward H. Brown seen by C. Esther Copp and Dolly Copp.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Great-tailed Grackle	Wheatland				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Robertson Bird Sanctuary in Waterloo in 1970	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1970-09-30	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Robertson Bird Sanctuary in Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on September 20, 1970. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Black-headed Grosbeak at Waterloo in Iowa Bird Life 40(3):74 by Russell Hays also seen by Evelyn Ehlers and Clarice Hewitt.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Black-headed Grosbeak	Robertson Bird Sanctuary				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lesser Goldfinch at Sioux City in 1964	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1964-12-01	1993-09-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Record Committee review for two Lesser Goldfinches at Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on January 16, 1964. Includes a record review document with votes, letter regarding the bid sighting, and the original sighting record found in the publication Lesser Goldfinch at Sioux City in South Dakota Bird Notes 16(4):102-103 by Darrell and Evelyn Hanna also seen by Carol Rogers and Herrold Asmussen.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Lesser Goldfinch	Sioux City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	17