Documents • Iowa State University • Avian Archives of Iowa Online

Title	Genres	Topics	Date (Start)	Date (End)	Type	Description	Creator/Author	Birds	Locations	Locality	Habitat	Remarks

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Pygmy Nuthatch at Des Moines, 1977	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1977-01-26	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pygmy Nuthatch at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on January 26, 1977. Includes a record review document with votes, multiple articles from Iowa Bird Life, correspondence related to bird sighting and review, and two documentations submitted to the committee.	Brown, Woodward H.	Pygmy Nuthatch	Des Moines	[...] 5400 Woodland Ave.		The documentation form by Woodward H. Brown 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 Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Mary Brown, Dorothy Ely, Peter C. Petersen, Mary Lou Petersen, Margaret Brooke, Lillian Serbousek, Allen Mueller, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] According to plumage descriptions of the Pigmy and Brown-headed Nuthatches, the only noticeable difference between the two (short of having the bird in hand) is in the color of the crown and nape. The field guides are agreed that the crown of the Brown-headed is brown, but there is a lack of unanimity in their descriptions of the crown of the Pigmy. [...] Margaret Brooke, in writing up the observation for IBL, describes the cap as being "brownish" but has no doubt about this nuthatch being a Pigmy. Mary and I feel the grayish olive description comes closest and cinches the Pigmy identification. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	51
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for House Finch at Mason City, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-09-01	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a House Finch at Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on September 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of the review, a letter from Mildred Moore to Ross Silcock, and another letter from Mildred Moore to Ross Silcock forwarded to Tom Kent.	Moore, Mildred L.	House Finch	Mason City	1225 N. Jefferson Ave., Mason City, Iowa		A letter from Mildred Moore to Ross Silcock forms the basis of this record.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for House Finch at Ottumwa, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-06-26	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a House Finch at Ottumwa in Wapello County, IA on June 26, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, a field report, a letter from Don Johnson to Tom Kent, and a draft of the field report.	Johnson, Donald G.	House Finch	Ottumwa	Ottumwa, Iowa		The field report by Don Johnson forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Elaine Johnson. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple Finch. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Pine Grosbeak at Holstein, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-11-05	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pine Grosbeak at Holstein in Ida County, IA on November 5, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a letter from Curtis Rector to Tom Kent with Pete Ernzen and James Dinsmore copied.	Rector, Curtis L.	Pine Grosbeak	Holstein	near Somerset Apartments in Holstein, Iowa		A letter from Curtis L. Rector to Tom Kent forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:16:00 on November 5, 1997, and 14:10:00/14:15:00, 15:45:00, and 16:15:00/16:25:00 on November 6, 1997 .	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Woodpecker Marsh, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-09-07	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Woodpecker Marsh in Wayne County, IA on September 7, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, two letters from Charlotte Scott to Thomas Kent, and a letter from Thomas Kent to Charlotte Scott.	Scott, Charlotte	Black-headed Grosbeak	Woodpecker Marsh	on a country road near Woodpecker Marsh			Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Decorah, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-07-29	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Decorah in Winneshiek County, IA on July 29, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, a summary of the review, and a letter from Jeri McMahon to Tom Kent.	McMahon, Jeri	Black-headed Grosbeak	Decorah	Trout River, near Decorah		A letter from Jeri McMahon to Tom Kent forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The female rose-breasted grosbeak, plus juveniles, were also present that day, so I could compare the 2 species very well. It was not an im. male rose-breasted, although I saw several of those.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sharp-tailed Sparrow near Lost Lake, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-05-23	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sharp-tailed Sparrow near Lost Lake in Boone County, IA on May 23, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence regarding the review and sighting, a request for reconsideration of record, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brown, Gordon	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Lost Lake	Upper ledges at Lost Lake		The documentation form by Gordon Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was George Brown.