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

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Peterson Pits, 1994	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-22	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Peterson Pits in Story County, IA on May 22, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Mississippi Kite	Peterson Pits Recreation Area	"Peterson Pits" Mine Reclamation Area, Story County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randall "Randy" Pinkston is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Mark Proescholdt was submitted later. Other observers include Dan Dorrance, Mary Kuhlman, Carlyn Fischer, Jan Walter, Daniel Pinkston, Dorothy Zehr, and Sibyl Sand. \| Elimination of similar species: Falcons also have pointed wingtips but wings typically appear more sickle-shaped, less plank-like. Falcon not expected to sail so effortlessly on fixed wings for so long. Dark slate-gray plumage and white head seen in good light does not fit with any North American falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:50:00/07:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Iowa City, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-17	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, Iowa on May 17, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Mississippi Kite	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No falcon is dark gray with a very dark otherwise unmarked tail from below, and no falcon has an unmarked whitish head and neck. A Common Nighthawk is brownish with obvious white wing patches from below. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/07:45:00 (20-30 seconds).	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Black Hawk Lake, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-05-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Ice House Point at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on May 15, 1994.	Stone, Dale	Peregrine Falcon	Black Hawk Lake	Ice House Point, Black Hawk Lake, Lake View, Iowa		The documentation form by Dale Stone is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: It was much larger than its relative the American Kestrel. By its size, strong patterned "sideburns," and streamlined look in-flight, I determined it to be a Peregrine Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 20:00:00/20:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Big Creek State Park, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-15	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Big Creek State Park in Polk County, IA on May 15, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene	Black-headed Grosbeak	Big Creek State Park	North end Big Creek, end of 100 st north	Bushy hillside, county roadside	The documentation form by Eloise and Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Rose-breasted - no rose on throat on underwings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 20:00:00/20:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, 1994	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-15	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on May 15, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, seven photographs and photocopies of them, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton GMA, Fremont County		The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include B.J. Rose, Roger Rose, and Doug Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It resembled a Pectoral Sandpiper, but differed in the following ways: the crown was streaked, and showed noticeable rufous coloration in the feathering; the off-white superciliary stripe was lengthy and broadened towards the rear; the breast markings were dense as in a Pectoral but did not show a clearcut ending at the whitish belly, but instead ended indeterminately by gradually fading out. [...] Once ready to record, we flushed the bird and it gave a soft series of notes, somewhat like a Lesser Yellowlegs, but rather flat and unmelodious. This call was most unlike the harsh, grating call of a Pectoral Sandpiper. [...] Plumage, time of year, call upon flushing, and key plumage differences from Pectoral Sandpiper, cited above, led us to identify this bird as an adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Clark's Grebe at Trumbull Lake, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-13	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Clark's Grebe at Trumbull Lake in Clay County, IA on May 13, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Clark's Grebe	Trumbull Lake	Trumble Lake	Lake	The documentation form by Marion W. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Western, White in front, over & behind eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:50:00 and 13:15:00/13:48:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Knot at Blue Lake, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-12	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red Knot at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on May 12, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird life, field notes from the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee. The date is incorrectly recorded on the documentation form as April 12, 1994.	Ernzen, Peter	Red Knot	Blue Lake	South Blue Lake in Monona County	marshy shoreine [sic]	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Closest similar species would be Dunlin?, eliminated by Dunlins pronounced downcurved bill, blue gray color was dissimilar to the pronounced gray and white of the observed bird. See attached documents. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 19:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Swainson's Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-12	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Swainson's Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on May 12, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, field notes, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Mayfield, John E.	Swainson's Warbler	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames IA	Open park land, Large trees with grass beneath.	The documentation form by John Mayfield is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Chipping sparrow: observed warbler had less vibrant color, was less active, warbler bill not sparrow bill. Palm warbler: no yellow or yellowish color, no tail wagging definitely not a palm warbler. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:50:00/12:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	25
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Silver Lake, 1994	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-05-12	1994-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Silver Lake in Worth County, IA on May 12, 1994.	Goranson, Rita	Red-necked Grebe	Silver Lake	Silver Lake Worth Co Iowa	on the lake	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carolyn Fischer and Pat Hansen. \| Elimination of similar species: Eared grebes also in water so could eliminate species. Western grebe also in water.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Field notes contributed by Randall Pinkston, May 9, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-05-09	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of birds contributed by Randall Pinkston. Highlights include the sighting of a Surf Scoter at Cone Marsh.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Semipalmated Sandpiper White-eyed Vireo Surf Scoter Tennessee Warbler	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Hooded Warbler at MacNiders Woods in Mason City, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1994-05-08	1994-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hooded Warbler at MacNiders Woods in Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 8, 1994.	Goranson, Rita	Hooded Warbler	MacNiders Woods	McNider [sic] Woods Mason City IA	Park of cotton wood, willows, ash + under growth	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carolyn Fischer. \| Elimination of similar species: Cap reminded me of Wilson's but the black throat was different. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	41
Rare bird documentation form for Hooded Warbler at MacNiders Woods in Mason City, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-05-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hooded Warbler at MacNiders Woods in Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 7 and May 8, 1994.	Rinehart, Rick	Hooded Warbler	MacNiders Woods	Macnider Woods Park, Mason City, Iowa		The documentation form by Rick Rinehart is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...]It was similar in size to the plentiful Yellow Rumped Warbler, but with the unaided eye it was unmistakably a male Hooded Warbler. [...] No similar species were noted. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:30:00 on May 7, 1994 and 12:30:00/13:30:00 on May 8, 1994.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	41
