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 Merlin at Swan Lake, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-16	1976-09-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on September 16, 1976.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Merlin	Swan Lake	Swan Lake, Johnson Co., Iowa	Swan L. is 1 mile south from the Coralville Reservoir. The bird was flying over the lake, the bordering mudflats and disappeared within seconds over an adjoining cornfield, continuing its rectilinear, unswerving flight.	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: In spite of the first subconscious "gestalt" impression of a Mourning Dove approaching, the square tail, lacking white, falcon wings and greater size rule this one out. The bird seen was definitely too small to be a Peregrine, and had no mustache. It did not have the distinctive facial pattern of the familiar Kestrel either, nor the rufous back and/or wings and tail; it was a dusky bird, not the way Kestrels look to me; nor have I ever seen a Kestrel flying with such blinding speed and so "purposefully". \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Sharp-tailed Sparrows at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Sand Point	Sand Point on Coralville Resevoir [sic], n. of Iowa City IA	extensive weedy flats - waist to head-high on shore of resevoir. [sic]	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol S. Newlon, Cal Knight, and Bernie Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: Crown-pattern rules out Henslows (lacks grey crown stripe) LeContes (has narrow white stripe), Grasshopper, Baird's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	59
Rare bird documentation form for LeConte's Sparrow at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for ten to twenty minimum LeConte's Sparrows at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Le Conte's Sparrow	Sand Point	Sand Point, on Coralville Resevoir [sic] n. of Iowa City IA.	V. extensive weedy flats (waist to head-high) on shore of resevoir [sic]	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: grey face patch on yellow face, yellow-orange breast, narrow white crown stripe rule out Henslow's, sharp-tail, grasshopper, Baird's sparrows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	58
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Peregrine Falcon	Sand Point	Sand Point, on Coralville Reservoir N. of Iowa City, IA	Reservoir & many dead trees emerging from water - bordered by wide weedy flats. Surrounded by cropland to S, a wooded ridge to N.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol S. Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Build rules out all raptors except falcons. Large size, prominent 'side burn' transverse barring on lower parts rule out Prairie Falcon (not expected in IA), Kestrel, Merlin. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-10-27	1976-10-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 27, 1976.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Black-legged Kittiwake	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co. Iowa	Over water. in a small inlet formed by the scalloped SW shore of the reservoir	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Newlon, Carol Newlon, Rich DeCoster, Allan Mueller, Lillian Serbousek, and Weir Nelson. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonaparte's has no nuchal crescent, more white on wings, square on rounded tail; Black-headed - ditto, with even more white on wings; Sabine's: no nuchal spot, wing pattern of black-gray-white triangles, head gray in back; Ross's - no nuchal crescent, wedge-shaped tail, no spot behind eye; Little - much smaller, nuchal crescent (if present) merely an extension of the dark gray back, not demarcated in white, black cap. Of these only the imm. Bonaparte's is more common than the Kittiwake in Iowa. This is the third record for the state (last seen in Davenport Dec. 1967). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-10-28	1976-10-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 28, 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Black-legged Kittiwake	Coralville Lake	Coralville Docks, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa	Large open water area of Coralville Reservoir. There was a flock of adult Bonaparte's gulls about a mile south on the same area of the reservoir.	The documentation form by Richard J. DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lillian Serbousek, Nicholas Halmi, and Michael Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Bonaparte's gull lacks transverse mark across nape and has lighter wing coverts. The immature little gull is shown by Robbins et al. to have a dark hood and scaly back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/12:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-11-06	1976-12-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on November 6, 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Northern Shrike	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill park, Iowa City, Iowa	General: grassy-bushy hillside at edge of Iowa City, in city park. Specific: perched in small tree. Bushes on hillside mostly Hawthorns of some type, with several locust trees higher up the slope.	The documentation form by Richard J. DeCoster II is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Newlon and Roger Milkman. