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 Lesser Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-11-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 29, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.	sitting on ice above dam	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Peter Wickham, Mark Brogie, Barb Wilson, Tanya Bray, and Bery Engebretsen. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Black-backed Gull was eliminated by the smaller size, contrast between the wingtips and the rest of the wing, and by the heavy streaking on the head (head should be mostly white on a Great Black-backed Gull). California Gull was eliminated by the darker mantle, darker underwing and dark carpal bar, lack of a dark spot on the bill, and by the dark smudge at the base of the bill (this is characteristic of 3rd summer Lesser Black-backed Gulls and is never present on California Gulls). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:08:00/12:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Big Creek State Park, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-09-05	1988-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Big Creek State Park in Polk County, IA on September 5, 1988.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Prairie Falcon	Big Creek State Park	Big Creek S.P., Polk Co.-north end	flying over lake	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Reid Allen and Pam Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: The large size, long tail, long, pointed wings, and dark axillaries eliminate all other raptors. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:35:00/12:38:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Big Creek State Park, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-10-05	1987-10-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Greater Scaups at Big Creek State park in Polk County, IA on October 5, 1987.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Greater Scaup	Big Creek State Park	Big Creek State Park, Polk Co.	swimming on large lake	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Roger Sedlacek. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup eliminated above. Both birds had smoothly rounded heads, not peaked like Lesser Scaup. Both birds seemed to have larger, heavier bills than Lesser Scaup. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Riverton Area, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-12-27	1988-12-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Riverton Area in Fremont County, IA on December 27, 1988.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Merlin	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton A., Fremont Co., IA	flying over large lake	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ross Silcock. \| Elimination of similar species: The small size, lack of any obvious facial pattern, and lack of dark axillars eliminates Peregrine and Prairie Falcons. The brown upperparts, barred tail, streaked underparts, and more powerful wingstrokes eliminate Am. Kestrel. \| The original documentation form event occurred at approximately 08:15:00/08:17:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Yellowlegs at Big Creek State Park, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-11-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Yellowlegs at Big Creek State Park in Polk County, IA on November 27, 1988.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Greater Yellowlegs	Big Creek State Park	Big Creek S.P.-north end	feeding on mudflat with several Killdeer	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include several at an earlier date. \| Elimination of similar species: see above. [...] I then assumed this was probably the Lesser Yellowlegs that was at this same location on 19 Nov. A few minutes later, a Northern Harrier flew by and flushed the shore birds. The yellow legs took flight and, instead of the soft 'tu-tu-tu' of a Lesser Yellowlegs, I heard the louder, harsher call of a Greater Yellowlegs, which the bird gave in a series of 5-6 notes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:08:00/07:22:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	7
Rare bird documentation form for Snowy Egret at Elk Rock State Park, 1985	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-04-21	1985-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Snowy Egret at Elk Rock State Park in Marion County, IA on April 21, 1985.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Snowy Egret	Elk Rock State Park	Elk Rock State Park, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion County	mudflat area on reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Richards and Carl Bendorf. \| Elimination of similar species: Other egrets by size combined with dark bill and black legs with yellow feet. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-legged Kittiwake in Rathbun Reservoir Dam, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-20	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-legged Kittiwake in Rathbun Reservoir Dam in Appanoose County, IA on December 20, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Black-legged Kittiwake	Rathbun Dam	Rathbun Reservoir, Appanoose Co.-above dam	feeding with Ring-billed Gulls near open water and resting on the ice	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include two unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The wing pattern, dark bill and legs, tail pattern, and size eliminates all other gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:06:00/16:22:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	10
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Prairie Falcon east of Sioux City, 1981	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-19	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Falcon east of Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on December 19, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee. The documentation form is related to field notes detailing other sightings https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/8756/view	Duecker, Steve	Prairie Falcon	Sioux City	Aprox [sic] 6 miles east of Sioux City, HY. 141	Bluffs on North Flat Land on South of HY.	The documentation form by Steve Duecker is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Documentation form was completed by Robert Nicholson. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 07:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	6
