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 Varied Thrush at Fairmont Cemetery in Davenport, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-12-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Varied Thrush at Fairmont Cemetery in Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 3, 1983.	White, Gerald	Varied Thrush	Fairmont Cemetery	Fairmount [sic] Cemetery, Scott County, Iowa - 3845 Hobson St.	Edge of residential area	The documentation form by Gerald White is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill LaFrenz and Kathy LaFrenz. \| Elimination of similar species: Robin- which has no eyebrow or breast band \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:05:00/09:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Rare bird documentation form for Caspian Tern at Lock 16, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-06-30	1999-07-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Caspian Tern at Lock 16 in Rock Island County, IL on June 30, 1999.	White, Gerald	Caspian Tern	Lock and Dam 16	Lock 16 on Mississippi River	River	The documentation form by Gerald White is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Was not a Gull because of the feeding pattern, the bird was diving in the water. Forsters Tern is smaller and has smaller bill. Royal Tern has smaller bill and tail has deeper notch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:02:00 minimum.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	41
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Townsend's Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-05-12	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Townsend's Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine County, IA on May 12, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	White, Gerald	Townsend's Warbler	Wildcat Den State Park	[...] At Wild Cat Den State Park in a small area of bottom land of deciduous woods on May 12, 1988 at 7:20 AM, for aproximatly [sic] 45 seconds.		The documentation form by Gerald White is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] When the first look at the head I thought of a possible Blackburnian but when I saw the neck I knew I had a new bird for myself. The most striking features being the head and throat markings. [...] I then checked the rest of the birds listed and made the summation that I had seen the Townsend's. That evening when I returned from work I checked my Golden, Peterson, N.G.S. and Audubon Master Guide for their accounts of the Townsend's and similar species. I eliminated the following; Hermit Warbler - no cheek patch: Blackburnian - dosn't [sic] have a black throat: Black-throated Green - has solid back color and cheek patch not as bold, no black cap. Of the references mentioned, the N.G.S. has the most accurate illustration of the birds head but I can't verify that the bird I saw did or didn't have yellow under the eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 07:20:00/07:20:45.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	18
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Mills County, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-11-26	1988-11-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Mills County, IA on November 26, 1988.	Toll, Jerry	Surf Scoter	Mills County	south settling pond of the Iowa Public Power Plant in Mills County Iowa		The documentation form by Gerald W. Toll is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: It was smaller than a mallard and between the sizes of male and female common goldeneye present on the pond. The lack of a white speculum present when it should have been observable, and the shape of the forespot indicated it was an adult female surf scoter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher at Rice Lake, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-05-13	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher at Rice Lake in Worth County, IA on May 13, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Anderson, Gerald	Vermilion Flycatcher	Rice Lake	Worth County North Shore Rice Lake	Edge of Timber and marsh	The documentation form by Gerald Anderson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Curt Rector. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Smaller than cardinal \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38
Rare bird documentation form for Scissor-tailed Flycatcher north of St. Anthony, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-04-29	1987-11-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher north of St. Anthony in Marshall County, IA on April 29, 1987.	Bryan, Georgia	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Saint Anthony	1 mile north of St. Anthony, Marshall Co.		The documentation form by Georgia Bryan is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. The person who transcribed the report was James Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Certainly the two field characteristics (long tail, wing linings) that she immediately recalled will identify the bird.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	73
Rare bird documentation form for King Rail north of Dubuque, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-07-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three King Rails north of Dubuque in Dubuque County, IA on the Mississippi River east of John Deere power plant on July 3, 1986.	Crossley, George E.	King Rail	John Deere Marsh	County: Dubuque. Block: 292. Detail: Sec. 26 Dike and canal in Mississippi River east of John Deere power plant and water intake house	Miss. R. island, edge of canal	The documentation form by George Crossley is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Robert Walton. \| Elimination of similar species: Virginia Rail is only half the size, and similar. Have had Va. rail in hand. Saw Kings nearby every year, 30-40 years ago. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:55:00/07:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Little Wall Lake, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-10	1983-04-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on April 10, 1983.	