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 of California Gull at Credit Island, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-23	1993-07-21	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Credit Island in Scott County, IA on November 23, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence about the sighting from Louise Augustine to Carl Bendorf, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Augustine, Louise	California Gull	Credit Island	Credit Island - Davenport, Iowa - Scott County	This is an unfamiliar Area for me - I have never birded there before - The Place Credit Island - Backwater of Mississippi River - There was some ICE and open water - Many Gulls were in this Backwater area - on ice and in water. Probably around 1,500 Gulls -	The documentation form by Louise Augustine forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Peter C. Petersen and Jim Fuller were submitted. Other observers include Randy Pinkston, Mary Lou Petersen, Jerome Augustine, David Augustine, and Julie Augustine. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull - darker mantle - Dark eye - Leg Color - ashy-green gray not Pink - smaller size - slimmer build Ring-billed Gull - mantle too dark - dark eye - Bill had only a spot Leg Color not yellow - This bird larger than Ring-billed gulls - \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Pleasant Creek Lake, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-11-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn County, IA on November 19, 1989.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	White-winged Scoter	Pleasant Creek State Park	Pleasant Creek Lake north of Palo, Linn Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White wing patches and typical facial pattern of young White-winged rule out other scoters. Large size, large bill, dual facial patches eliminate female Bufflehead. White wing patches and large bill eliminate female Harlequin Duck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Barrow's Goldeneye at IPL Ponds, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-12	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Barrow's Goldeneye at Iowa Power and Light plant ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 12, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Grenon, Alan G.	Barrow's Goldeneye	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa, Pottawattamie County, south of Council Bluffs, the south pond of the Iowa Power and Light plant's ponds, two miles north of the county line (three miles north of the Bellevue exit on I-29); also present was Betty Grenon.		The documentation form by Alan G. Grenon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Betty Grenon. \| Elimination of similar species: A large oblong crescent was between the eye and bill, the head was of a different shape than the Commons, being longer behind than they were. The back had more black and less white than the Commons, having a white mark, almost a line, curving up and back from near the shoulder, in an otherwise all-black back (as seen). The eye was light, white to yellow. In flight, its back had more black an less white than nearby flying Common Goldeneye. Other than noted, it was similar to the Common Goldeneye in size, form, and behavior. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red-throated Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-08	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 8, 1989. Includes a record review document and a documentation form submitted to the committee. IOU record review document has incorrect date of November 8, 1990 instead of correct date of November 8, 1989.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red-throated Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-off Cherry Glen Rec. Area	large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The small size, head posture, small head, and short, thin, upturned bill eliminates other loons. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:02:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-08	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on November 8, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Beth	Thayer's Gull	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock	below dam	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer includes Mark Proescholdt. \| Elimination of similar species: It was lighter + more evenly colored than a Herring Gull, larger than Ring-billed, too dark for an Iceland too small for a Glaucous. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:50:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at North Overlook Beach at Red Rock Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-06	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Thayer's Gull at North Overlook Beach at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 6, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Thayer's Gull	North Overlook Park	North Overlook Beach, Lake Red Rock, Marion Co, IA	Sandy beach on man-made reservoir	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Iceland Gull - basically eliminated by darker color and narrow chocolate edges to outer primaries. Kumlien's - presence of tail band would seem to eliminate Herring - eliminated by combination of: structure and size of body and bill; shape of head; more uniform coloration above, especially lighter colored primaries; light flight feathers from below contrasting with darker wing lining; lighter color of tail band \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at IPL Ponds, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-05	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at the IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 5, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Pacific Loon	Pottawattamie County	IPL South Pond, Pottawattamie County, IA	Artificial impoundment	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include B.J. Rose, Doug Rose, Roger Rose, and Pete Wickham. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon- Cleancut black-white demarcation and eye surrounded by dark feathering; chinstrap. Red-throated Loon - Dark feathering (not greyish as in most red-throats). Bill held level-symmetrical dagger-like bill chinstrap. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Saylorville Dam, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-11-03	1989-11-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on November 3, 1989.	Fuller, James L	Prairie Falcon	Saylorville Dam	Dam-Saylorville Reservoir- Polk County	Dam face - Adjacent to water - fly by	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: Merlin is smaller with blue-gray coloration in adult but has no black axillaries in any plumage. Peregrine Falcon does not have black axillaries and coloration from above is darker in all plumages. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/09:45:20.