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 Lincoln's Sparrow northwest of Hastings, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-05	1983-02-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lincoln's Sparrow northwest of Hastings in Mills County, IA on January 5, 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Lincoln's Sparrow	Hastings	Wilson Farm, N.E. Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Distinguished from adult Song Sparrow by buffy breast + fine breast streaks, from young one by eye ring + general face pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:23:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	61
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Willow Slough, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-24	1984-05-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on April 24, 1984.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Peregrine Falcon	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I believed this to be a buteo until it flew + I saw the pointed wings. Gray color + sharply contrasting face pattern would be very unusual in a buteo. Prairie Falcon would have dark in axillar area. I could easily have seen this dark pattern if the bird had had it, but it did not. Face pattern is also wrong for Prairie Falcon - too solid + too black-and-white. Face pattern eliminates Gyrfalcon. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Sandhill Crane at MidAmerican Energy Ponds, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-03-02	1985-06-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sandhill Crane at MidAmerican Energy Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on March 2, 1985.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Sandhill Crane	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	IPL Settling Pond, Council Bluffs, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Matt Towne, John Bakehouse, and Jeane-Marie Bakehouse. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Blue Heron has longer bill, neck in S-curve.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Gyrfalcon north of Cambridge, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-12-14	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Gyrfalcon north of Cambridge in Story County, IA on December 14, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cook, Barnett C.	Gyrfalcon	Cambridge	2 mi north of Cambridge, Story County	open	The documentation form by Barney Cook is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Fritz Franzen and Stu Huntington. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Jaeger species at Rice Lake, 1966	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1966-09-04	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Jaeger species at Rice Lake in Winnebago County, IA on September 4, 1966. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation account reviewed by the committee.	Sutter, B.E.; Sutter, Barton	Jaegers	Rice Lake	[...] shore of Rice Lake [...]		The documentation form by Barton E. Sutter is the only account reviewed and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Mark Sutter. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] one characteristic had been very noticeable-the great amount of white color that flashed as the bird flew, both on the upper- and undersides of the wings. At the time I did not realize the importance of this detail, but I recorded it along with my other field notes as I knew from past reading that distinguishing between Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers could be tricky. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Rare bird documentation form for Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Iowa City, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-06-05	1991-06-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on June 5, 1991.	Boggess, Rebecca Clay	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Iowa City	10 Oak Park Lane, Iowa City, IA 52240 (fence line of back yard)	Open field bordered by woodlands	The documentation form by Becky Boggess is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Boggess, Vernon Clay, and Myra Clay. \| Elimination of similar species: Tail spread in flight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 19:15:00/19:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	73
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorvile Reservoir, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-11-22	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 22, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville	Big lake	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: A small Common Loon should have irregular line between front & back of neck. Also white of face should go above eye. Arctic Loon - not expected. R-T Loon - also with white above eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Saylorville, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-12-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Black-legged Kittiwakes at Saylorville in Polk County, IA on December 12, 1987.	Engebretsen, Bery	Black-legged Kittiwake	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville	lake n. end of Saylorville, near 17 bridge	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonapartes - see above [...] larger than Bonaparte's it was with. Dark bill, dark spot, dark bar on nape of neck. More prominent on one bird, than the other. White on trailing edge of wing extended to secondaries, and dark on leading edge of wing more extensive than Bonaparte's. Dark bar on proximal wing more defined than imm. Bonaparte's. Dark trailing edge of tail. Sabines - imm. wing pattern distinctly different \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Ring-necked Duck at Saylorville, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-05-26	1985-07-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Ring-necked Duck at Saylorville in Polk County, IA on May 26, 1985.	Engebretsen, Bery	Ring-necked Duck	Saylorville Lake	Farm pond, north of Saylorville	Farm pond. Surrounding pasture / corn field	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: both scaup have gray back, no initial stripe.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-faced Ibis at Errington Marsh, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-25	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a White-faced Ibis at Errington Marsh in Polk County, IA on May 25, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	White-faced Ibis	Paul Errington Wildlife Management Area	Errington Marsh, Polk County	small pool in meadow at north edge of Errington	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Breeding plumage Ibis with above features describes white-faced, rather than Glossy. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Rare bird documentation form for Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Recreation Area at Saylorville, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Laughing Gulls at Sandpiper Recreation Area at Saylorville in Polk County, IA on May 22, 1999.	Engebretsen, Bery	Laughing Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville, parking lot at Sandpiper		The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I could see both Laughing + Franklin's standing side by side. Laughing were clearly 20-25% larger, as was bill. A more prominent 'gonys' made the bill appear somewhat more hooked. In flight, the wing tips were black + more extensive than Franklins, both above + below. I looked carefully for any trace of white between tip + rest of wing, as well as for any white on the head, and there was none. The eye ring was broken on the front, less so in the back. The Franklin's had a rounder appearance to the head than did the Laughing. In flight, the Laughing's tail was pure white. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:05:00/08:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	31