Brown, George	White-winged Scoter	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake (near Jewell in S. Hamilton Co.) South end of lake near a jetty cutcrop	Dregged out open lake, approximately 1 mile long; 1/2 - 1 mile wide, 3-6' deep	The documentation form by George Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Although similar in size + shape to canvasback and redhead, the bill and head were bulkier and the white wing patch was present. No obvious white marks on head and the presence of the white winged patch eliminated the surf + common scoters. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for Blue Grosbeak at the Hartman Reserve Nature Center, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-05-07	1986-05-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Blue Grosbeak at the Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Black Hawk County, IA on May 7, 1986.	Bebout, George	Blue Grosbeak	Hartman Reserve Nature Center	Hartman Reserve, Nature Center, Cedar Falls, IA.	Deciduous Brush, 20-30 Ft. in height.	The documentation form by George Bebout is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Viola Bebout and Everett Alton. \| Elimination of similar species: Blue Bird, Indigo Bunting and Cowbird were eliminated by virtue of comparisons of features to pictures in Golden Guide to Birds Of [sic] North America. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	70
Rare bird documentation form for White-faced Ibis at Bays Branch, 1977	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-05-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-faced Ibis at Bays Branch in Guthrie County, IA on May 1, 1977.	Burns, R. E. (Rollin Eugene)	White-faced Ibis	Bays Branch State Wildlife Area	The middle road of Bays Branch (Guthrie County-Iowa)	Reeds, some water grasses, and water holes.	The documentation form by Gene Burns is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marilyn Burns. \| Elimination of similar species: I had not seen any similar species in this area heretofore, so all were eliminated. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:17:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Golden-crowned Sparrow at Jamaica, 1977	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1977-05-03	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Golden-crowned Sparrow at Jamaica in Guthrie County, IA on May 3, 1977. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Burns, R. E. (Rollin Eugene)	Golden-crowned Sparrow	Jamaica	Jamaica, Iowa (Guthrie County), in my back yard.	Our back yard, which is kept closely mowed, surrounded by many different kinds of trees and bushes. I keep 4 ground waterers filled at all times and had my garden hose dripping into one of them. He was feeding close to our ground feeders, but not actually in them.	The documentation form by Gene Burns is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marilyn Burns, Woodward H. Brown, Dick Mooney, Margaret Brooke, Ruth Buckles, Eugene Armstrong, Barney Cook, Dean Mosman, and Diane Mosman. \| Elimination of similar species: My first sight told me it was something different than a White-throated, White-crowned or Harris Sparrow. I immediately called for my wife to come quickly and observe him with me. We sit by the hour at our large window where I have my desk and bird books and binoculars, scope, recorders and camera. We had an excellent view of him at close range in good light. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:15:00/17:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	40
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis species at Bays Branch, 1977	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1977-05-01	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of an Ibis species at Bays Branch in Guthrie County, IA on May 1, 1977. Includes a record review document with votes, an article from Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Burns, R. E. (Rollin Eugene)	Glossy Ibises	Bays Branch State Wildlife Area	The middle road of Bays Branch (Guthrie County-Iowa)	Reeds, some water grasses, and water holes.	The documentation form by Gene Burns is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Marilyn Burns. \| Elimination of similar species: I had not seen any similar species in this area heretofore, so all were eliminated. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:17:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Rathbun Reservoir, 1977	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1977-09-05	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Prairie Warblers at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on September 5, 1977. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wymore, Gary D.	Prairie Warbler	Rathbun Lake	County Line Access, Lake Rathbun Reservoir	General: West facing slope of oak-hickory woods, with honey locust adjacent, small pond bey[...] Specific: In young honeylocust (15-18 ft.), had been raining earlier in day and very moist conditions prevailed under tree canopy, with water droplets on leaves.	The documentation form by Gary Wymore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: None \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:35:00/12:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-04	1978-05-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-throated Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on May 4, 1978.	Fredricks, Gary	Yellow-throated Warbler	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Iowa	General: open woods on edge of thick woods. Specific: found in hackberry tree (celtis occidentalis.)	The documentation form by Gary Frederick is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Magnolia Warbler - no white belley [sic] Blackburnian " - no yellow throat \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	28
