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 Tundra Swan at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-12-13	1975-12-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Tundra Swan at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on December 13, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Tundra Swan	Sand Point	Sand Pt, Coralville Reservoir, nw of Iowa City IA	edge of reservoir: grassy flats now submerged by an increase in water level. area has large 'marshy' areas of flooded grass, extensive areas of open water, some harvested corn fields, some fields of winter rye (Planted for geese), some seasonal-growth woods.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include: Nick Halmi. \| Elimination of similar species: mute swan: eliminated by all-dark bill, vertical posture of neck. Trumpeter Swan: eliminated by range. Snow Goose: eliminated by large size, lack of black in wingtips. White pelican: eliminated by proportions of neck & bill, lack of black in wingtips. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	1
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Ledges State Park, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-02-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Ledges State Park in Boone County, IA on February 25, 1982.	Newhouse, David A.	Northern Goshawk	Ledges State Park	East entrance to Ledges State Park; Worth Twp., Boone Co.	Edge of oak-hickory forest, upland	The documentation form by Dave Newhouse is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Putnam. \| Elimination of similar species: Wrong habitat and shape for osprey. Much larger than Cooper's. Red eye plainly visible. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for White-throated Sparrow at Emmet Township in Emmet County, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-07-20	1984-07-22	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-throated Sparrow at Emmet Township in Emmet County, IA on July 20, 1984.	Ewert, David N.	White-throated Sparrow	Emmet Township	Emmet Co.: T100N, R34W, S7 (NW1/4)	Edge of mature woods in raspberry thicket w. of Des Moines River	The documentation form by David Ewert is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Moats. \| Elimination of similar species: White-throat and yellow lores clearly distinguished from White-crowned Sparrow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	63
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Saylorville Lake, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-08-06	1989-08-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on August 6, 1989.	Myers, Robert K.	Pine Warbler	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Res.	edge of lake - giant ragweed + other weeds at edge of timber	The documentation form by Bob Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Bay-breasted warbler + blackpolls have streaked backs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:05:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lazuli Bunting at Martin-Little Sioux Recreation Area, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-05-16	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lazuli Bunting at Martin-Little Sioux Recreation Area in Cherokee County, IA on May 16, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Lazuli Bunting	Martin Area County Park	4 east of Larrabee	edge of hardwood forest	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Blue bird (white wing bars). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:32:00/15:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	4
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-rumped Warbler at Hickory Hill Park, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-08-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-rumped Warbler at Hickory Hill Park in Johnson County, IA on August 23, 1987.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park	edge of freshly cleared wooded area	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record.\| Elimination of similar species: I identified the bird immediately, but was surprised to see it, so I noted as many features as possible. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:35:00/08:37:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	26
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow south of Tripoli, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-19	1982-01-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow south of Tripoli in Bremer County, IA on December 19, 1981.	Hays, Russell	Vesper Sparrow	Tripoli	South of Tripoli, Ia. (Bremer County)	edge of ditch along gravel road along open field	The documentation form by Russell Hays is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eleanor Corwin and Antoinette Camarata. \| Elimination of similar species: The song sparrow usually shows the breast stick-pin and would not have the white eye ring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Ulrich Park, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Ulrich Park in Black Hawk County, IA on December 25, 1981.	Moore, Francis L.	Northern Goshawk	Ulrich Park	In a large hardwood at the edge of the Cedar River in Ulrich Park, Black Hawk Co.	edge of Cedar River in mixed hardwood forest	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers. \| Elimination of similar species: Cooper's Hawk does not show a white eye stripe or loosely held undertail coverts that this bird displayed. Cooper's also would not appear this large.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at Ledges State Park, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-05-22	1997-05-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for a Mississippi Kite at Ledges State Park in Boone County, IA on May 22, 1997.	Hemesath, Lisa M.	Mississippi Kite	Ledges State Park	Ledges St. Park	edge between woods + grassy field	The documentation form by Lisa Hemesath is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bruce Ehresman. \| Elimination of similar species: Male northern harrier (?) Kite has black tail, no white rump patch, and was sitting in a tree - a behavior unusual for a northern harrier. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00 until the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Rare bird documentation form for Varied Thrush at Titonka, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-12-05	1984-12-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Varied Thrush at Titonka in Kossuth County, IA on December 5 to 8, 1984.	Klasse, Clara	Varied Thrush	Titonka	Titonka, Iowa	Eating on apples left on a tree/ground in back yard	The documentation form by Clara Klasse is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Guthrie. \| Elimination of similar species: Robin	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Ingham Lake, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-10-23	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Ingham Lake in Emmet County on October 23, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hartwig, Thomas P.	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Ingham Lake State Game Management Area	Ingham lake, Emmet County - on Refuge	Duck was seen standing on a rock and then it went into the water for a little while, then back on the rock	The documentation form by Tom Hartwig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Doug Lemke. \| Elimination of similar species: Left unmolested.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
