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 Golden Eagle at Babcock Access at Coralville Lake, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-07-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Babcock Access at Coralville Lake in Johnson County, IA on July 28, 1979.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Golden Eagle	Babcock Access	n. of Babcock L. access, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co.	reservoir tail waters after dead trees in west and of Coralville Reservoir floodplain	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Buteo: size, profile. Bald Eagle, imm: distribution of white feathers, notably white tail base much more distinct and [illegible] in golden. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:25:00/14:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Western Kingbird southwest of Pleasantville, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1981-05-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Kingbird southwest of Pleasantville in Marion County, IA on May 1, 1981.	Thornburg, Robert E.	Western Kingbird	Pleasantville	3.4 mi S.W. of Pleasantville, Iowa - West Marion Co.	Scattered white oaks, cottonwoods and black locust along a small stream with an understory of multiflora rose and blue-grass pasture.	The documentation form by Robert Thornburg is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Eastern Kingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher the different markings and color of the tail back, belly, and head. The Great Crested Flycatcher shows too much red in the tail and wing tips and has a bigger head. The voice also helped to seperate [sic] these birds. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	72
Rare bird documentation form for Western Kingbird near Croton, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-06-09	1979-08-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Kingbird near Croton in Lee County, IA on June 9, 1979.	Newlon, Michael C.	Western Kingbird	Croton	nr Croton, IA; Lee Co.	General: wire fence at edge of pasture. Specific: area of mixed woods, pasture, cropland	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent and James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: white outer tail feathers and lack of notch in tail eliminate other yellow-breasted kingbirds; heavy build and lack of rufous in tail eliminate myarchius flycatchers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from circa 09:30:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	72
Rare bird documentation form for Western Kingbird at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-09-03	1978-09-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Kingbird at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on September 3, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Western Kingbird	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh - 1/2 mile east of bridge	General: flat farmland. Specific: along gravel road with corn field on one side and melon field on other side	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Eastern Kingbird and Crested Flycatcher are the only remotely similar species that could occur in the area \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	72
Rare bird documentation form for Western Kingbird at Anderson Goose Lake, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Kingbird at Anderson Goose Lake in Hamilton County, IA on May 15, 1978.	Dinsmore, James J.	Western Kingbird	Anderson Goose Lake	along east shore of Anderson Lake, Hamilton County (near Jewell)	sitting on ground in freshly plowed field	The documentation form by James J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Ryan, Ellen Johnson, and fifteen unidentified students in ornithology class. \| Elimination of similar species: Compared directly with Eastern Kingbird, back gray, not brown so couldn't be Great Crested. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:45:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	72
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Allamakee County, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-11-21	1982-11-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles on County Road A26 in Allamakee County, IA on November 21, 1982.	Moore, Francis L.	Golden Eagle	Allamakee County	County Road A26 in Allamakee County, Iowa	Limestone bluffs near upper Mississippi River in Iowa	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers, Joe Schaufenbuel, John Robinson, Peter Petersen, Hank Zaletel, and many other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Bald Eagle has a more massive looking bill and are more mottled with white or light colored areas on the upper and lower surfaces of the wings. These birds did not have this characteristic.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Allamakee County, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-11-14	1981-11-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles along Highway A-26 in Allamakee County, IA on November 14, 1981.	Myers, Robert K.	Golden Eagle	Allamakee County	Northeast Iowa - along HWY A-26 in Allamakee County	hilly, forested area of northeast Iowa - birds were apparently catching updrafts along rocky ridges	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore and Darwin Koenig. \| Elimination of similar species: Imm. bald eagle is somewhat similar but appears more mottled with white and does not have white tail with undetermined black band as in imm. golden. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Allamakee County, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-11-14	1981-11-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles along county road A26 in Allamakee County, IA on November 14, 1981.	Moore, Francis L.	Golden Eagle	Allamakee County	Along county road A26 in Allamakee County	Limestone bluffs and hills topped with hardwood and conifer trees	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers and Darwin Koenig. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle as described above. The bird was not mottled in appearance as an immature Bald Eagle would be but was a rather uniform dark brown overall except for the white in the upper retrices and wing linings which was noted before. As we watched the bird through our binoculars and a 20x telescope another large bird appeared from the East and this too was another Eagle. The second bird was an overall dark brown except for a very small amount of white to whitish color at the base of the retrices. This bird had a lighter brown color to the back of the head and on the nape. There was no mottled effect as would be shown in an immature Bald Eagle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Upper Iowa River in Allamakee County, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-02-14	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Upper Iowa River in Allamakee County, IA on February 14, 1981.