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red-throated Loon at Silver Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-07	1996-04-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Silver Lake in Worth County, IA on May 7, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walter, Janice L.	Red-throated Loon	Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area	Silver Lake, Worth Co., Ia [sic]	Shallow lake	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Curt Nelson, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon - above comparisons. Pacific Loon - has straight, unangled bill which is not uptilted, doesn't have the white area above and in front of the eye, has sharp division between white and dark of neck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Otter Creek Marsh in 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-05-06	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on May 6, 1994.	Fuller, James L	Yellow Rail	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lark Bunting north of Burlington, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-30	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lark Bunting north of Burlington in Des Moines County, IA on April 30, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, Charles R.	Lark Bunting	Burlington	North of Burlington off Highway 99	Farm land--freshly plowed field, low hedge rows	The documentation form by Charles Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The Bird sighted on a dirt road feeding with a Vesper Sparrow--within 3 feet for comparison. The most conspicuous field mark were the large creamy white wing patches (Not bars). The bird was slightly larger than the Vesper Sparrow with heavy sparrow bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Big Timber Unit of Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge , 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-25	1997-10-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Fish Crow at Big Timber Unit of Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Louisa County, IA on April 25, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	McKay, Kelly	Fish Crow	Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Big Timber Division	Big Timber Unit of Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge approx. 2.0 miles downstream of Kilpeck landing. This landing is located 8.0 miles South of Muscatine, Ia. on County Road X61.	Bottomland Hardwood Forest	The documentation form by Kelly McKay forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Peter C. Petersen was submitted. Other observers include Brian Blevins, Michael Bornstein, and Gerald White. \| Elimination of similar species: American Crow: different sounding calls; This bird was smaller than American Crows \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Rare bird documentation form for Gray-cheeked Thrush at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-04-25	1994-04-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Gray-cheeked Thrush at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on April 25, 1994.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Gray-cheeked Thrush	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City, Johnson Co., IA	Wood areas with paths.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I consider any thrush before May 1 to be a Hermit until proven otherwise. I realize how difficult it is to tell these thrushes apart. I have not seen any Hermits in six days of birding over the last two weekends. We have had three warm nights with south winds that have brought early migrants to Iowa. I records [sic] six 1st, 2nd, or 3rd early dates the last two days in southeastern Iowa. In spite of this, I tried to make this bird into a Hermit Thrush. I believe I saw the tail enough times and at enough angles to determine that it wasn't rufous. The face pattern did not in any way suggest to me that this was a Swainson's I find that the density of breast streaking is difficult to judge even on specimens. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/07:48:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Western Tanager near Swan Lake, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-25	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Tanager near Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on April 25, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dankert, David L.	Western Tanager	Swan Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson County	river bottomland	The documentation form by David L. Dankert forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by James Fuller and Thomas Kent were submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: NONE \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:50:00/10:50:08.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	29
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-04-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in Johnson County, IA on April 24, 1994.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Pine Warbler	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	DuPont bridge road, Johnson County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Observed with Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers. Really there was nothing else it could be. I considered an immature Palm Warbler but by late April the diagnostic marks should be apparent. The lack of a superciliary line and brownish cap, coupled with feeding behavior higher in the canopy and lack of tail-wagging, rule out Palm Warbler. Extensive white in the outer rectrix supports Pine Warbler.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit at Secret Lake, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-04-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for eighteen Marbled Godwits at Secret Lake in Fremont County, IA on April 21, 1994.	Fuller, James L	Marbled Godwit	Cooper Creek Wildlife Management Area	Secret Lake near Percival (Fremont County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers are unnamed and not counted. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Blue Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-10	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Trumpeter Swan at Blue Lake in Monona County, Iowa on April 10, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Huser, Bill F.	Trumpeter Swan	Blue Lake	Blue Lake, Monona County, Iowa	marshy oxbow with open, but shallow, water	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Peter Ernzen was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Mute swans usually have a curved neck posture with the bill held below horizontal. Their springtime bill color is expected to be pink. Tundra Swans are expected to have a concave bill, a slight forehead and a smaller proportioned bill. The facial skin extending to the eye is less substantial. The neck posture is usually vertical without the 'kink' at the base. The feathered edge between the eyes forms a straight line. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sprague's Pipit at Kettleson's Hogback Wildlife Management Area, 1994	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-09	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sprague's Pipit at Kettleson's Hogsback Wildlife Management Area in Dickinson County, IA on April 9, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, a follow up letter from Lee Schoenewe to the IOU Records Committee, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Sprague's Pipit	Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area	Kettleson's Hogsback WPA., Dickinson Co.	Grassland along shallow marsh	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was LaVonne Foote. \| Elimination of similar species: American Pipit - Leg color; Behavior; Breast color + streaking; streaked back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:50:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	13
Rare bird documentation form for Eared Grebe at Cedar Lake, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-04-08	1994-04-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an Eared Grebe at Cedar Lake in Linn County, IA on April 8, 1994.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Eared Grebe	Cedar Lake	Cedar L., Linn Co., Iowa	river bottom lake in city	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Bendorf and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: The head shape and small bill on this small dark grebe caught my eye. The neck and lower face were too dark for a winter-plumaged Horned Grebe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:20:00/17:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	14
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Swan Lake in 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-04-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Scaup at Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on April 1, 1994.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Greater Scaup	Swan Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Willet at Cone Marsh, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-03-27	1994-06-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Willets at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on March 27, 1994.	Scheib, James	Willet	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co.	marsh	The documentation form by James Scheib is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Sharon Scheib. \| Elimination of similar species: No other shorebird of this area has the Willet underwing markings combined with the uniformly drab body. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	10