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mountain Bluebird east of Sutherland, 1995	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-12	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird east of Sutherland in O'Brien County, IA on April 12, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Koenig, Darwin	Mountain Bluebird	Sutherland	3 miles east of Sutherland, O'Brien County, Iowa		The documentation form by Darwin Koenig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] with 8-10 Eastern Bluebirds; [...] Size of Eastern Bluebird; \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Columbus Junction, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-04-25	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Columbus Junction in Louisa County, IA on April 25, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, an e-mail about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Columbus Junction	2 miles north of Columbus Junction, Louisa Co., Iowa	A backwater slough adjacent to highway 70 and close to the Iowa River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ted Allen, Bill Ohde, and Jim Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Fulvous Whistling-Duck lacks the gray face, orange bill, and white wing patch.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Yellow Grosbeak near Elkhart, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-12-02	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Yellow Grosbeak south of Elkhart in Polk County, IA on December 2, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Stephen Bailey to Tim Schantz, two notes from Tim Schantz to the Iowa Records Committee, e-mails between Jim Fuller, Paula Saba, John Saba, Chuck Williamson, and Paul DeBenedictis, an article in Bird Watcher's Digest, an article in Des Moines Register, a letter from Gary Rosenberg to Carl Bendorf, a letter from Kenn Kaufman to Carl Bendorf, a letter from Leo Galloway, Dave Eastrela, and Jack Hilsobeck to Dean Mosman, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Yellow Grosbeak	Elkhart	Backyard of Dean and Diane Mosman; Two and half miles southeast of Elkhart (Polk County Iowa)	Backyard and adjacent wooded ravine	The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms were submitted by Tim Schantz, Ken Lowder, Ann Johnson, Thomas Kent, Robert Cecil, Ross Silcock, Diane Porter, and Carl Bendorf. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Jim Scheib, Dean Mosman, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene Armstrong, Diane Mosman, Tom Schantz, Cecile Thompson, Dennis Thompson, and John Daniel. \| Elimination of similar species: Pine grosbeak is not lemon yellow in any plumage, and has a smaller bill with hooked upper mandible. Evening grosbeak has black wings and tail and light colored bill in all plumages. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Selasphorus species at Chester, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Beneficial birds Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-09-25	2000-11-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Selasphorus species at Chester in Howard County, IA on September 25, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and seven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Tyler, Eleanor Tyler, Sanford	Rufous Hummingbirds	Chester	Feeder at Chester, Iowa home of Sanford + Eleanor Tyler	Bottle feeder + Locust Tree	The documentation form and letter by Eleanor and Sanford Tyler is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis Moore, Robert K. Myers, Beth Proescholdt, Mark Proescholdt, Steve Dinsmore, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Curt Nelson, Dennis Thompson, Kevin Tyler, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Allen's - eliminated by type of Storm and direction of Storm.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for MacGillivray's Warbler at Eagle City County Park, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-06-02	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a MacGillivray's Warbler at Eagle City County Park in northern Hardin County, IA on June 2, 1995. Includes two record review documents with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in Illinois Birds, an article in Birds of Missouri, two articles from The Auk, an article in Meadowlark, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	MacGillivray's Warbler	Eagle City Park	Eagle City Co. Park - (North Hardin County)	Brushy tangle along park's edge up the hill from Iowa River Greenbelt	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: In "Spring" this should not be mistaken for any other warbler. A ♂ Mourning Warbler lacks the vivid eye crescents. A Connecticut Warbler has a complete white eyering and no black smudge on the upper breast and the gray head is a lighter gray color. In "fall" the female and immature Mourning Warblers may show a thin, nearly complete eyering (which I have seen on Mournings in the fall), but this could not be mistaken for the vivid white eye crescents of this breeding-plumaged male MacGillivray's Warbler along with its very noticeable black smudge on its upper breast below its gray hood. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:15:00/11:15:05.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Bullock's Oriole at Cedar Falls, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-20	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Bullock's Oriole at Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County, IA on December 20, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, photographs, e-mail correspondence between Jon Dunn, Jim Fuller, James Rising, David Sibley, and Paul Lehman, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Bullock's Oriole	Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, Iowa - Black Hawk County	coming to feeder in residential area	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers includes Don Irwin and Paulina Irwin. \| Elimination of similar species: The 'Baltimore' subspecies has the yellow-orange on breast going down the breast thru belly and has a more yellowish back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Brant at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, IA, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-11-18	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Brant north of Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on November 18, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Wildlife Notes, internal correspondence, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Priebe, Don	Brant	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	6 mi. N of Riverton on No. 2	Corn field	The documentation form by Don Priebe is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Benson, Carl Priebe, and Jim Priebe.