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Common Black-headed Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-02	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Black-headed Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 2, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, photocopies of four photographs, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Black-headed Gull	Cherry Glen Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-off Cherry Glen Rec. Area	large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by B.J. Rose was submitted later. Other observers include Doug Rose, Roger Rose, and Ken Lowder. \| Elimination of similar species: Because of the fairly small size and conspicuous dark spot behind each eye, the bird must have been a Bonaparte's, Little, Common Black-headed, or Ross' gull, or a kittiwake. Separation from Bonaparte's Gull is discussed above. Little Gull eliminated by its smaller size, dark bill, lack of any black color on the upperwing, and uniformly dark underside to the flight feathers. Ross' Gull eliminated by tail shape, bill size and color, and darker underwing. Both kittiwakes eliminated by bill color, lighter mantle color, and differences in wing pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:17:00/16:42:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Big Bluestem Flyer, Volume 24, Number 3, November 1989	Newsletters	Environmental policy Ornithology--Societies, etc Books--Reviews Acid rain	1989-11-01	1989-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 24, Number 3, November 1989. Highlights of the newsletter include an update on acid rain samples, a review by David C. Edwards of the book "The Birder's Handbook: a Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds" by Paul Ehrlich, David Dobkin, and Darryl Wheye, and an editorial "On Beer and Old Forests" by Edwards.	Edwards, David C. Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa)		Ames				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-29	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Thayer's Gull at IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on October 29, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Grenon, Alan G.	Thayer's Gull	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa, Pottawattamie County, south of Council Bluffs, the north pond of the Iowa Power and Light plant's ponds, two miles north of the county line (three miles north of the Bellevue exit on I-29), just east of Interstate highway 29.		The documentation form by Alan G. Grenon forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Babs Padelford and Ross Silcock were submitted. Other observers include B.J. Rose, Doug Rose, Loren Padelford as well as four unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The most likely similar species are Iceland and Herring Gulls. Iceland Gull (first winter) is eliminated by the combination of the following characters: wing-tip darker than body at rest; wing-tip and secondaries darker above than remainder of wing; tail marked above by a darker band covering most of the distal portion; a possible darker area around the eye. Herring Gull (first winter) is eliminated by the combination of the following characters: wing-tip at rest brown-tan, not black; wing-tip and secondary bar tan in flight, not black; primaries with thin, pale tips; tail bar tan, not black; bill all dark; bill and head delicate; bill thin. Glaucous Gull would have been larger relative to Ring-billed Gulls, with a massive bill light with a dark tip, large head, and wing-tips and secondaries would not have been darker than other upper parts. California Gull (first winter) would have black or near-black primaries, secondaries, tail, and a mostly pale bill with a black tip. Glaucous-winged Gull and hybrids thereof eliminated by bill and head structure and body size all smaller/finer in this bird, tail and wing pattern. AG. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00 on October 29, 1989, from 11:30:00/12:15:00 and around 14:00:00 on the October 30, 1989.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
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
Rare bird documentation form for Black Scoter at MidAmerican Energy Ponds, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-10-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Scoter at MidAmerican Energy Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on October 29, 1989.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Black Scoter	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa Power and Light North Settling pond, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Babs and Loren Padelford is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Larger than Ring-necked ducks which were also present for comparison. It had rounded forehead as opposed to the sloping forehead of the White-winged and Surf Scoters. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at MidAmerican Energy Ponds, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-10-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Long-tailed Duck at MidAmerican Energy Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on October 29, 1989.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Long-tailed Duck	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa Power & Light North Settling Pond, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Babs and Loren Padelford is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Small duck, smaller than Redhead ducks and much smaller than Black Scoter, both present for direct comparison. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle north of Cherokee, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-10-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle one mile north of Cherokee in Cherokee County, IA on October 28, 1989.	Bierman, Dick	Golden Eagle	Cherokee	1 mile north of Cherokee, Cherokee County	Little Sioux River Valley. Hilly, woods, pastures	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Quinn. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle - an immature bald eagle has some white feathers on the body & wings. This bird was all dark except for the above mentioned places. Dark Phase Rough Leg: This bird was much larger and chunkier. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:45:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Records Committee review rare bird sighting of Arctic Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-28	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Arctic Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 28, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, and a documentation form in the form of a letter from Ken Lowder to Thomas H. Kent with Geri Langham receiving a copy as well on September 16, 1994 submitted to the committee.	Lowder, Ken	Arctic Loon	Saylorville Dam	I saw the bird at the dam at Saylorville Lake		The documentation letter by Ken Lowder is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Daniel. \| Elimination of similar species: It acted differently from the Common Loons. When it dove, it "reared back" its head, as though it were "winding up" for the dive. The Common Loons did not do this. In the Walsh article, this behavior is discussed. On page 26 of his article, Walsh states that "both Pacific and Artic Loons have similar diving motions." I do not believe our bird was a Pacific Loon. I base this judgement on overall body size, bill size, and the distribution of white coloration in the head/neck, waterline, and flank areas. Our bird was essentially similar size-wise to the accompanying Common Loons. The bill was also similar to Common Loon. It was not upturned and this as I would have expected with Red-throated Loon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	6
