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 Tundra Swan at Rathbun Lake, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-11-18	1988-11-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for five Tundra Swans at Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County, IA on November 18, 1988.	Cornett, Dorothy M.	Tundra Swan	Rolling Cove Park	Rolling Cove Rathbun Lake	Water Birds with R.B. Gulls at Edge of Lake Shore.	The documentation form by Dorothy M. Cornett is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marge Heusinkveld and Richard Boedy. \| Elimination of similar species: Mute Swan: Smaller: Knob on bill; neck held differently. Trumpeter Swan: Black base at tip of bill, flatter head. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	1
Rare bird documentation form for Turkey Vulture at Rolling Cove, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-01-31	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Turkey Vulture at Rolling Cove at Lake Rathbun in Appanoose County, IA on January 31, 1988.	Cornett, Dorothy M.	Turkey Vulture	Rolling Cove Park	Rolling Cove at Lake Rathbun	Grassland with trees and fields.	The documentation form by Dorothy M. Cornett is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mary M. Montgomery. \| Elimination of similar species: Too big for most hawks and flew differently. Had just seen two immature and one mature eagle and couldn't be confused with those. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:55:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Rathbun Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-02-01	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on February 1, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Heusinkveld, Bill	Ferruginous Hawk	Rolling Cove Park	Rolling Cove Area, Rathbun Lake, Appanoose County	Perched in Large Tree in Grove next to Lake Rathbun	The documentation form by Bill Heusinkveld is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marjorie Heusinkveld \| Elimination of similar species: Red tail eliminated by complete lack of belly band, no red tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:04:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Rolling Cove Area, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-10-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Rolling Cove Area at Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County, IA on October 15, 1983.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Merlin	Rolling Cove Park	Rolling Cove Area Rathbun Lake Appanoose Co., Iowa	Lakeside - Brushy ravine - open brush with some conifers mixed in.	The documentation form by Raymond L. Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Wallace Jardine. \| Elimination of similar species: Small, only slightly larger than a Sparrow Hawk. True falcon in f[l]ight point wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Rock Valley Wildlife Area, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-09-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Rock Valley Wildlife Area in Sioux County, IA on September 21, 1994.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Merlin	Rock Wildlife Area	Rock Valley Wildlife Area		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I had seen Sharp-shinned Hawks in this area a week before, but the pointed wings made me recognize at once I was looking at a falcon. [...] no Kestrel-like head markings. \| The original documentation form event lasted around twenty minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Rock Township in Cherokee County, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-02-27	1985-02-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Rock Township in Cherokee County, IA on February 27, 1985.	Brewer, Marion M.	Golden Eagle	Rock Township	Rock township sec 36, Cherokee County	Rolling hills with both pasture and crop land	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vernon Bierman. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle, white banded tail and white wing linings, dark head. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:45:00/13:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Common Loon at Rock Creek, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-10-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Loon at Rock Creek in Jasper County, IA on October 12, 1991.	Brand, Gordon James	Common Loon	Rock Creek Lake	Rock Creek	reservoir	The documentation form by Gordon Brand is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Double-crested Cormorant. These were also present. These birds have a "hook" at end of beak and hold head and beak at an upward angle. \| The original documentation form event lasted around ten minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	10
Rare bird documentation form for Bay-breasted Warbler at Roberts Riverside Park in Van Buren County, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-04-18	1982-06-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bay-breasted Warbler at Roberts Riverside Park in Van Buren County, IA on April 18, 1982.	Sandrock, James P., 1929-	Bay-breasted Warbler	Keosauqua	Roberts Riverside Park, Van Buren County, IA	Oak/sycamores on riverbank	The documentation form by James P. Sandrock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other bird has this combination of size, coloration, etc. \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 16:00:00/16:01:00 for about ten seconds.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	32
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Roberts Riverside Park in Van Buren County, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1981-04-11	1981-04-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-throated Warbler at Roberts Riverside Park in Van Buren County, IA on April 11, 1981.	Sandrock, James P., 1929-	Yellow-throated Warbler	Keosauqua	Roberts Riverside Park - one mile north of Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa on Des Moines River. Bird seen at extreme north end of park.	General: High up in sycamore tree on river bank Specific: Bird varied altitude from 30-75' in sycamore tree; flew to small sapling about 25' in front of me for short time.	The documentation form by James P. Sandrock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Johanna K. Sandrock. \| Elimination of similar species: not yellow-rumped warbler because of white throat and black breast-ring \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/12:00:00 estimated.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	28
