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 for Least Flycatcher at Whitebreast Recreation Area in Red Rock Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-12-16	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Least Flycatcher at Whitebreast Recreation Area in Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 16, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Least Flycatcher	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Whitebreast Recreation Area, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Primarily open edge and grassy area with pine tree plantings	The documentation form by Ann Johnson forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Tim Schantz was submitted. Other observers include Roy Godwin and Jim Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: Body and bill shape and behavior identified this bird as a flycatcher. The size, eye-ring and wing bars eliminated all but Empidonax flycatchers. Because of the late date on this bird, it is difficult to get an understanding of molt sequences which may or may not be helpful. From what I can find on molts, however, the following is based on best available information. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:40:00/11:55:00 and approximately 13:30:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lark Bunting south of Thurman, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-07-29	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for four Lark Buntings south of Thurman in Fremont County, IA on July 29, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation submitted to the committee.	Walters, Betty	Lark Bunting	Thurman	Fremont County - (near) South of Thruman [sic], Iowa		The documentation by Betty Walters is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Barbara Cunningham and Mary Beth Vaughn. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] At first I thought maybe imm. R.H. Woodpeckers - Then I reasoned No - They have black bellies and are solid black with the wing patches and the fact that the other two were Sparrow like in coloring - Made me take another look.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lark Bunting at De Soto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-04-28	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lark Bunting at De Soto Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on April 28, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Babcock, Mary Cook	Lark Bunting	De Soto Lake	De Soto Bend NWR	Bare tree by a pond in flock of mixed swallows	The documentation form by Mary Cock Babcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Smaller + different shape from red winged black bird. No yellow head as yellow headed black bird. Too small for mockingbird or shrike - also different color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	34
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 Lark Bunting southeast of Scranton, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-06-06	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lark Bunting southeast of Scranton in Greene County, IA on June 6, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, e-mail correspondence about the documentation, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thelen, Rob	Lark Bunting	Scranton	Greene County,1 mile south of Scranton on Highway 25 ,then 3/4 mile east.	Pasture with cows on South side, Row crops on North side	The documentation form by Rob Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Marty Thelen. \| Elimination of similar species: I don't know of any other bird of this size that has white wing patches. I couldn't find any other info in any of my bird guides. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:00:06.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	34
Rare bird documentation form for Herring Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-01-04	1991-01-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Herring Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on January 4, 1991.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Herring Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion County, Iowa	Des Moines River below dam, water mostly open with ice on edges	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller and Tim Barksdale. \| Elimination of similar species: The color of the back and obvious window in the inner primaries, as well as the rest of the feather tracts, all fit 2nd winter Herring Gull and seem to exclude Lesser Black-backed Gull. The soft parts were somewhat atypical, but I was not bothered much by this because I have seen much variation in Herring Gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/08:25:00 and 12:45:00/13:00:00 (approximate)	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	34
Rare bird documentation form for Herring Gull at MidAmerican Energy Ponds near Council Bluffs, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-05-24	1985-06-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Herring Gull at MidAmerican Energy Ponds near Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 24, 1985.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Herring Gull	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	IPL Settling Ponds, Council Bluffs, Iowa		The documentation form by Barb L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Similar to most of the other large immature gulls of the world. Mantle too light for Black-backed group. Wingtips, even in their folded condition, too dark for Glaucous, Glaucous-winged, etc. that leaves a whole mess of light-mouthed large gulls with dark wing tips. Description seems to match young Herring Gull (second summer ?) well enough. Eye color would probably be becoming pale in a Herring of this plumage, but perhaps not, + it might not show at the distance. I have trouble eliminating California Gull, but it is even harder to support that species.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	34