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerhead shrike lacks breast scaling, light base of lower mandible, is a smaller bird, darker above, with mask spreading out in front of the eye so as to meet above the bill. On this bird the mask tapered from the eye so as not to meet over the bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Grandview Cemetery in Fremont County, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-04	1976-12-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at Grandview Cemetery in Fremont County, IA on September 4, 1976.	Silcock, W. Ross	Pine Warbler	Grandview Cemetery	Grandview Cemetery, Fremont Co, Iowa	Oak-hickory woods surrounding cemetery atop Loess Bluffs at Missouri River Bottoms.	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-throated Vireo prob. most similar in general appearance, but no spectacles; also warbler bill (feature implied above when bird described as 'large warbler'. [note] Why not Bay-br. or Blackpoll. [end note] \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Varied Thrush at Ingham Lake, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-11-28	1977-01-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Varied Thrush at the northeast shore of Ingham Lake in Emmet County, IA on November 28, 1976.	Moats, Robert	Varied Thrush	Ingham Lake	NE shore of Ingham Lake, Emmet County, Iowa	General: Wooded area on North Shore of Lake Specific: Bur oak timber, somewhat open with ground cover of brome grass and goose berry bushes	The documentation form by Bob Moats is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Larry Knopf. \| Elimination of similar species: No other bird marked in such manner. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:15:00 and 11:20:00/11:27:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at County Road W48 in Johnson County, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-03-20	1977-03-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at County Road W48 in Johnson County, IA on March 20, 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Merlin	Johnson County	Co. Rd W48, Johnson Co., Iowa, N of Iowa River	tall-grass fields with scattered dead or live trees. Flood plain of Coralville Reservoir (west end)	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Am. Kestrel: no rufous on back; facial pattern of Kestrel clearly not present; chunkier bird. Sharp-shinned Hawk: head proportionately large, tail shorter, wings pointed and cuffed, not rounded. Peregrine: too small; lack of heavy black mustache. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:55:00/14:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter near the University Theater in Iowa City in 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-03-26	1977-03-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for four White-winged Scoters near the University Theater in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on March 26 and 27, 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	White-winged Scoter	Theatre Building				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for Townsend's Solitaire northeast of Corydon in 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1977-03-17	1977-03-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Townsend's Solitaire northeast of Corydon in Wayne County, IA on March 17, 18, and 27, 1977.	Milner, Kay	Townsend's Solitaire	Corydon				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	5
Rare bird documentation form for White-rumped Sandpiper at Coralville Reservoir, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-04-10	1977-04-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two White-rumped Sandpipers at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on April 10, 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	White-rumped Sandpiper	Coralville Lake	south shore of Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., IOWA	mudflats S of Sandy Beach area, Coralville Reservoir	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Pectoral: smaller - direct comparison possible. No bib. Dark, not yellowish legs. Voice not 'krip'. Baird's: same size, but lack of scaly back, no buffy wash on breast, wings, not as long as Baird's, [illegible] not so slim, body position not horizontal. Semipalmated - Western: about 1 inch bigger than the small [illegible], one present in flock (Western?) \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	21
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Hawkeye Wildlife Area, 1977	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-05-13	1977-05-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for a Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Hawkeye Wildlife Area in Johnson County, IA on May 13, 1977.	Newlon, Michael C.	Yellow-Crowned Night Heron	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	Oxbow on Hawkeye Wildlife area, near Iowa City	marshy pool in mostly -dry oxbow surrounded by second-growth, fast, close to Iowa River.	The documentation form by Mike Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol S. Newlon, B. Knowles, Thomas Staudt, Nicholas Halmi, and others. \| Elimination of similar species: Uniform grey body, small size, head pattern rule out all other N. Am large waders. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:30:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	23
