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

Bird sightings checklist, spring 1977	Checklists Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1977-03-01	1977-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Bird sightings checklist. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union's Quarterly Field Report of spring 1977. Includes handwritten annotations with locations and weather information.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Field report from Dubuque, June 1977	Field notes	Bird populations Bird watching	1977-06-01	1977-06-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report of bird sightings around Dubuque Iowa submitted by George E. Crossley, June 1977. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of spring 1977.	Crossley, George E.	Yellow-headed Blackbird Yellow Warbler Tundra Swan	Dubuque Swiss Valley Nature Center Mud Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Field report, May 31, 1977	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting	1977-05-31	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report of bird sightings submitted by Marie Carlson. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of spring 1977.	Carlson, Marie	Red-headed Woodpecker Purple Martin Vesper Sparrow Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Boone County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Field report for Spring, April 1 to May 31, 1977	Field notes	Bird declines Bird populations Bird watching Habitat (Ecology)	1977-03-01	1977-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report of bird sightings submitted by Gene Burns. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of spring 1977.	Burns, R. E. (Rollin Eugene)	White-faced Ibis American Kestrel Upland Sandpiper Yellow-headed Blackbird Loggerhead Shrike Cinnamon Teal Golden-crowned Sparrow Hudsonian Godwit	Bayard Dallas County Greene County Guthrie County Bays Branch State Wildlife Area Lakin Slough State Game Management Area McCord Pond State Wildlife Management Area Riverside Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
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
Iowa map with Snowy Owl sightings, 1976-1977	Field notes Maps (documents)	Bird populations Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1977-01-01	1977-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Map of Iowa Snowy Owl sightings by county, 1976-1977. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Report of spring 1977.	Black, Gladys	Snowy Owl	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sighting reports, March 24, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Ornithology--Methodology	1977-03-24	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Gladys Black to Nicholas S. Halmi, regarding bird sighting reports. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Report of spring 1977.	Black, Gladys	Bald Eagle Hooded Merganser	Lake Red Rock Pleasantville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sighting reports, March 18, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Predation (Biology)	1977-03-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Gladys Black to Nicholas S. Halmi, regarding bird sighting reports. Sightings reported include a partially leucistic robin. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Report of spring 1977.	Black, Gladys	Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Henslow's Sparrow Great Horned Owl Snowy Owl Northern Shrike	Lake Red Rock Centerville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, April 5, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Hunting--Moral and ethical aspects	1977-04-05	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Gladys Black to Nicholas S. Halmi, regarding bird sightings. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Report of spring 1977.	Black, Gladys	Bald Eagle American White Pelican Snowy Owl	Lake Red Rock Marion County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, June 2, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird declines Bird populations Bird watching Birds--Eggs	1977-06-02	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Gladys Black to Nicholas S. Halmi, regarding bird watching and sightings. Item includes notes on observations by bird type. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Report of spring 1977.	Black, Gladys	Double-crested Cormorant Loggerhead Shrike Snowy Owl Cattle Egret Osprey Peregrine Falcon Long-eared Owl	Iowa Lake Red Rock Marion County Pleasantville Gilmore City Wilcox Wildlife Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi, regarding bird sightings, March 6, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird populations Bird watching Birds of prey Birds--Food Birds--Habitat Wit and humor	1977-03-06	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Gladys Black to Nicholas S. Halmi reporting her correspondence with Paul Jones regarding the impact of declining prey populations and the increased use of recreational vehicles on Snowy Owl populations. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Report of spring 1977.	Black, Gladys	Snowy Owl	Iowa Canada				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird watching, April 27, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Nests Rare birds Predation (Biology)	1977-04-27	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Gladys Black to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird watching, April 27, 1977. The letter mentions a sighting of an Egyptian Goose spotted in Iowa Lake in Emmett County, along with other birds. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Report of spring 1977.	Black, Gladys	Red-tailed Hawk American Crow Blue Jay Great Horned Owl Barred Owl Osprey Ruby-crowned Kinglet Yellow-rumped Warbler Egyptian Goose	Elk Rock State Park Lake Red Rock Iowa Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sighting reports, June 8, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Charadriiformes \| Shore-birds, Gulls, and Auks	1977-06-08	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Gladys Black to Nicholas S. Halmi, regarding bird sighting reports. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Report of spring 1977.	