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 Greater Scaup at Mississippi River, SW of Davenport, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for thirty-five Greater Scaups at Mississippi River (SW of Davenport) in Scott County, IA on March 11, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Greater Scaup	Davenport	Mississippi River (S.W. of Davenport)	Mississippi River - half open water, half ice covered	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser scaup. The head shape and wing stripe differences are noted above. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rosy Finch at Oelwein, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-03-12	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rosy Finch at Oelwein in Fayette County, IA on March 12, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in Des Moines Register, a letter from Richard Wilkinson to Thomas H. Kent, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Stone, Tom	Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch	Oelwein	Oelwein, IOWA	Feeds on feeder. Come to a Rocky Ravine like spot by house.	The documentation form by Tom Stone is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Nicholas Halmi was submitted later. Other observers include Russel Hays, Frank Moore, Joe Schaufenbuel, Tom Kent, Tom Shires, Peter Petersen, Bernie Knight, Robert Myers, and eight more birders from Cedar Rapids-Marion. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird doesn't have any black on back or breast like the Black Rosy Finch. This bird had gray on head to distuinguish [sic] it. From the Brown capped Rosy Finch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:28:00/12:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	12
Nicholas S. Halmi letter to Vernon M. Kleen regarding bird sightings, March 12, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research	1978-03-12	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Nicholas S. Halmi to Vernon M. Kleen regarding bird sightings, March 12, 1978. Several bird types are underlined: Grey-Crowned Rosy Finch, Varied Thrush, and a Hoary Redpoll. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of winter, 1977-1978.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Varied Thrush Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Hoary Redpoll	Cedar Falls Coralville Lake Oelwein				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	4
Gladys Black letters to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, March 14 and 21, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research	1978-03-14	1978-03-21	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Two letters from Gladys Black to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, respectively dated March 14 and March 21, 1978. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of winter, 1977-1978.	Black, Gladys	Varied Thrush Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch	Oelwein West Des Moines				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	4
Hank Zaletel letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, March 18, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research	1978-03-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Hank Zaletel regarding bird sightings to Nicholas S. Halmi, March 18, 1978. The observers were Hank Zaletel, Linda Zaletel, and Marilyn Smith Glasson. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of spring, 1978.	Zaletel, Hank	Rough-legged Hawk Northern Saw-whet Owl Fox Sparrow Canada Goose	Little Wall Lake Ledges State Park Randall Shipley				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	5
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Riverside Township in Fremont County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-03-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Riverside Township in Fremont County, IA on March 19, 1978.	Silcock, W. Ross	Merlin	Riverside Township	Riverside Twp Fremont Co, Iowa	Nishnabotna River Bottom, Corn stubble fields (frozen)	The documentation form by W. Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Accipiters- Wings were pointed, not rounded, and bird did not sail, but flew with rapid, continuous strokes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:30:10.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Brookside Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-03-20	1978-04-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on March 20, 1978.	Johnson, Ellen J.	Merlin	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Story County, Iowa	park near Iowa State University. Deciduous woods with many trails - flew over Squaw Creek	The documentation form by Ellen Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ornithology Class (Pam Keigley, Pam White, John Hemphill, and Robin Bruegman). \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - too large for a kestrel. Sharp-shinned hawk - it had more pointed wings. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike north of Waukon, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike north of Waukon in Allamakee County, IA on March 25, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Northern Shrike	Waukon	Five miles North of Waukon, Allamakee County, Iowa	Hilly wooded areas, surrounded by cultivated lands. Some scattered brushy spots. Road was a loose crushed gravel type, with weed filled ditches.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Darwin Koenig. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerheaded Shrike; my bird seemed large and big billed. The small mask, light colored distal area. In flight the white rump(which is dark in the loggerhead), and the bird's lethargic behavior proves it was a Nortern [sic] Shrike. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at George Wyth State Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-25	1978-06-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for fifteen Greater Scaup at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on March 25, 1978.