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at White Pine Hollow, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-10-25	1989-11-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at White Pine Hollow in Dubuque County, IA on October 25, 1989.	Rouw, Mark	Golden Eagle	White Pine Hollow State Park	White Pine Hollow Dubuque County Iowa	Stream valley bordered by steep bluffs in woodland	The documentation form by Mark D. Rouw is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature bald eagle was eliminated because of this birds distinctive white patches and shorter beak. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:00:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-22	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 22, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, a print with three photos and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-off dam and Cherry Glen Rec. Area	large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Bob Myers, Ann Johnson, and Ray Cummins were submitted later. Other observers include Becky Myers, Pam Allen, Reed Allen, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of smaller size, short, straight bill, neck pattern, and contrast between the head and rest of the upperparts eliminates other loons. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:46:00/11:56:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon northwest of Minburn, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-10-14	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon northwest of Minburn in Dallas County, IA on October 14 in 1989.	Myers, Robert K.	Prairie Falcon	Minburn	2 miles NW of Minburn, Ia.	Pasture at edge of timber	The documentation form by Bob Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine would not have the dark axillaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Little Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-08	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Little Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 8, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the request for reevaluation of record, a photograph, photocopy of two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Little Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-seen off Sandpiper Beach Recreation Area	seen flying over large reservoir with several Ring-billed Gulls	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Pam Allen and Reid Allen were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was obviously too small to be one of the larger gulls, like a Ring-billed or a Herring gull. The very pale mantle, dark spot behind each eye, and lack of black on the top of the primaries eliminates Franklin's and Laughing gulls. The black underside of the flight feathers, pale gray mantle and wings, white wingtips, and rounded wings eliminates Bonaparte's and Sabine's gulls and kittiwakes. The square tail and wing pattern eliminates Ross' Gull. The smaller size, black underside of the flight feathers, lack of a white "wedge" on the upper surface of the outer primaries, rounder wings, and lack of black on the upper surface of the primaries eliminates Common Black-headed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:34:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-08	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area in Dickinson County, IA on October 8, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hansen, James L.	Black Rail	McBreen Marsh	South end of a restored wetland on the north side of the McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area, 4 mi. NW of Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co.	Was in 3 20-30' diam. clumps of river bulrush surrounded by mudflats	The documentation form by James L. Hansen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jeffrey K. Hansen. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora and Virginia Rail - was smaller and different color (black) than these. Yellow rail - wrong color, also \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-05	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on October 5, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Red Rock Dam	Below Red Rock Dam, near Pella, Marion Co., IA	River with numerous sand and gravel bars	The documentation form by Ann Johnson forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Sinclair, Raymond Cummins, and James Fuller were submitted. Other observers include Marlys Huff, David Youngblut, Pete Wickham, John Daniel, and Ken Lowder. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Black-backed Gull- The bird was not large enough nor was the bill as massive. The great black-backed should also show a whiter head and lighter inner primaries and the back would be more of a checkerboard than the scaliness of this bird. Herring Gull- Because of variability, eliminating the herring was more problematic. Size was not particularly helpful initially in that this bird was near the second-year herring gull for such a brief time that I really couldn't make comparison. The variable sizes of ring-bills were of no help because next to some it looked huge and next to others it was only some larger. Some subtle differences were helpful in making this bird "look different" but I don't believe they could be considered sufficient. The checkered, scaly look was more pronounced than most juvenile herrings. The wings seemed long as they extended beyond the tail. The bill was entirely black and the tail band more distinct than most juvenile herrings. The color distinction between the head/tail and body from a distance were also helpful. The clincher, however, was during flight when no "windows" were visible on the inner primaries and the dark secondary coverts created a wide, dark trailing edge to the wing. These flight indicators, as well as size differential, were confirmed on the 23 October sighting. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:10:00/16:00:00 and 16:15:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Sioux Center, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-10-03	1989-10-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on October 3, 1989.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Merlin	Sioux Center	top of a dead tree in a neighbor's yard.		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include his wife Susan Van Dyk. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was about the size of a Kestrel, but lacked the bold facial markings. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon for more than twenty minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Big Bluestem Flyer, Volume 24, Number 2, October 1989	Newsletters	Bird watching Habitat (Ecology) Ornithology--Societies, etc Natural areas Acid rain Vegetation management	1989-10-01	1989-10-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 24, Number 2, October 1989. Highlights of the newsletter include details on upcoming field trips for a Hawk watch and waterfowl watches, a report of a field trip to Doolittle Prairie in which 20 species of birds and 25 species of prairie plants were observed, an update on acid rain samples by Mike Meetz, and an article on roadside vegetation management.	Edwards, David C. Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa)	White-throated Sparrow	Ames Doolittle Prairie State Preserve				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	4
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Coralville Reservoir, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-09-29	1989-11-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 29, 1989.	Newlon, Michael C.	Peregrine Falcon	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co, IA	field at edge of large reservoir floodplain	The documentation form by Mike Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: size, build, color, face pattern diagnostic. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:20:00 and 12:30:00/12:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34