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

Field notes contributed by Tanya Bray, summer 1981	Field notes Reports	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1981-06-01	1981-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Summer report of birds found in and around the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge contributed by Tanya Bray and other observers. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of summer 1981.	Bray, Tanya	Double-crested Cormorant Western Kingbird Forster's Tern Lesser Yellowlegs Willet Sedge Wren Snow Goose Lesser Scaup Great Blue Heron Black Tern	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge MidAmerican Energy Ponds				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	19	8
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-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
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 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
Piping Plover sightings at IPL settling ponds in 1983	Field notes Reports	Bird surveys Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Habitat Birds--Nests Ornithology--Bibliography	1983-06-01	1983-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A report of Piping Plover activity around the Iowa Power & Light Settling Ponds submitted by Barb Wilson. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Summer 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Piping Plover	MidAmerican Energy Ponds				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	20	8
Field notes contributed by Raymond L. Cummins with verifying documentation, summer 1981	Field notes Forms (documents) Reports	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Rare birds	1981-07-03	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Summer report of birds contributed by Raymond L. Cummins. Verifying documentation of an extraordinary sighting of a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron is included. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of summer 1981.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Swainson's Hawk Eared Grebe Common Moorhen Yellow-Crowned Night Heron Belted Kingfisher	Pocahontas Little Clear Lake Park Sunken Grove State Game Management Area Varina Goldfield				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	19	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull at Lock 19 in Keokuk, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-02-07	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lock 19 in Keokuk in Lee County, IA on February 7, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, comparison of different gull sightings, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock Number 19	Lock 19, Keokuk, Lee Co.		The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ann Johnson was submitted. Another observer was Beth Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: The black mantle really eliminates most other gulls. Western Gull, a remote possibility, is smaller and has a slightly paler mantle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:10:00/15:40:00 on February 7, 1991 and 13:32:00/14:20:00 on February 8, 1991.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Field notes contributed by Dick Bierman, summer 1981	Field notes Reports	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Nests Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1981-06-01	1981-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Summer report of birds found in and around Cherokee County contributed by Dick Bierman. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of summer 1981.	Bierman, Dick	Red-tailed Hawk Swainson's Hawk Cedar Waxwing Eastern Bluebird Ruby-throated Hummingbird Blue Grosbeak Yellow-throated Vireo	Cherokee County Osceola County Cherokee Little Sioux River Hospers				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	19	8
Field notes contributed by Carl J. Bendorf with verifying documentation, summer 1981	Field notes Forms (documents) Reports	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Rare birds	1981-06-21	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Summer report of birds found in and around Amana contributed by Carl J. Bendorf. Verifying documentation of an extraordinary sighting of a Worm-eating Warbler is included. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of summer 1981.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Upland Sandpiper Willow Flycatcher Acadian Flycatcher Veery Worm-eating Warbler Sharp-shinned Hawk	Amana Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area Homestead				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	19	8
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, Quarterly field report, summer 1981	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Nests Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Rare birds	1981-06-01	1981-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Quarterly field report for the summer of 1981 titled "Field Reports, summer 1981" contributed by Thomas H. Kent.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934- Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Eared Grebe Black-and-white Warbler Clay-colored Sparrow Yellow-throated Warbler Western Grebe Ringed Turtle-Dove	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	19	8
Dorothy Franek letter to Peter C. Peterson regarding her first winter bird population study, March 10, 1969	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Weather	1969-01-01	1969-03-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Dorothy Franek to Peter C. Peterson, March 10, 1969, covered her first winter bird population study. She listed the birds she saw on her property, which she called the Franek Forty, during January 1-March 31, 1969. The letter included locations, weather conditions, and new plantings on the property. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of winter 1968-1969.	Franek, Dorothy	Northern Bobwhite	Montgomery County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brewer's Blackbird at Zirbel Slough, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-09-08	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Brewer's Blackbird at Zirbel Slough in Cerro Gordo County, IA on September 8, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bangma, Jim Johnson, Ann	Brewer's Blackbird	Zirbel Slough	Zirbel Slough, Cerro Gordo Co., IA	Marsh	The documentation form by Jim Bangma and Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Rusty Blackbird ruled out by solid black color, deeper call note, bill shape. Grackles ruled out by tail length, bill size and shape and call note. Cowbirds ruled out by eye color, tail length and head/bill shape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Wood Thrush at Eden Valley Refuge, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-12-18	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Wood Thrush at Eden Valley Refuge in Clinton County, IA on December 18, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kaufman, Sharon	Wood Thrush	Eden Valley County Refuge	West Valley at Eden Valley Refuge (Lost Nation CBC)	Shrubs at hardwood timber edge	The documentation form by Sharon Kaufman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Jack Wohlstadter. \| Elimination of similar species: Hermit and Grey Cheeked Thrush. This bird had more conspicuous eye, larger and more numerous breast spots. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of a Great Black-backed Gull at Whitebreast Point in Red Rock Reservoir, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-12-17	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Whitebreast Point in Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 17, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Great Black-backed Gull	White Breast Creek	Whitebreast Point, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Flying over open water and ice	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer includes Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: Large size (larger than Herring) eliminated most others. White head and black and white checkering eliminate Lesser Black-backed and Herring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:40:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-10-23	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on October 23, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Ernzen, Peter	Great Black-backed Gull	Black Hawk Lake	Black hawk Lake	Lake	The documentation form by Pete Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Livermore. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Because I did not see the bird from front I could not eliminate other species - However due to its extreme size I eliminated all other species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:34:00/10:34:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Black-backed Gull near the Keokuk Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-25	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed near the Keokuk Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lee County, IA on December 25, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Great Black-backed Gull	Keokuk Wastewater Plant	Near Sewage treatment plant, Mississippi River, Keokuk, Lee Co. IA	River	The documentation form by Bob Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: All other gulls eliminated based upon size alone. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00 and around 16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull near Bettendorf, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-02-28	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull near Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on February 28, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Great Black-backed Gull	Ben Butterworth Parkway	Mississippi River between Bettendorf, Iowa and Moline, Illinois (Scott Co.).		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] In the middle of the group was a gull that was darker than any of the other birds, even the immature Herring Gulls. [...] In general size, this bird appeared almost twice the size of the Ring-billed Gulls, and considerably larger than the Herring Gulls, maybe 25%. It also had a massive bill compared to either of those species. [...] The legs were a dull gray-pink, and they were noticeably thicker than those of the Herring or Ring-billed Gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-03-07	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on March 7, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Great Black-backed Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Sandpiper Beach ,Saylorville Lake	Beach	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The only gull which approaches the Gr. Bl-backed in size is the Glaucous Gull - this species would not have a dark tail band or dark secondaries or an all dark bill \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8