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Greater Scaup	George Wyth Memorial State Park	George Wyth State Park	open water in river with woodland bordering.	The documentation form by Tom Stone Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis L. Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup has short white wing line. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle near Waukon, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-26	1978-03-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle near Waukon in Allamakee County, IA on March 26, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Golden Eagle	Waukon	Ten miles North of Waukon, on Highway 76, Allamakee County, Iowa	The general area under the soaring bird was a bluff, covered mostly with Oak, Maple, Birch and scattered Junipers. The bluff rises about 150 feet from the floodplain of the Upper Iowa River. There are many other bluffs similar to the one briefly described here, that surround the area of sighting.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Alan Branhagen. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle; my bird was not mottled as an immature Bald is, also my bird had totally dark under wing coverts. The distinct demarcation of light to dark on my bird also was rather un-Baldlike. Since an on the spot size comparison was made with a buteo, and the latter was found to be much smaller, I feel safe to say all others of this genus can be rolled out. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Howard Graesing letter to Ruth Buckles regarding bird sightings, April 4, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Weather	1978-04-04	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Howard Graesing to Ruth Buckles regarding bird sightings, April 4, 1978. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of winter, 1977-1978.	Graesing, Howard	Purple Martin Yellow-breasted Chat Snowy Owl	Estherville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	4
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-08	1978-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Long-tailed Duck at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 8, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Long-tailed Duck	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co, Iowa	pond with marshy borders, surrounded by woods and cropland	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard Hollis. \| Elimination of similar species: No other N. Am. Duck, or duck-like bird, has a white head with a black face-patch, and a black chest. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit in Missouri Valley, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-10	1978-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Marbled Godwits in Missouri Valley in Harrison County, IA on April 10, 1978.	Gochenour, Ruth A.	Marbled Godwit	Missouri Valley	3 miles North of Missouri Valley, Iowa, Harrison County	Wet meadow	The documentation form by Ruth A. Gochenour is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Naomi Svenningsen and Justin Gochenour. \| Elimination of similar species: Hudsonian Godwit. Extremely large shore bird - this bird was lacking white rump-and black tail, chestnut under parts - The cinnamon wing linings were easily seen. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sprague's Pipit north of Missouri Valley, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-04-11	1994-01-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sprauge's Pipit north of Missouri Valley in Harrison County, IA on April 11, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of record, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Gochenour, Ruth A.	Sprague's Pipit	Missouri Valley	Two miles north of Missouri Valley, Iowa	Plowed field - corn stubble - Soil wet from rain - deep grassy ditches on both sides of rd.	The documentation form by Ruth Gochenour is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Naomi Svenningsen. \| Elimination of similar species: American Pipit, Vesper Sparrow - Legs-flesh colored - not clark - Lacked cinnamon shoulder patches - and streaking on back as described in #6. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	13
Hank Zaletel letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, April 15, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research	1978-04-15	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Hank Zaletel regarding bird sightings to Nicholas S. Halmi, April 15, 1978. The observers were Hank Zaletel and Linda Zaletel. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of spring, 1978.	Zaletel, Hank	Vesper Sparrow Loggerhead Shrike American White Pelican Cattle Egret	Little Wall Lake Hendrickson Marsh Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Red-throated Loon at Lake Manawa, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1978-04-15	1993-08-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County on April 15, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Field Reports in Iowa Bird Life seen by Evelyn Conrad.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Red-throated Loon	Lake Manawa State Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Rare bird documentation form for Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-15	1978-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 15, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Little Blue Heron	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co, Iowa	large marsh, bordered by wooded river bottoms, woods, cropland.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol S. Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Uniform dark-blue coloration rules out other herons: neck folded back on shoulders indicates that this bird was a tern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	20