Rare bird documentation form for Gray Partridge near Shenandoah, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-04-22	1995-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Gray Partridge near Shenandoah in Page County, IA on April 22, 1995. It was submitted as an e-mail from Steve Matherly to Ann Johnson on April 25, 1995.	Matherly, Steve	Gray Partridge	Shenandoah	Go west on State Hwy 2 from Shenandoah, Iowa to the country road that goes south to Riverton, Iowa. Proceed west to the next county road (gravel) (approx. one mile) and turn south. Proceed one-quarter of a mile to first farm house (right or west side). Bird was seen along fencerow north of the house.		The documentation form by Steve Matherly is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Matherly and Maribel Matherly. \| Elimination of similar species: Bird easily distinguishable from other possibilities such as hen pheasant, bobwhite quail, and prairie chicken both by size and colorization. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:00:00 .	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	37
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Boone, 1987	Administrative records Field notes Maps (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-05-29	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck near Boone in Boone County, IA on May 29, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, a map of the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Espeland, Steven R.	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Boone	County: Boone Location in detail: Observed standing in shallows of ~0.25 A. farm pond located on Eilene Glover acreage NW of Boon, Iowa (see map)	Farm pond w/ random stands of cattails, sedges etc.	The documentation form by Steven R. Espeland is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Fulvous Whistling Duck - Lacks distinctive wing patches and pink bill, legs and feet. \| The original documentation form event occurred at 18:00:00 and from 19:00:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpolls at Maffit Reservoir, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-01-08	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for at least two Hoary Redpolls at Maffit Reservoir in Polk County, IA on January 8, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, three articles in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Burns, Sue Burns, Stuart L.	Hoary Redpoll	Dale Maffitt Reservoir	Near Maffit Reservoir, Des Moines	birds were feeding in a weed field, staying fairly stationary.	The documentation form by Stuart and Sue Burns is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Obviously, the only other species it could have been would be the Common Redpoll. Its only certain distinguishing characteristic (noted by us) was the white rump. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area, 1999.	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-09-27	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area in Pottawattamie County, IA on September 27, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, an e-mail from Sue Mattix to Jim Fuller, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Mattix, Sue	Black-billed Magpie	Hitchcock Nature Area	Hitchcock Wildlife Area, Crescent, IA	forest	The documentation form by Sue Mattix is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Howard Mattix. \| Elimination of similar species: Only similar species would be yellow billed magpie - this one had a black bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Rare bird documentation form for Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area near Crescent, 1999	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-09-27	1999-10-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area near Crescent in Pottawattamie County, IA on September 27, 1999. It is accompanied by an e-mail from Sue Mattix to James Fuller dated September 28, 1999 regarding the bird sighting.	Mattix, Sue	Black-billed Magpie	Hitchcock Nature Area	Hitchcock Wildlife Area, Crescent, IA	forest	The documentation form by Sue Mattix is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Howard Mattix. \| Elimination of similar species: Only similar species would be yellow billed magpie - this one had a black bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	83
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Finch at Iowa City, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-07-10	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Purple Finch at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on July 10, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Spieker, Susan J.	Purple Finch	Iowa City	830 Hudson, Iowa City, Iowa	Back yard, with fruit trees, walnut trees, shrubs and bushes and garden.	The documentation form by Sue Spieker is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Female House Finch has more overall brown coloring and the streaks on breast and belly are wider and bolder. Also House Finch does not have the light area, eyebrow stripe, above and below eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:05:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	14
Rare bird documentation form for Sandhill Crane at west end of Lake Colechester, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-05-08	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sandhill Crane at west end of Lake Colechester in Warren County, IA on May 8, 1990.	Spieker, Susan J.	Sandhill Crane	Lake Colechester	West end of Lake Colchester [sic] in Norwalk, Warren Co., Iowa	Marshy, cattails, shallow water border by corn fields on north and lawns on the south.	The documentation form by Sue Spieker is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ann Johnson. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Blue Herons fly with neck crooked, also when standing crooks neck much of time. Great Blues bill is yellowish and has no red forehead. Whooping Cranes are white as are Great Egrets. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:10:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	1
Rare bird documentation form for Cinnamon Teal at Fremont County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-05	1983-05-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Cinnamon Teals at Fremont County, IA on April 5, 1983.	Davis, Susan E.	Cinnamon Teal	Fremont County	Sec. 29 T68NR43W Fremont Co.	Flooded roadside ditch	The documentation form by Susan E. Davis is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Blue-winged Teal. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	6