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Prairie Falcon north of Alleman, 1985	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-09-21	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Prairie Falcon north of Alleman in Polk County, IA on September 21, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the sighting from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent about the documentation forms, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Munson, Erik	Prairie Falcon	Alleman	4 mi. north of Alleman, IA	cropland	The documentation form by Erik Munson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Steve Dinsmore were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Merlin by size, habitat, paleness, tail; kestrel by size, back color, imm. peregrine by lack of black head, paleness, tail , etc. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1996	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-04-06	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on April 6, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about bird sightings, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Iceland Gull	Red Rock Dam	below dam at Red Rock, Marion Co.	D.M. River	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird did not have the large headed, large billed 'predatory' look of a Glaucous Gull. The overall lightness and the lack of dark primaries and no tail band would eliminate Thayers Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:54:00/10:56:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Amana Woods, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-05-10	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Amana Woods in Iowa County, IA on May 10, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Black-headed Grosbeak	Amana Woods	Amana Woods	Deciduous woods. Trail through woods along ridge.	The documentation form by W. Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Thomas Kent was submitted later. Other observers include Tom Staudt and Carl Bendorf. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:30:00/18:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Cardinal Marsh, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-05-29	1993-08-27	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mississippi Kite at Cardinal Marsh in Winneshiek County, IA on May 29, 1978. Includes two record review documents with votes, two documentation forms, an Iowa Bird Life article, additional notes on the bird, and internal correspondence submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Mississippi Kite	Cardinal Marsh State Wildlife Area	Cardinal Marsh	Edge of woods near open cattail marsh	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Tom Stone, Jr. and Sr. were submitted later. Other observers include Russell Hays. \| Elimination of similar species: White-tailed Kite does not have as dark a back as this bird ha and is also too light below. This bird definately [sic] did not have a deeply forked tail as a Swallow-tailed Kite would have had. \| The original event lasted from 11:15:00 to 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Summer Tanager at Pleasant Valley, 1990	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-12-02	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Summer Tanager at Pleasant Valley in Scott County, IA on December 2, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, photographs, a request for reconsideration, letter from Gary H. Rosenberg to Carl J. Bendorf and a documentation form submitted to the committee. The species is recorded as Hepatic Tanager on the documentation, but confirmed as Summer Tanager by the IOU Records Committee.	Blevins, Brian L.	Summer Tanager	Pleasant Valley	244-56 Valley Dr. Pleasant Valley, Scott Co., Iowa	Feeder situation where it was eating berries, suet and bed water in heated bath	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Lewis Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Summer, Scarlet, Western Tanager. Scarlet Tanager was eliminated by the lack of dark wing and the orange-green instead of yellow-green. Western Tanager was eliminated by the lack of wing bars. Summer Tanager: this was the closest of the three especially considering the cooperi form found in the southwest. The large bill in common to both species if we consider the cooper form of the summer, however, the color of the mandible overall more dark than light lends the pull towards hepatic. The dark, brown orange-green also pulled me over to the hepatics in respect to the ones I have observed in Arizona. Call note also differs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:15:00/14:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	28