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 Prairie Warbler at MacBride Recreation Area, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1994-06-05	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Warbler at MacBride Recreation Area in Johnson County, IA on June 5, 1994.	Dankert, David L. Dankert, Jeffrey B.	Prairie Warbler	Macbride Nature Recreation Area	Johnson Co: 4/10 mi into MacBride Recreation Area, in a field on private land.	Dry upland, grassy field, with many low trees and shrubs; a few larger trees	The documentation form by Jeff Dankert and Dave Dankert is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Chris Edwards. \| Elimination of similar species: The observation of the bird, singing during observation, left no doubt to its identity. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:20:00/09:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	30
Rare bird documentation form for Western Sandpiper at the DuPont Bridge in Coralville Reservoir, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-08-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Western Sandpipers at the DuPont Bridge in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on August 3, 1985.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Western Sandpiper	Coralville Lake	Coralville Res. (DuPont Bridge A.), Johnson Co, IA	Dry backwater with mud flats	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The heavy marking on the underparts would be unusual for any other peep. We usually see Westerns in basic or juvenile plumage. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:05:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18
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 Semipalmated Sandpiper at Fairport State Fish Hatchery, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-10-21	1983-10-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Fairport State Fish Hatchery in Muscatine County, IA on October 21, 1983.	Robinson, John C., 1959-	Semipalmated Sandpiper	Fairport State Fish Hatchery	State Fish Hatchery, Fairport, Iowa, Muscatine County	Drained fish hatchery pond along the Mississippi River. Exposed mudflats and shallow water with algae present in a drained fish hatchery pond.	The documentation form by John C. Robinson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White-rumped Sandpiper has a white rump; Least Sandpiper usually has a distinct breast band, yellowish legs and browner body plumage; Western Sandpiper's bill length averages longer, with a droop at the end, and this species also tends to have rufous traces in the scapulars in the late fall. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:40:00/12:52:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Whimbrel at Hendrickson Marsh, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-05-12	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Whimbrel at Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on May 12, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of review, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Whimbrel	Hendrickson Marsh Wildlife Management Area	NW corner of Hendrickson Marsh, Story Co.	drained area of marsh adjacent to a grassy field	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Paul Martsching was submitted later. Other observers include Gordon Brown and Mark Dixon. \| Elimination of similar species: Separated from Godwits and Willet by the long downward curved bill and the distinct head pattern. Separated from Ibis' by the strongly marked head and the mottled brown color of bird. Separated from Long-billed Curlew by much shorter bill and the strongly marked head. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	23
Rare bird documentation form for Gyrfalcon on the Mississippi River between Davenport and Rock Island, IL, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-12-22	1997-01-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Gyrfalcon on the Mississippi River between Davenport in Scott County, IA and Rock Island in Rock Island County, IL on December 22, 1996.	Blevins, Brian L.	Gyrfalcon	Davenport Rock Island	Mississippi River between Davenport in Scott Co., IA and Rock Island in Rock Island County, Ill. between Big Island + Credit Island. From Ill side.	Directly on Mississippi River Channel with most of the river frozen over.	The documentation form by Brian L. Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lewis D. Blevins and Corey T. Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: The only bird close or similar is the Peregrine. It was easily eliminated by the lack of a dark cap, shear bulk and size and the total light grayness. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:26:00/10:29:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	33
Rare bird documentation form for Field Sparrow at Nyatt Girls Scout Camp in Nebraska, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for five Field Sparrows at Nyatt Girls Scout Camp in Sarpy County, NE on December 19, 1981.	Graf, Marge	Field Sparrow	Camp Maha	Nyatt Girls Scout Camp	dike at lake with open water	The documentation form by Marge Graf is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Diane Jones. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	51
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Bonaparte's Gull at Ottumwa, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-01-01	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Bonaparte's Gull at Ottumwa in Wapello County, IA on January 1, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hoskins, Nelson R.	Bonaparte's Gull	Ottumwa	Ottumwa, Ia.	Des Moines River, Below Hydro-dam	The documentation form by Nelson Hoskins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's gull - above mentioned markings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:45:00/08:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	22
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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-03	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam in Marion County, IA on December 3, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Res., Marion Co. Iowa.	Des Moines River below Red Rock Reservoir dam.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis L. Moore, Robert K. Myers, Beth Proescholdt, Thomas J. Staudt, Peter C. Petersen, Dennis Thompson, Carl J. Bendorf, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted. Other observers include Hank Zaletel, Phyllis Harris, Gil Sandvick, Carol McMillen, Pauline Mairs, Gladys Black, Jim Fuller, Darwin Koenig, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, John Bowles, and other unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Size and yellow legs exclude Great Black-backed, Western, and Slaty-backed Gulls. Size excludes Yellow-footed Gull. Mantle to [sic] dark for California Gull and leg color too yellow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Rare bird documentation form for Herring Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-01-04	1991-01-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Herring Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on January 4, 1991.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Herring Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion County, Iowa	Des Moines River below dam, water mostly open with ice on edges	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller and Tim Barksdale. \| Elimination of similar species: The color of the back and obvious window in the inner primaries, as well as the rest of the feather tracts, all fit 2nd winter Herring Gull and seem to exclude Lesser Black-backed Gull. The soft parts were somewhat atypical, but I was not bothered much by this because I have seen much variation in Herring Gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/08:25:00 and 12:45:00/13:00:00 (approximate)	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	34
Rare bird documentation form for Connecticut Warbler at Indianola, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-09-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Connecticut Warbler at Indianola in Warren County, IA on September 6, 1999.	Sinclair, Jim	Connecticut Warbler	Indianola	810 North B St. Indianola, IA	dense weedy brush with canopy	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	39