Field report, March 1 to April 30	Field notes	Bird watching Rare birds	1977-03-01	1977-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report of bird sightings submitted by Woodward H. Brown. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of spring 1977.	Brown, Woodward H.	Upland Sandpiper Cattle Egret Least Tern Piping Plover	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at northern Fremont County, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-10-16	1977-10-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at northern Fremont County, IA on October 16, 1977.	Silcock, W. Ross	Prairie Falcon	Fremont County	northern Fremont Co.	river-bottom farmland, partly harvested corn & bean fields beside west Nishnabotna River	The documentation form by W. Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Peregrine - does not have dark axillars & underwing linings. Adult Peregrine - is grey above, not brown. Female Am. Kestrel - not as large, no dark axillars. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Hickory Hill Park, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-09-18	1977-11-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on September 18, 1977.	Newlon, Michael C.	Northern Goshawk	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City, IA	park on east edge of Iowa City, stream valley with second-growth woods, pasture, open meadows, thickets.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: accipiter build, grey upper parts + clear grey underpants eliminate all other E. N. hawks. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/13:05:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter in western Polk County, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-11-15	1977-11-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter in western Polk County, IA on November 15, 1977.	Mooney, Richard D., 1905-1997	Surf Scoter	Polk County	Small farm pond in western Polk Co.	Usual farm pond, no emergent vegetation at this season	The documentation form by R.D. Mooney is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Light spots eliminate Common Eider and lack of white in wing eliminates White-winged Scoter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Swainson's Hawk east of Sweet Marsh in 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-08-06	1977-12-01	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for two separate sightings of Swainson's Hawks east of Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA. The first sighting was for two hawks on August 6, 1977. The second sighting was for two hawks on September 17, 1977.	Stone, Tom	Swainson's Hawk	Sweet Marsh				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	28
Rare bird documentation form for Swainson's Hawk at Hartman Reserve, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-04-20	1977-12-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Swainson's Hawks at Hartman Reserve in Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County, IA on April 20, 1977.	Stone, Tom	Swainson's Hawk	Hartman Reserve Nature Center	Hartman Reserve, Cedar Falls, (Nesting)	Cedar River flood plain area, lowland forest	The documentation form by Thomas Stone is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russ Hays, Dean Roosa, Mary Duritsa, and Antoinette Camarata. \| Elimination of similar species: Red Tailed Hawk, Rough legged Hawk. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:00:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	28
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Larrabee, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-02	1978-01-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Pine Grosbeaks at Larrabee in Cherokee County, IA on January 2, 1978.	Brewer, Marion M.	Pine Grosbeak	Larrabee	4 E, 1 S of Larrabee, Ia	In large forest, ash, oak + Etc, Snow on Ground + very cold	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include one unidentified non-birder observer. \| Elimination of similar species: Larger the purple Finch. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing at River Heights in north Iowa City, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-27	1978-01-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bohemian Waxwing at River Heights in north Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 27, 1978.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Bohemian Waxwing	Iowa City	River Heights, 4 miles n. of Iowa City (my yard)	General: suburban yard Specific: in berry-bearing cranberry bushes	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cedar Waxwing \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16
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 Shrike at the south edge of Spencer, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-05	1978-02-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike at the south edge of Spencer in Clay County, IA on February 5, 1978.	Bierman, Dick	Northern Shrike	Spencer	The south edge of Spencer Iowa along the Little Sioux River.	The subject was overlooking a weedy riverbottom area from the tree about 15 feet off the ground.	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include three unidentified individuals. \| Elimination of similar species: Subject was too brown and chunky for a mockingbird. I've seen many mockingbirds in Arizona. I've excluded the Loggerheaded Shrike because of the physical description above, and I have also seen many Loggerheaded Shrikes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-24	1978-02-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Pine Grosbeaks at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines in Polk County, IA on January 24, 1978.	Mooney, Richard D., 1905-1997	Pine Grosbeak	Glendale Cemetery	Glendale Cemetary [sic]-50th St. & University Ave. Des Moines	Cemetary [sic] with numerous assorted evergreen trees and various other trees.	The documentation form by Richard D. Mooney is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pauline Mooney, Ruth Binsfeld, Woodward Brown, and Mary Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Evening Grosbeak eliminated by coloration. Purple Finch eliminated by size and coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80