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Muskrat Slough, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Muskrat Slough in Jones County, IA on May 1, 1982.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Yellow Rail	Muskrat Slough State Game Management Area	Muskrat S. Jones Co IA	Marsh	The documentation form by T.H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Bendorf, Tom Staudt, and James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora: white wing patches, smaller, lighter tan color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:10:00/07:10:10.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Roseate Tern at Lock and Dam 16 at Muscatine, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-05-03	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Roseate Tern at Lock and Dam 16 at Muscatine in Muscatine County, IA on May 3, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Shires, Thomas K.	Roseate Tern	Lock and Dam 16	Mississippi River at Muscatine Iowa	General: Mississippi River Specific: Waters below Lock and Dam at Muscatine	The documentation form by T.K. Shires is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Bendorf, Tom Kent, and Tom Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] 2. Features most apparent in comparison with nearby Common and Forster's terns: Much longer tail, lighter overall mantle, more or less uniform light gray over back and superior wing surfaces. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Lake Manawa, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-09	1994-11-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Laughing Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County in September 9, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Laughing Gull	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ross Silcock was submitted. Other observers include Babs and Loren Padelford. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird differed from Franklin's Gull in the following ways: 1. Less extensive black on head. Eye coverts were not immediately noticable [sic] due to white cheek area. 2. Longer legs, more upright posture, and generally a very long, slender bird. 3. In flight, the bird had long slender wings with completely dark primaries; no white dividing the tips of the outer primaries from the rest of wing, and no white tips to outer primaries. Underside of primaries as described above. 4. Bill was long, curved and slightly swollen and hooked at tip. \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 07:35:00/07:36:00, 08:45:00, 12:15:00, and 18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Riverton State Wildlife Management Area, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-04-26	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Riverton State Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on April 26, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of the review, correspondence from Barb Wilson to Tom Kent about the sighting, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Black-headed Gull	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton State Wildlife Management Area Fremont County, Iowa		The documentation form by Tanya Bray forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, Rick Wright, and W. Ross Silcock were submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonoparte's [sic] Gull; The main differences noted were the size and shape of the bill(much longer and heavier than Bonoparte's [sic]) and the style of flight.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Carter Lake, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-11-21	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Carter Lake in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 21, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	California Gull	Carter Lake	Carter Lake, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Loren and Babs Padelford, and Ross Silcock were submitted. Other observers include Jerry Toll and B.J. Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: Both Ring-billed and Herring Gulls are eliminated by bill coloration, size, slightly darker mantle, and eye color. Western, Lesser-black backed would be darker mantled, different bill coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great-tailed Grackle at Glenwood, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-19	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Great-tailed Grackles at Glenwood in Mills County, IA on May 19, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Great-tailed Grackle	Glenwood	Flooded field at approx. Mile marker 37 on the northbound Interstate 29; three miles north of the Glenwood (highway 34) exit.		The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Babs Padelford was submitted later. Another observer was Sandy Kovanda. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of King Eider at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-11-10	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a King Eider at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County on November 10, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, diagrams and drawings, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence over the sighting and identification, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee. Within the documentation forms, sightings of both King Eider and Common Eider are reported.	Bray, Tanya	King Eider	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto NWR, Washington County, Ne.--Harrison County, Ia.		The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Dinsmore, Stephen Dinsmore, Robert K. Myers, Jim Fuller, Francis L. Moore, Beth & Mark Proescholdt, W. Ross Silcock, Tom Kent, Peter C. Petersen, and Babs Padelford were submitted later. Other observers include Mark Dixon, Scott Patton, B.J. Rose, Loren Padelford, and Emil K. Nattalle. Elimination of similar species: Larger than White-winged Scoter in direct comparison. This bird also seemed "heavier" and more massive than the scoter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Lake Manawa, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-13	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Trumpeter Swan at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 13, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Trumpeter Swan	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Babs Padelford and Loren Padelford. \| Elimination of similar species: Black bill without knob and neck posture eliminates Mute Swan. Tundra Swan eliminated by neck posture and lack of yellow on bill: darker plumage of juvenile. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Lake Wapello State Park, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-09-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at Lake Wapello State Park in Davis County, IA on September 11, 1983.	Bray, Tanya	Pine Warbler	Lake Wapello State Park	Lake Wapello State Park Davis County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird did not have: an eye ring or heavy bill as in Yellow-throated Vireo. Dark streaking or distinct yellow rump as in Magnolia. Streaked back as in fall Blackpoll or Bay-br Warblers. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29