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull at Roberts Creek Beach at Lake Red Rock, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-03-05	1983-03-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull at Roberts Creek Beach at Lake Red Rock in Marion County, IA on March 5, 1983.	Armstrong, Eugene	Glaucous Gull	Roberts Creek Park	Roberts Creek beach, North side of Lake Red Rock	lake area sand beach	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dennis Thompson and Eloise Armstrong. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	37
Rare bird documentation form for Eastern Meadowlark west of McCausland, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1988-12-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an Eastern Meadowlark west of McCausland in Scott County, IA on December 22, 1988.	Blevins, Brian L.	Eastern Meadowlark	McCausland	Road just west of McCausland, Iowa.	Pasture with livestock and livestock feeders	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ann Barker. \| Elimination of similar species: Western meadowlark - eliminated by Song [sic]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:54:00/14:57:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	73
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Jaeger Species at Riverview Cemetery in Algona, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-29	1993-07-21	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of two Jaeger species birds at Riverview Cemetery in Algona in Kossuth County, IA on October 29, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kenne, Matthew C.	Jaegers	Riverview Cemetery	Riverview Cemetery Algona, Ia.	fly-over hill overlooking Des Moines River valley	The documentation form by Matthew Kenne is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Wrong color for a gull, no terminal tail bands, no gray, no white except for the lightness at the base of primaries, no darker primaries (black wingtips). Bill was gull-like, but hooked mail different. May have been exagerated [sic] by a darker color than basal portion. Flight was direct and strong, a "confident" feel I get from birds of prey. \| The original documentation form event occurred around an estimated 11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Whimbrel at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-17	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of eight plus Whimbrels at Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on May 17, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Braley, Jean B. Tiemann, Marie E. Spears	Whimbrel	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton, IA. State Area	Marsh, mudflats, slough	The documentation form by Jean B. Braley and Marie Tiemann is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The birds were smaller than long-billed curlews and the curved bills shorter. The striped heads further eliminated Long-billed Curlew. The decurved bills served to distinguish Whimbrels from other shorebirds of size: i.e. Godwits, possibly Willets, Greater Yellowlegs. Also coloring and action. There were Yellowlegs feeding the area and a lot of smaller sandpipers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:20:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	23
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, 1981	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-08-14	1981-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on August 14, 1981.	Newlon, Michael C.	Yellow-Crowned Night Heron	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton WMA, Fremont Co IA	impound nests w/ marsh vegetation, willows	The documentation form by Mike Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Bendorf and Thomas Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: spots rather than streaks on mantle & coverts, dark flight feathers, long legs & deep bill eliminate Black-crown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	23
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-27	1984-04-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on April 27, 1984.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Peregrine Falcon	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton WMA Riverton, Iowa	Open marsh	The documentation form by Raymond L. Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Merlin because of size and Prairie Falcon because of dark back color - All others because of falcon flight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:34:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Riverton Wildlife Refuge, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-04-05	1980-06-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Riverton Wildlife Refuge in Fremont County, IA on April 5, 1980.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Golden Eagle	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton Wildlife Refuge, North End.	Open marshland with some wet woodland and dry cultivated fields nearby.	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: immature Bald Eagle has some grayish white areas underwings. And does not have golden feathers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:05:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Cinnamon Teal at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-03-17	1984-03-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cinnamon Teal at Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on March 17, 1984.	Klaas, Erwin E	Cinnamon Teal	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Flooded river bottom. Bird were in ditch next to dike.	The documentation form by Erwin E. Klaas is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include George Karas, Shirley Karas, Ray Alisauskas, and John Hagemann. \| Elimination of similar species: Blue-wing males were seen with it. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-necked Stilt at Riverton Area, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-12	1996-01-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-necked Stilt at Riverton Area in Fremont County, IA on May 12, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a photo, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Black-necked Stilt	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton Wildlife Area, Fremont Co., IOWA	Broad expanse of mud flats	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Pam Allen and Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Reid Allen, W. Ross Silcock, and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: Identification of a Black-necked Stilt is straight forward. The only other bird in North America which is even remotely similar is the American Avocet. It can be eliminated by the black feathering on the head and neck, straight bill, and pink legs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:55:00/16:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Snowy Plover at Riverton Wildlife Area, 1992	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-13	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Snowy Plover at Riverton Wildlife Area in Fremont County, IA on May 13, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Beth Proescholdt, Mark	Snowy Plover	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton Wildlife Area - (Fremont Co.)	Huge mudflat area and lots of water	The documentation form by Mark and Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller, Jim Scheib, Tom Kent, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: A non-breeding plumaged Piping Plover would be the only bird that could be similar. A Piping Plover has a conspicuous white rump in flight and a distinctive call-a 'peep-lo" which was different from the high musical whistle which we heard. A Semipalmated Plover would be much too dark brown in color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/15:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Snowy Plover at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, 1992	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-10	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Snowy Plover at Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on May 10, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Rose, Douglas L.	Snowy Plover	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton W.M.A, Fremont County Iowa	Mud Flats	The documentation form by Doug Rose is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by B.J. Rose, Pam Allen, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Babs Padelford, Ross Silcock, Reid Allen, Ann Johnson, and Richard Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: Semi-Palm + Piping - Both have crane legs This bird had all blk all black bill smaller size \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	18
Rare bird documentation form for Common Yellowthroat at Riverton Wildlife Area, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-29	1999-01-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Yellowthroat at Riverton Wildlife Area in Fremont County, IA on December 29, 1998.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Common Yellowthroat	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton W.A., Fremont County, Iowa	grassy edge of a frozen canal	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include W. Ross Silcock. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of an incomplete mask, pattern of yellow on the underparts, lack of wingbars, long tail, and leg color is diagnostic for Common Yellowthroat. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:25:00/14:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	40
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Riverton Wildlife Area, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Riverton Wildlife Area in Fremont County, IA on April 27, 1984.	Moore, Francis L.	Peregrine Falcon	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton W.A., Fremont County, IA	Open marshland	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ray Cummins. \| Elimination of similar species: Merlin is smaller without dark mustache patch in front of eye that this bird had. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 14:30:00/14:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Baird's Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Area, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-03-11	1991-03-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Baird's Sandpipers at Riverton Wildlife Area in Fremont County, IA on March 11, 1991.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Baird's Sandpiper	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton W.A., Fremont Co., IA		The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The dark legs and smaller size eliminates Pectoral Sandpiper. Dark legs also eliminates Least Sandpiper. Other peeps were eliminated by the combination of bill shape, long, slender body shape, scaly upperparts, and call note. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/09:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	22
Rare bird documentation form for Wilson's Phalarope at Riverton Wildlife Area, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-03-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Wilson's Phalarope at Riverton Wildlife Area in Fremont County, IA on March 28, 1991.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Wilson's Phalarope	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton W.A., Fremont Co., IA		The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tanya Bray. \| Elimination of similar species: The body shape, bahavior, [sic] and plumage identify the bird as a phalarope. Bill shape eliminates other phalaropes, which would be even more unlikely on this date. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	29
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Eurasian Wigeon at Riverton Area, 1991	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-03-06	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Eurasian Wigeon at Riverton Area in Fremont County, IA on March 6, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Eurasian Wigeon	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton W.A., Fremont Co., IA		The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Eugene Armstrong was submitted later. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong, and Ross Silcock \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of reddish head with buffy crown, gray mantle and flanks, black rump and undertail, and stubby, bluish-gray bill eliminates other waterfowl. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:35:00/11:05:00, 12:05:00/12:25:00, and 16:40:00/17:22:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	14