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Western Sandpiper at Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-10-08	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Western Sandpiper at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 8, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Western Sandpiper	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-north end of reservoir	feeding in shallow water adjacent to mudflat with other shorebirds	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Andy Fix. \| Elimination of similar species: see above [...] The bird was roughly 25% smaller than a Pectoral Sandpiper. [...] Note that we saw a single Semipalmated Sandpiper in the same flock of shorebirds. The Semipalmated Sandpiper had a shorter, thicker bill, more of a brown wash on the breast, and frequented the edge of the mudflat rather than wading in the water. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Semipalmated Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Area, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-03-27	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Area in Fremont County, IA on March 27, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the sighting, entries in an unidentified field guide, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Semipalmated Sandpiper	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton W.A., Fremont Co.	feeding with other shorebirds on large mudflat area	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Anotther documentation form by Ross Silcock was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: similar species eliminated above [...] This bird was slightly bigger than a Least and was much chunkier. The bird had dark legs, seen in direct comparison with the dark legs of Baird's Sandpipers and the yellowish legs of the Least Sandpipers. This bird was also still in basic plumage, making it much paler in color than the other peeps. [...] The bill was straight, dark, and much thicker at the base and the tip than the bill of a Baird's or Least sandpiper [sic]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:20:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	2
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Fairport Fish Hatchery, 1995	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-09-08	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mew Gull at Fairport Fish Hatchery in Muscatine County, IA on September 8, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence from Peter Petersen to Thomas H. Kent, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Mew Gull	Fairport State Fish Hatchery	Fairport Fish Hatchery, Muscatine Co. IA	Fish rearing ponds + adj. Miss. River	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring-billed Gull- much more black on primary tips, black ring on yellow bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:05:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Whooping Crane north of Essex, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-04-11	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of three Whooping Cranes north of Essex in Page County, IA on April 11, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, e-mail about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Edwards, Chris	Whooping Crane	Essex	North of Essex in northwestern Page County Iowa	Flooded agricultural field	The documentation form by Chris Edwards is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mary Edwards. \| Elimination of similar species: Sandhill Cranes are smaller, gray, and lack a moustachial stripe and black primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/12:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull south of Saylorville, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-04-24	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull south of Saylorville in Polk County, IA on April 24, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Passenger Pigeon, an article in Illinois Audubon Bulletin, correspondence about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Laughing Gull	Saylorville	South of Saylorville	Flooded bean field (Des Moines River bottom land)	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Bird flew & sat on ground next to Franklin's Gulls, and Bonaparte's gulls. Did not have white wedge of Bonapartes, Blackheaded or Sabine's Gull's. The other black-headed gull, the Little Gull, has no black at all on wing tips. See above for comparison to Franklin's. [...] Larger bill, compared to adjacent Franklin's, was not pure red, partially black. Eye ring smaller, less conspicuous, again, than adjacent Franklins. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:20:00/09:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff northwest of Bayard, 1991	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-26	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ruff northwest of Bayard in Greene County, IA on May 26, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Ruff	Bayard	approx 1 1/2 miles northwest of Bayard, Iowa	Flooded field	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Maridel Jackson was submitted. Other observers include Walt Jackson, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I first noticed this bird as we were scanning a bunch of dunlin and this bird "stuck out." [...] The bird was about the size of a lesser yellowlegs (also present) but was of different proportions. The body was too heavy (chunky) for a yellowlegs - being more dowitcher like. The neck was fairly long - more so than a dowticher but maybe a little shorter than lesser yellowlegs. The head was defnitely small for the size of the bird. The legs were also fairly long (knobby knees) and again probably a little shorter than a lesser yellowlegs. These basic proportions helped at once to eliminate many species. [..] The bird's head and upper neck were very tawny (similar to buff breasted sandpiper) [...] Tail - This is the one feature along with the basic shape that convinced me. [...] If the bird would have had no color at all I still would have called it a ruff from the proportions. Ruff plumage is variable to say the least. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9