Black, Gladys	American Bittern Purple Martin Grasshopper Sparrow Loggerhead Shrike Bewick's Wren Yellow-billed Cuckoo Forster's Tern Common Nighthawk Hairy Woodpecker	Forest City Lake Red Rock Lamoni Lovilia Bedford				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-07	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 7, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting and a request for re-evaluation of sighting, summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	California Gull	Cherry Glen Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co. (Cherry Glen Recreation Area)	sitting on ice with other gulls	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull eliminated by larger size, lighter mantle color, lack of black and red spots on bill, and wrong leg color (pink, although a very few Herring Gull show yellowish legs). Ring-billed Gull eliminated by smaller size, lighter mantle color, lack of a black ring on bill, and by yellower leg color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:13:00/14:08:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, Quarterly field report, spring 1977	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1977-03-01	1977-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Quarterly field report for the spring of 1977. It is published in Iowa Bird Life 46. The report is a draft with numerous manual annotations.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-09	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 9, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Overton, Michael D.	California Gull	Cherry Glen Recreation Area	Polk co., Saylorville Reservoir, Cherry Glen Recreation Area	On ice along lakeshore of large manmade lake in mixed hardwood forest agricultural cropland.	The documentation form by Michael D. Overton is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull: Immatures of both species were present so direct comparisons were possible. Bill color, shape, and size reletive [sic] to head. Tail and rump color. Wing color and pattern especially mantle, greater coverts, and secondaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:20:00/10:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Gull Point at West Okoboji Lake, 1997	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-09-07	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a California Gull at Gull Point at West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County, IA on September 7, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence from Ken Brock to Thomas Kent, and two copies of a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	California Gull	Gull Point	Gull Point, West Lake Okoboji, Dickinson Co.	Rocky point on natural lake		Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Lost Island Lake, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-03	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Lost Island Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on November 3, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	California Gull	Lost Island Lake	N. Shore of Lost Island Lake, Palo Alto, Co.	Shoreline	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull - bill, eye and leg color Ring-billed Gull - Bill size, tail + wingtips in flight \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:35:00/10:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Mini-Wakan State Park, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-09-06	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Mini-Wakan State Park in Dickinson County, IA on September 6, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bangma, Jim Johnson, Ann	California Gull	Mini Wakan State Park	Spirit Lake, north end, Dickinson Co., IA	Lakeshore	The documentation form by Jim Bangma and Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring-billed is ruled out by the solid gray mantle combined with the extensive molt of the flight feathers. Ring-bills and similar 3 year gulls obtain the gray mantle during a post-juvenal molt. Flight feathers are not molted at this time. Flight feathers are molted after one year, at which time the body of a Ring-bill would be much whiter. Also, the mantle was a much darker shade of gray than any Ring-bill present. Additionally, Ring-billed Gull's bill is proportionally smaller and thinner, with more curve. Herring Gull would be larger. The mantle of a Herring Gull would be paler gray, nearly the same shade as that of the Ring-bills. The bill would be proportionally heavier with a more marked gonydeal angle. Herring Gulls may show a black tipped bill, but the black normally blends into the pink of the base or runs in along the cutting edges of the bill. The bill and legs would be brighter pink. Other similarly sized extralimitals can be ruled out by the mantle color as well as bill pattern and shape. A striking feature of this bird was its leg length. In an effort to better understand this, Bangma paid a visit to the American Museum of Natural History and examined specimens of Herring, Ring-billed and California Gulls. Measurements were made of a representative selection of specimens. The following chart shows the results. [Chart] While there is some overlap between these species, it is interesting to note that the breaking point between California Gull and the other two is very near the ratio of 1.5. While not diagnostic by itself, the length of this bird's tarsus relative to the culmen as estimated by us in the field is indicative of California Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-09-03	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area in Marion County, IA on September 3, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	California Gull	Red Rock Wildlife Area	1 mi e. of Swan, Marion Co. (Runnells W.A.)	pool of shallow water	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Sinclair, Thomas H. Kent, and Jim Fuller were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring-billed and Herring gulls are the two most likely species of confusion. Ring-billed Gull never shows this much brown in any plumage, has a dark tail band in immature plumages, has a different wing pattern, and is structurally different from California Gull. Herring