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Golden Eagle	Allamakee County	Upper Iowa River, Allamakee Co IA	Over high rocky hills and river valley - 5 mi east of #76 on county road #26 in Allamakee C.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature bald eagle - location of white, head size and habitat for Golden Eagle. Known to winter in this area. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:42:00/11:46:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Sunken Grove State Park, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-11-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Sunken Grove State Park in Pocahontas County, IA on November 29, 1980.	Jardine, Wallace E.	Golden Eagle	Sunken Grove State Game Management Area	Sunken Grove, Pocahontas County	General: Woods around lake. Specific: edge of woods around lake	The documentation form by Wallace Jardine is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Sunken Grove State Park, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-09-28	1980-10-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Sunken Grove State Park in Pocahontas County, IA on September 28, 1980.	Harms, Ronald	Golden Eagle	Sunken Grove State Game Management Area	Sunken Grove State Park, Pocahontas Co.		The documentation form by Ronald Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pat Harms and Don Winkler. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:32:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
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 Golden Eagle at New Albin, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-11-24	1979-11-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three or four Golden Eagles at New Albin in Allamakee County, IA on November 24, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Golden Eagle	New Albin	Upper Iowa River Valley inland from New Albin IA	High bluffs with rock outcroppings - Upper Iowa River on County Road #26 west and east of Iowa #76	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joe Schaufenbuel, Darwin Koenig, Carl Bendorf, and Mike Malier. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle - A mature (perched) and immature (flying) bald eagle were seen in same area for comparison. The immature bald eagle was larger, broader in wings and tail and had more massive head. White was blotchy in wings and body. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Red-tailed Hawk near Fraser, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-01-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-tailed Hawk on the Big Eddy portion of Des Moines River east of Fraser in Boone County, IA on January 1, 1999.	Healy, Kevin	Red-tailed Hawk	Fraser	Big Eddy portion of Des Moines River about 1 mile east of Fraser IA.		The documentation form by Kevin Healy is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rosanne Healy, Amy Yoakum, and Molly Havlik. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	29
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-02-11	1979-02-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on February 11, 1979.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Coralville Lake	farm country between Rt. 6 and the Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co IA	An area of mixed cropland and timber south of the Iowa River; just to the north is an extensive area of public land, with mixed fields and woods; to the south are farms on flatter land, with much less timber.	The documentation form by Mike Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rick Hollis and Carl Bendorf. \| Elimination of similar species: large size and slow wingbeat rule out buteos, as do the dark primaries and secondaries (melanistic redtails and roughlegs have white in the flight feathers). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:10:00/11:11:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Hanover Township in Allamakee County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-11	1978-12-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles at Hanover Township in Allamakee County, IA on November 11, 1978.	Koenig, Darwin	Golden Eagle	Hanover Township	Allamakee County, Hanover Twp.	rugged hills with open fields and timber interspersed. Soaring along a long ridge which rises about 200 ft above the Upper Iowa River valley	The documentation form by Darwin Koenig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Rough-legged Hawk (dark phase) --smaller, different proportions (long, narrow, tapered wings, small head, and bill), underwings usually have more white and the white patches rarely show on the upper wing surface. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle near Waukon, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-26	1978-03-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle near Waukon in Allamakee County, IA on March 26, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Golden Eagle	Waukon	Ten miles North of Waukon, on Highway 76, Allamakee County, Iowa	The general area under the soaring bird was a bluff, covered mostly with Oak, Maple, Birch and scattered Junipers. The bluff rises about 150 feet from the floodplain of the Upper Iowa River. There are many other bluffs similar to the one briefly described here, that surround the area of sighting.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Alan Branhagen. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle; my bird was not mottled as an immature Bald is, also my bird had totally dark under wing coverts. The distinct demarcation of light to dark on my bird also was rather un-Baldlike. Since an on the spot size comparison was made with a buteo, and the latter was found to be much smaller, I feel safe to say all others of this genus can be rolled out. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Johnson County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-19	1978-03-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Johnson County, IA on February 19, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Golden Eagle	Johnson County	4.9 mi west of jct. of F20 and W48 in Johnson Co. Iowa. The bird was in trees between F20 and the Iowa River bed.	