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Grammer Grove in 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-20	1986-10-08	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for two Peregrine Falcons at Grammer Grove in Marshall County, IA on September 20, 1986.	Proescholdt, Beth	Peregrine Falcon	Grammer Grove County Wildlife Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-throated Sparrow at Waterloo, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-03-17	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-throated Sparrow at Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on March 17, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in American Birds, and seven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Black-throated Sparrow	Waterloo	Feeder of Maurice and Ruby Hanson, 1262 Ackermant, Waterloo (Black Hawk County).		The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Peter C. Petersen, Mark Proescholdt, Thomas H. Kent, James Scheib, Randy Pinkston, and Ray Cummins were submitted. Other observers include Francis Moore, Ken Lowder, Maurice Hanson, Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, Dick Tetrault, Rita Goranson, Jan Walters, Beth Proescholdt, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Curt Nelson, Marty Pauley, Carolyn Fischer, Beth McBride, Tim Fallon, Pat Hanson, Hank Zaletel, Tim Schantz, Tom Stone, Ruby Hanson, and Brian Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: The black bib in combination with the wide white face stripes is distinctive. No other sparrow-like bird has these features. The other desert southwest birds which are similar are Sage and Five-striped Sparrows, both of which have white throats and a dark stickpin on the breast. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:44:00/07:47:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	33
Rare bird documentation form for Cerulean Warbler at Stone State Park, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-21	1983-05-22	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cerulean Warbler at Stone State Park in Woodbury County, IA on May 21, 1983.	Ewert, David N.	Cerulean Warbler	Stone State Park	Stone Park State Park, Sioux City	Wooded; oak, willow, box-elder	The documentation form by David Ewert is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No similar species. Of blue-backed warblers Parula has yellow underparts and chestnut band (song is different too) and Black-thr. blue has black throat, breast etc., different song and a white wing patch \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	33
Rare bird documentation form for Cerulean Warbler at Amana Woods, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1981-04-30	1981-05-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cerulean Warbler at Amana Woods north of Homestead in Iowa County, IA on April 30, 1981.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Cerulean Warbler	Amana Woods	one mile north of Homestead, IA. Iowa County "Amana Woods"	General: Edge of extensive decidous [sic] woods, moving about in upper story Specific: of large trees along dirt road.	The documentation form by Carl J. Bendorf is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: This is only bird I know of with the narrow dark band across otherwise clear throat and underside. This band was seen very clearly. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:50:00/07:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	33
Rathbun Christmas Count - Dec. 19, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-19	1998-12-20	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of birds observed during the Rathbun Christmas bird count including several rare species at Rathbun Lake on December 19 and 20, 1998, contributed by Bill Heusinkveld. Rare species sighted include a Bonaparte's Gull and Yellow-rumped Warbler.	Heusinkveld, Bill	Blue-winged Teal Red-breasted Merganser Trumpeter Swan Black-bellied Plover Yellow-rumped Warbler Bonaparte's Gull	Rathbun Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	33
Rare bird documentation form for Bonaparte's Gull at the Mississippi River at Keokuk, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-12-31	1988-01-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bonaparte's Gull at the Mississippi River at Keokuk in Lee County, IA on December 31, 1987.	Cecil, Robert I.	Bonaparte's Gull	Keokuk	Miss. River at Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa	Lock and Dam 19 Tailwaters	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Black-headed has dark underwings. I would have noticed this. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:05:00/14:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	33
Todd Tracy email to Jim Fuller regarding Gyrfalcon sighting, February 14, 1994	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-02-14	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email from Todd Tracy to Jim Fuller dated February 14, 1994. Todd reports sighting a Gyrfalcon near Kirkwood Community College in Linn County, IA on December 1, 1992.	Tracy, Todd T.	Gyrfalcon	Kirkwood Community College				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	33
Rare bird documentation form for Gyrfalcon on the Mississippi River between Davenport and Rock Island, IL, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-12-22	1997-01-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Gyrfalcon on the Mississippi River between Davenport in Scott County, IA and Rock Island in Rock Island County, IL on December 22, 1996.	Blevins, Brian L.	Gyrfalcon	Davenport Rock Island	Mississippi River between Davenport in Scott Co., IA and Rock Island in Rock Island County, Ill. between Big Island + Credit Island. From Ill side.	Directly on Mississippi River Channel with most of the river frozen over.	The documentation form by Brian L. Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lewis D. Blevins and Corey T. Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: The only bird close or similar is the Peregrine. It was easily eliminated by the lack of a dark cap, shear bulk and size and the total light grayness. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:26:00/10:29:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	33