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Oxford, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-22	1978-02-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Oxford in Johnson County, IA on January 22, 1978.	Folk, G. Edgar	Northern Goshawk	Oxford	town of Oxford, Johnson County, Iowa	Extensive open pasture with groves of trees.	The documentation form by G. Edgar Folk, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include an unidentified person. \| Elimination of similar species: I stated above why it was not a Coopers Hawk. The only bird I could confuse it with would be the Coopers Hawk, and this specimen was far too large and too light-colored for that. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Oxford, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-09	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Oxford in Johnson County, IA on December 9, 1978.	Folk, G. Edgar	Northern Goshawk	Oxford	Oxford, Iowa	Meadow surrounded by deep woods	The documentation form by G. Edgar Folk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Marsh Hawk eliminated. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Oxford, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Oxford in Johnson County, IA on December 2, 1978.	Folk, G. Edgar	Northern Goshawk	Oxford	Oxford, Iowa	corn fields, deep woods on edge.	The documentation form by G. Edgar Folk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Marsh Hawk eliminated. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Marion, 1981	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-01-22	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll at Marion in Linn County, IA on January 22, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, three articles in Iowa Bird Life, a photograph, a letter of Vernon Kleen to Nicholas Halmi, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Thompson, Fred K.	Hoary Redpoll	Marion	2830 McGowan Blvd., Marion, Iowa	My back yard at thistle feeder, near city park with flocks of common redpolls. 1/4 miles from large weedy field and farmland	The documentation form by Fred Thompson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Tom Shires and Nicholas Halmi were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Cardelis flammea - common redpoll - by color and beak size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:00:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Varied Thrush southeast of Monticello, 1980	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-02-09	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Varied Thrush southeast of Monticello in Jones County, IA on February 9, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Thompson, Fred K.	Varied Thrush	Monticello	Paul Whear's Home Monticello, Ia	Home and feeder located in large Cedar Grove	The documentation form by Fred Thompson 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 Pete Wickham, Tim Gates, Paul Whear, Michael Newlon, Thomas Shires, Cal Knight, and Bernie Knight were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Robin - Eating bird seed (8) \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	9
Rare bird documentation form for Tundra Swan at Pool 13, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-12-16	2000-01-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for seventy or more Tundra Swans at Pool 13 in Clinton County, IA on December 16, 1999.	Lesher, Fred	Tundra Swan	Pool 13	Far NE portion of open pool, Pool 13. Illinois side?	Edge of shallow pool	The documentation form by Fred Lesher is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Paul Van Neiuwenhuyse. \| Elimination of similar species: Larger than CA geese. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	1
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 Sharp-tailed Sparrow at McIntosh Wildlife Area near Clear Lake, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-04-22	1982-06-16	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for six Sharp-tailed Sparrows at McIntosh Wildlife Area near Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 22, 1982.	Heinz, Fred	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	McIntosh Woods State Park	McIntosh Wildlife Area, Clear Lake, Iowa	General: lowspot in Hayfield Specific: Wet area in Brome and alfalfa field, with very little residual cover, due to winters snowfall	The documentation form by Fred Heinz is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ronald D. Andrews and Bill Ohde. \| Elimination of similar species: Le Conte's - No stripes on crown + triangle on face was very evident \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	59
Rare bird documentation form for Henslow's Sparrow at Ventura Marsh, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-07	1982-06-16	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Henslow's Sparrow at Ventura Marsh in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 7, 1982.	Heinz, Fred	Henslow's Sparrow	Ventura Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Ventura Marsh, Ventura Iowa	General: Open field edge bordering marsh and surrounding uplands Specific: (same as above)	The documentation form by Fred Heinz is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	57
Rare bird documentation form for Bewick's Wren north of Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1981-05-02	1981-05-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for one to two Bewick's Wren north of Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on May 2, 1981.	Moore, Francis L.	Bewick's Wren	Hickory Hill Park	Just past North boundary of Hickory Hills [sic] Park, Iowa City, IA (Johnson County)	General: Junkyard and brush piles near Graveyard abutted by wooded ravine Specific: mostly seen in brush piles in ravine or at lip of ravine.	The documentation form by Francis Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Barb Wilson, Bob Myers, Ross Silcock, and many others. \| Elimination of similar species: House Wren has gray-brown color on breast and belly: Carolina Wren has white eye-stripe but is buffy color on the belly and lacks the white-fringing on the tail; Winter Wren is brown on the breast and belly. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	1
Rare bird documentation form for Tundra Swan at George Wyth State Park, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Tundra Swans at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on December 20, 1998.	Moore, Francis L.	Tundra Swan	George Wyth Memorial State Park	George Wyth State Park, Black Hawk County, IA	Open backwater lake near Cedar River	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Stone, Maurice Hanson, and Ruby Hanson. \| Elimination of similar species: See above. Also the two immature were a lot lighter brownish color than would show for an immature Trumpeter Swan. Adult and immature bill color was wrong for Mute Swan. Just did not look like Mute Swans. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:10:00/15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	1