The bird was perched on the north edge of a stand of trees bordering the Iowa River. Snow covered cornfields were n. of trees.	The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Michael Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Dark phased rough-legged hawk lacks the white wing patches on upper wing surface and is not twice the length of common crow. Also usually has dark upper tail surface. Immature Bald Eagle lacks prominent white wing patches and base of bill not yellow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at the Dupont Bridge in Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at the Dupont Bridge in the Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in Johnson County, IA on February 19, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	1/2 mile south of Johnson Co. Rd. F-20, 4.9 mi. w. of the crossroad leading to the Dupont Bridge.	General: border between an extensive tract of riverbottom forest and a half-mile stretch of corn and soybean fields (with large patches of unharvested beans). At the north edge of the fields was a road, followed by a wooded ridge. Specific: Perched at the edge of a narrow screen of trees that extended out from the forest, between two fields. [drawing]	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: The three species with which confusion is most likely are the bald eagle (imm) and red-tailed and rough-legged hawks (dark-phase). Several points rule out these species. (1) Size: the body length of the bird was 2&1/2-3 times that of a crow that perched in the same tree; the two hawks are not nearly this large. (2) tail pattern: imm. bald eagles sometimes show tails that are darker at the tip than at the base, but all such individuals that I have seen have had a gradual transition from dark to light, rather than the sharp boundary that this bird showed. Adult melanistic redtails usually have red tails; imm birds should show dark tails crossed by darker bands. (3) Wing pattern: imm bald eagles have white in the wing, but this is usually in the wing-lining rather than the primaries and secondaries; dark-phase rough-legs usually have the primaries and secondaries entirely white. (4) build: bald eagle has longer neck, and more massive head and bill, than golden; this bird had the general proportions of a buteo. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Kent Park, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-12-06	1975-12-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Kent Park in Johnson County, IA on December 6, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	F W Kent County Park	Kent Park, ~10 miles west of Iowa City IA	soaring over area of stubble fields, old fields growing up to brush, farms	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: 'ringed' tail, proportion of head, neck, bill; lack of any white in wing-lining on body plumage: all eliminate imm. bald eagle. great size, lack of white in primaries eliminate black rough-leg. \| The original documentation form event occurred between 13:30:00/14:35:00 (seen twice) (total ~ 20 minutes).	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-10-28	1975-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 28, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, NW of Iowa City, IA	Coralville Res. - wooded ridge to N., extensive water and bare grassy flats in Res. area, then farmland to S.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: imm. Bald Eagle; proportions of head, neck and tail, no white in wing-linings black r-l hawk: lack of any white in primaries and secondaries, large size. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Macbride Recreation Area, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-03-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Macbride Recreation Area northeast of North Liberty in Johnson County, IA on March 19, 1975.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Golden Eagle	Macbride Nature Recreation Area	over Univ. of Iowa Macbride Campus, NE of North Liberty, Iowa	over park with deciduous woods and clumps of planted conifers, between Coralville Reservoir and Lake Macbride	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Much larger than dark-phase Rough-legged Hawk. White on wing the reverse of that in imm. Bald Eagle. Tail larger in relation to body than in Bald Eagle, not mottled but distinctly banded. General plumage lighter than that of imm. Bald Eagle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:10:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Rough-legged Hawk at Pool Slough, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-08	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Rough-legged Hawk at Pool Slough north of New Albin in Allamakee County, IA on May 8, 1999.	Lesher, Fred	Rough-legged Hawk	Pool Slough	Pool Slough north of Army Road, New Albin, Iowa.		The documentation form by Fred Lesher is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	30
Rare bird documentation form for Rough-legged Hawk at Pilot Creek County Park, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-06-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Rough-legged Hawk at Pilot Creek County Park in Pocahontas County, IA on June 13, 1982.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Rough-legged Hawk	Pilot Creek Wildlife Area	Pilot Creek Co. Park (Pocahontas Co.)	Rolling pasture next wooded creek. Pasture with 1' to 2' weeds with grazed areas.	The documentation form by Raymond Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Wallace Jardine. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-tailed hawk immature. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	30
Rare bird documentation form for Rough-legged Hawk east of Mount Vernon, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-11	1982-06-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Rough-legged Hawk east of Mount Vernon in Linn County, IA on May 11, 1982.	Sandrock, James P., 1929-	Rough-legged Hawk	Mount Vernon	1-2 miles east of Mt. Vernon, IA (Linn County) on Highway 30.	N/A	The documentation form by James P. Sandrock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: Did not have the red tail of Red-tailed Hawk; a Northern Harrier would be slimmer with longer, narrower tail and wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:32:00/15:35:00 estimated.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	30