Doug Trapp letter to James Dinsmore regarding sick Gyrfalcon, March 7, 1983	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife rehabilitation	1983-03-07	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Doug Trapp to James Dinsmore dated March 7, 1983. Trapp reports trying to care for a sick Gyrfalcon on November 25, 1981.	Trapp, Douglas E.	Gyrfalcon	Akron Sioux City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	33
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Sweet Marsh in 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-22	1979-05-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 22, 1979.	Myers, Robert K.	Merlin	Sweet Marsh				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Cone Marsh Wildlife Area, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Cone Marsh Wildlife Area in Louisa County, IA on April 21, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Merlin	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Conesville Marsh Louisa Co. Iowa	wet grassy field and wooded edge. Conesville Marsh between lakes	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include T.K. Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/08:40:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at County Road W48 in Johnson County, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-03-20	1977-03-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at County Road W48 in Johnson County, IA on March 20, 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Merlin	Johnson County	Co. Rd W48, Johnson Co., Iowa, N of Iowa River	tall-grass fields with scattered dead or live trees. Flood plain of Coralville Reservoir (west end)	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Am. Kestrel: no rufous on back; facial pattern of Kestrel clearly not present; chunkier bird. Sharp-shinned Hawk: head proportionately large, tail shorter, wings pointed and cuffed, not rounded. Peregrine: too small; lack of heavy black mustache. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:55:00/14:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Swan Lake, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-16	1976-09-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on September 16, 1976.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Merlin	Swan Lake	Swan Lake, Johnson Co., Iowa	Swan L. is 1 mile south from the Coralville Reservoir. The bird was flying over the lake, the bordering mudflats and disappeared within seconds over an adjoining cornfield, continuing its rectilinear, unswerving flight.	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: In spite of the first subconscious "gestalt" impression of a Mourning Dove approaching, the square tail, lacking white, falcon wings and greater size rule this one out. The bird seen was definitely too small to be a Peregrine, and had no mustache. It did not have the distinctive facial pattern of the familiar Kestrel either, nor the rufous back and/or wings and tail; it was a dusky bird, not the way Kestrels look to me; nor have I ever seen a Kestrel flying with such blinding speed and so "purposefully". \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Coralville Reservoir, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-09-12	1975-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 12, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Merlin	Coralville Lake	Coralville Res.	reservoir, bordered by wide grassy flats	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: dark tail, lack of face pattern elim. sparrow hawk. Small size + falcon build (long pointed wings, long squared-off tail) rule out other hawks. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Riverton Game Management Area, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-12-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Riverton Game Management Area in Fremont County, IA on December 21, 1985.	Silcock, W. Ross	Merlin	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Boat ramp area; Riverton GMA.	Floodplain, open deciduous	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Barb Wilson. It was compiled by Betty Walters. \| Elimination of similar species: small, bigger than Kestrel. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:10:00/11:12:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin near Knittel, unknown year	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	N/A	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin on Iowa Highway 3 four miles east of U.S. Route 63 in Bremer County, IA on December 18 in an unknown year.	Stone, Tom	Merlin	Knittel	Along Hi way (3) 4 miles east of Junction (63)	In 20 ft tree along road	The documentation form by Tom Stone is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Larger than a Kestrel, Smaller than the peregrine + did not have facial pattern like falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:55:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Babcock Lake Road in Hawkeye Wildlife Area in unknown year	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Babcock Lake Road in Hawkeye Wildlife Area in Johnson County, IA on October 10, unknown year.	Newlon, Michael C.	Merlin	Babcock Access				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in unknown year	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 10, unknown year	Newlon, Michael C.	Merlin	Sand Point				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32