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Sweet Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-16	1978-04-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 16, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Peregrine Falcon	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh, which is located 1 mile East of Tripoli, Bremer County, IA.	The area of Sweet Marsh, where bird was first perched is a grazed grassy pasture. Which after much rain in recent weeks, is partially flooded, and often had attracted shorebirds of several species.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cooper's and Goshawk do not have pointed wings, and never perch in open. Merlin is much to [sic] small, size of a big Blue Jay, my bird was larger than a Crow. Prairie Falcon, the falcon I saw was grey not dull olive. [start handwritten annotation] ? (brown, NSH) [end handwritten annotation]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, April 17, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research	1978-04-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Gladys Black to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, April 17, 1978. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of winter, 1977-1978.	Black, Gladys	Great Cormorant Anhinga Varied Thrush Loggerhead Shrike American White Pelican Cattle Egret Eastern Phoebe	Adel Lake Red Rock West Des Moines				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for an Ibis species at Russell in 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Ciconiiformes \| Herons, Bitterns, Egrets, Ibises, and Storks Threskiornithidae \| Ibises Rare birds	1978-04-18	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for eleven Ibis species at Russell in Lucas County, IA on April 18, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Field reports in Iowa Bird Life 48:69-77 by Nick Halmi seen by Charlotte Scott.			Russell				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis species at Churdan, 1978	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-04-21	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of an Ibis (species unknown) at Churdan in Greene County, IA on April 21, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Towan, Dan	Glossy Ibises	Churdan	1 mile North, 2 1/4 miles past of Churdan, Iowa	creek pasture, non-timbered, no trees for 1/4 mile. Creek bayou (old bed), some vegetation [... illegible]	The documentation form by Dan Towan is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Blue Heron ; the Great Blue Heron is the only [... illegible] it's not even close. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Rare bird documentation form for White-faced Ibis at Churdan, 1978	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-21	1978-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four White-faced Ibises at Churdan in Greene County, IA on April 21, 1978.	Dinsmore, James J.	White-faced Ibis	Churdan	1 mile North, 2 1/4 miles East of Churdan, Iowa	Creek pasture, non-timbered, no trees for 1/4 mile, creek bayou (old bed); some vegetation along edges	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Stephen Dinsmore and Dan Towers. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Blue Heron; this Great Blue Heron is the only other bird I've ever seen around here that even comes close to resemblance, and it's not even close. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Rare bird documentation form for Snowy Egret at Lake Manawa, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-23	1978-04-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form with handwritten annotations for a Snowy Egret at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on April 23, 1978.	Brown, Larry D.	Snowy Egret	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, southeast quarter of lake	Standing along shore of lake in shallow water near a muskrat den. Lake shore environment with some reeds and cattails along shore plus other vegetation growing in shallow water where bird was observed.	The documentation form by Larry D. Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include his wife and two other birders. \| Elimination of similar species: Approximately 10-15 feet to the west of the Snowy stood an American Egret which was identified by its yellow bill and much larger size. By comparing the field marks and size of both, they could both be identified. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis species at Sweet Marsh, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-04-26	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of six birds (Ibis species) at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 29, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Glossy Ibises	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh, which is located one mile East of Tripoli, Bremer Co., Iowa	The ibis settled down in a cattail marsh which covered several hundred acres. Apparently they prefered shallow water openings in the cattails. Sweet Marsh has a variety of habitats including open water, grassy marsh and cattail marsh.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Larry Farmer. \| Elimination of similar species: None of the herons or cranes has a curved beak, and none as far as I know exhibit the alternately flapping and gliding flight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Rare bird documentation from for Ibis species at Sweet Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for six Ibises at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 29, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Glossy Ibises	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh, which is located one mile East of Tripoli, Bremer Co. Iowa	The ibis settled down in a cattail marsh which covered several hundred acres. Apparently they prefered [sic] shallow water openings in the cattails. Sweet Marsh has a variety of habitats including open water, grassy marsh and cattail marsh.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Larry Farmer. \| Elimination of similar species: None of the herons or cranes has curved beak, and none as far as I know exibit [sic] the alternately flapping and gliding flight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24