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-07-15	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on July 15, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Laughing Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville	General: Saylorville lake Specific: parking lot (closed) at Sandpiper Beach	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: large bill, no suggestion of a hood, scaled back & complete, broad dark tail band suggest Laughing, rather than Franklin's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:50:00/20:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Greater Yellowlegs south of Saylorville Dam, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-15	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Greater Yellowlegs at Sayloville Dam in Polk County, IA on December 15, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Greater Yellowlegs	Saylorville Dam	Des Moines River, Just S. of Saylorville Dam	DSM river, sandbar	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser has smaller, thinner bill and no upturn \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	21
Rare bird documentation form for Cattle Egret at Des Moines River Valley at Saylorville Lake, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-08-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cattle Egret at Des Moines River Valley at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on August 2, 1984.	Engebretsen, Bery	Cattle Egret	Saylorville Lake	DsM river valley, S.P. Saylorville Lake, along NW 26th St.	river flood plain, open small, permanent pool with reedy shore, surrounded by short grass	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Little blue and snowy have dark bills. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:05:00/18:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	21
Rare bird documentation form for Western Grebe at Saylorville Lake, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-10-26	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Grebe at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on October 26, 1984.	Engebretsen, Bery	Western Grebe	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Lake	Lake, at dam	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: too small, slender for Loon species. Head, bill neck, characteristic of this species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:40:00/07:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	15
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle near Saylorville Dam, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-12-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle over the Des Moines River near Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on December 4, 1985.	Engebretsen, Bery	Golden Eagle	Saylorville Dam	Des Moines River, just below Saylorville Dam	Des Moines river channel below Saylorville Dam - Open water, modest sized maple, cottonwood, mallards and few other ducks in area (goldeneye, C. merganser)	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White in wing of imm. Bald in less vivid, blotchy and on coverts, not base of primaries. Also white on tail not so vivid or banded as was this one. Body color was darker than Bald. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Great Blue Heron at Saylorville Dam, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-07-27	1984-08-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Great Blue Herons at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on July 27, 1984 with an addendum on August 1, 1984.	Engebretsen, Bery	Great Blue Heron	Saylorville Dam	about 2 mi S. of Saylorville Dam 0.5 mi S of 66th, east side of DSM Ranch	Heavy, mature river bottom. Very thick canopy. Nests in locust. [illegible] nearby silver maple.	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-12-10	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 10, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Great Black-backed Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville	Specific: Big end of Saylorville Specific: off Sandpiper Beach, half in ice, half open	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer includes Eugene Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Larger than Herring gull would seem to eliminate Lesser BB, also, only one dark secondary band on wing white head + large size unlike immature Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:00:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Saylorville Lake, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Clear Lake in Polk County, IA on November 6, 1999.	Engebretsen, Bery	Red-throated Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Lake	above dam	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dennis Thompson and Jim Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Small loon, small head slightly upturned beak and head. White visible on flanks. Faint fleck on dark back at tips of feathers. No chin strap, but from front had faint inverted V. Head, neck brownish/gray. Darker on back of neck, top of hood, much lighter chin, front of neck, sides of neck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-10-13	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 13, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir	Saylorville reservoir, v Went alone, 1 mi north of Dam	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dennis Thompson. \| Elimination of similar species: Smaller, bill decidedly smaller than common. Bill was not upturned as Red-throated would be. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:05:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
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 for Western Wood-Pewee near Des Moines, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-09-08	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for one to two Western Wood-Pewees near Des Moines in Polk County, IA on September 8, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Western Wood-Pewee	Des Moines	Backyard of our home	General: Oak hickory. upland. Mature, 1 mile outside of Des Moines. Specific: Flying from tree to tree - hickory, oak, dead limbs	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: From the moment I heard the call, it was clearly different. The bird was a PeeWee. It called frequently to several types of calls; only one of which seemed similar to our Eastern. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	31
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff south of Grimes, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-10	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ruff south of Grimes in Polk County, IA on May 10, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Ruff	Grimes	S. of Grimes	minimum-till corn field with standing water, old stocks	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Dennis Thompson, Reid Allen, and Pam Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: white underwings, U-Shaped white tail patch, small head, & size seem to eliminate other species. Too large for White-rumped. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 17:30:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sabine's Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-09-07	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sabine's Gull in Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on September 7, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Sabine's Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville - Sandpiper Beach	lake shore	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record.\| Elimination of similar species: Kittiwake's in this plummage [sic] would have black collar, wing pattern different Franklin's, Laughing have much different wing pattern \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	9
Rare bird documentation form for Semipalmated Plover at Red Rock Dam, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-11-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Semipalmated Plover at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on November 28, 1989.	Brown, Beth	Semipalmated Plover	Red Rock Dam	running along the sandy shoreline below the Red Rock Dam in the tailwaters.		The documentation form by Beth Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: There was a white ring above the breastband. The mantle, crown dark-brownish, too dark for a Piping Plover. The color was similar to the color of a Killdeer, but had no rust color on the rump. I did not note leg color. I saw it fly but took note of nothing except the white underparts, because I was surprised that another like bird was with it. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	4