Gull is more similar in first-basic plumage, but always shows a pale window on the inner primaries, lacks the double dark bar effect in the innerwing, is larger, and very rarely shows a strongly bicolored bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:55:00/12:24:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-06	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on December 6, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	California Gull	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Reservoir dam, Polk County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randy Pinkston is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore was submitted later. Another observer includes Susan Grove. \| Elimination of similar species: I am uncomfortable committing to California Gull given the brief and distant view I had, and my limited past experience with the species. My fear is that this was just a small Herring Gull. Herring can be quite variable in overall size, bill size, and in terms of color and shade of the first-winter plumage. Supposedly 10-15% of first-winter Herrings' can have a "dipped-in-ink" bill in the fall (Harrison 1983 or Grant 1986?). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Carter Lake, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-11-21	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Carter Lake in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 21, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	California Gull	Carter Lake	Carter Lake, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Loren and Babs Padelford, and Ross Silcock were submitted. Other observers include Jerry Toll and B.J. Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: Both Ring-billed and Herring Gulls are eliminated by bill coloration, size, slightly darker mantle, and eye color. Western, Lesser-black backed would be darker mantled, different bill coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-10-27	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 27, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, two articles in Iowa Bird Life, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	California Gull	Babcock Access	Babcock Access, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson County, Iowa	shallow, open area of reservoir	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Randy Pinkston, Carol Thompson, and Carl J. Bendorf were submitted later. Other observers include Timothy Dwyer, John Cordell, James Huntington, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Rick Hollis. \| Elimination of similar species: First-year Ring-billed Gulls were all in first winter plumage with gray mantle and were much lighter overall. The only other species considered is juvenile Herring Gull. The size is small for Herring Gull. The elongated appearance and short legs fit California Gull. Most young Herrings that I see in early fall have mostly dark bills that are larger than that of this bird. The double inner wing bar and lighter tertial tips fit California Gull. The overall relatively uniform and relatively light brown color without windows in the inner primaries also made this bird look different from Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/16:55:00 on October 27, 1990 and from 19:10:00/22:30:00 and 15:00:00/16:00:00 on October 28, 1990.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-08	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on September 8, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and the article California Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Iowa Bird Life 61:20 by Stephen Dinsmore reviewed by the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	California Gull	Oak Grove Recreation Area	[...] Oak Grove Beach Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County.		The article by Stephen J. Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...]The bird was similar in size to the largest Ring-billed Gulls, but slightly larger than others. I approached closer and noted that, when compared to a Ring-billed Gull, the bird had duller yellow legs, a stouter bill with black and red spots near the tip of the lower mandible, and a darker gray mantle. [...] The bird was slightly larger than most of the Ring-billed Gulls, although one or two of the biggest Ring-billed Gulls were as large as the bird I was studying. Proportionately, the bird was heavier and larger-headed than a Ring-billed Gull. [...] I estimated the mantle color to be about midway between those of Ring-billed Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. [...] The bill was heavier than the bill of a Ring-billed Gull and had a distinct gonys. The legs were pale gray-green, unlike the bright yellow legs of a Ring-billed Gull. Leg length appeared similar to a Ring-billed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/09:27:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Credit Island, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-23	1993-07-21	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Credit Island in Scott County, IA on November 23, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence about the sighting from Louise Augustine to Carl Bendorf, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Augustine, Louise	California Gull	Credit Island	Credit Island - Davenport, Iowa - Scott County	This is an unfamiliar Area for me - I have never birded there before - The Place Credit Island - Backwater of Mississippi River - There was some ICE and open water - Many Gulls were in this Backwater area - on ice and in water. Probably around 1,500 Gulls -	The documentation form by Louise Augustine forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Peter C. Petersen and Jim Fuller were submitted. Other observers include Randy Pinkston, Mary Lou Petersen, Jerome Augustine, David Augustine, and Julie Augustine. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull - darker mantle - Dark eye - Leg Color - ashy-green gray not Pink - smaller size - slimmer build Ring-billed Gull - mantle too dark - dark eye - Bill had only a spot Leg Color not yellow - This bird larger than Ring-billed gulls - \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1