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

Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding fall migration, 1976	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1976-12-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall migration report contributed by Gladys Black in a letter to Nicholas S. Halmi, December 1, 1976. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1976.	Black, Gladys	Bald Eagle Boreal Chickadee Mallard	Iowa Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	18
Rare bird documentation form for Western Sandpiper at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-09-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Western Sandpipers at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 1, 1991.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956- Pinkston, Daniel P.	Western Sandpiper	Sand Point	Sand Point on Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston and Daniel Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Some 30+ Semipalmated Sandpipers observed in same area simultaneously: Less robust and proportionately shorter-legged, bills clearly the shorter in all individuals with less distinct or no droop at tip, cold grayish coloration with no hint of rust in scapulars or crown. Sanderling larger with proportionately shorter bill, always shows dark bend of wing in basic plumage. Basic-plumaged Dunlin comparable in size to Pectoral Sandpiper with more substantial and drooped bill, gray wash across entire breast. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18
Rare bird documentation for Western Sandpiper at Roberts Creek area in Red Rock Reservoir, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-09-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for a Western Sandpiper at Roberts Creek area in Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on September 27, 1987.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Western Sandpiper	Roberts Creek	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion co.-Roberts Creek area	feeding with other shorebirds on muddy area	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bart Ballard. \| Elimination of similar species: The long, drooped bill, rufous scapulars, and feeding method rules out Semipalmated Sandpiper and other peeps. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:26:00/14:56:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18
Rare bird documentation form for Western Sandpiper at east of Ames, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Western Sandpipers east of Ames in Story County, IA on September 30, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Western Sandpiper	Ames	3 miles e. of Ames, Story Co.	flooded field	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Paul Martsching. \| Elimination of similar species: The rusty scapulars and long, dropped bills eliminate Semipalmated Sandpiper. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the late afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18
Rare bird documentation form for Western Sandpiper east of Colo, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-05-14	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Sandpiper east of Colo in Story County, IA on May 14, 1986.	Martsching, Paul	Western Sandpiper	Colo	pothole one mile east of Colo, Iowa (on old highway 30)	pothole in plowed field	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Sandpiper article in American Birds shows both Semipalm and Western with spooned bills and partial webbing between toes, but Semipalms bill is shorter and doesn't droop at end (except in extreme cases with same Semipalm females) and in any case doesn't have the orangish feathers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:10:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18
Rare bird documentation form for Western Sandpiper at Bays Branch in 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1986-05-03	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Sandpiper at Bays Branch, IA on May 3, 1986.	Myers, Robert K.	Western Sandpiper	Bays Branch State Wildlife Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18
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 Western Sandpiper at Sioux-Prome Lagoons in Sioux Center, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-08-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Sandpiper at Sioux-Prome Lagoons in Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on August 19, 1983.	Brand, Gordon James	Western Sandpiper	Sioux Center	Sioux-Prome Lagoons, Sioux Center	aerobic waste treatment lagoons with exposed mudflats	The documentation form by Gordon Brand is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tina Van Dyke. \| Elimination of similar species: Noted in the above description. Also I had been daily observing the shorebirds and so could quickly note the difference. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/13:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18
Rare bird documentation form for Western Sandpiper at Cone Marsh, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-08-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Sandpiper at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on August 2, 1980.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Western Sandpiper	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co Iowa	mud flat at marsh near long dike at Cone M.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Semipalmated and Pectoral in same field, least 10 ft. away, but had yellow-leg, dirty brown back + bib. Semipalmated had short uniform bill, overall gray with no detail in back feathers, gray bib, no eyeline. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:50:00/17:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18
Rare bird documentation form for Western Sandpiper at Babcock Lake in unknown year	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for four Western Sandpipers at Babcock Lake in Johnson County, IA on September 17, unknown year.	Newlon, Michael C.	Western Sandpiper	Babcock Access				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18
Why keep bird records?	Lecture notes	Bird surveys Bird watching Ornithology--Methodology	1947-05-10	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Lecture notes presented May 10, 1947. Includes the paper "The Use of bird records." These papers were used for a presentation given at the 1947 annual meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union and describe why bird records are kept, announces the launch of the periodical "Audubon field notes" and establishes deadlines for when field notes should be submitted for each season.	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996		Cedar Falls Iowa				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	9	18
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding fall migration, 1976	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Trapping	1976-12-10	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall migration report contributed by Gladys Black in a letter to Nicholas S. Halmi, December 10, 1976. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of fall 1976.	Black, Gladys	Snow Bunting Snowy Owl Red-breasted Nuthatch Hairy Woodpecker	Des Moines Iowa Mount Vernon Fort Madison Beaman				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	18
Red Rock fall migration, 1976	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1976-08-01	1976-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall migration report for Red Rock, Iowa contributed by Gladys Black. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1976.	Black, Gladys		Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	18
Richard Jule Hollis letter to Hank Zaletel regarding setting up a Bird Hotline, May 27, 1981	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-05-27	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Richard Jule Hollis letter to Hank Zaletel regarding progress made in setting up a Bird Hotline in Iowa. The letter includes a short paragraph on his recent bird sightings such as seeing a Bewick's Wren at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, Iowa. The hotline is later known as the Iowa Birdline.	Hollis, Richard Jule	Bewick's Wren	Hickory Hill Park Iowa City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at the Trickle Slough Area of Big Spirit Lake, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-10-13	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a California Gull at the Trickle Slough Area of Big Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on October 13, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	California Gull	Trickle Slough Area	Trickle Slough Area of Big Spirit Lake	Natural lake with point of land	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Thayer's Gull - head shape, bill size and leg color \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:40:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Red Rock Lake, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-10-05	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a California Gull at Red Rock Lake in Marion County, IA on October 5 to November 4, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation submitted to the committee.	Brees, Aaron	California Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock, Marion Co.		The documentation form by Aaron Brees is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] - larger than Ring-billed Gulls [...] - smaller than Herring Gulls - all first year Herrings have 75-100% dark bills - Herrings are thicker, bulkier - California sits more buoyantly on the water with tail and wingtips sitting much higher off the water	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-06-16	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at the southeastern corner of Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on June 16, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, sight record, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Huser, Bill F.	Laughing Gull	Black Hawk Lake	spoil area SE of Blackhawk Lake, Sac County, IA	shallow water and sandflats	The documentation form by Bill Huser forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Rob Thelen and Peter Ernzen were submitted. Other observers include Jerry Probst. \| Elimination of similar species: the black head eliminated most gulls. Size, and other features, eliminated Little and Bonaparte's Gulls. Size, bill size, leg color and lack of white on primaries eliminated Franklin's Gulls. Common Black-headed Gulls were eliminated by the black, not brown, hood, black legs and lack of white on dorsal wing. Sabine's was eliminated by the bill color, size and lack of white on dorsal wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 08:00:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Runnells Area, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-08-17	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area in Marion County, IA on August 17, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a photograph, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Red Rock Wildlife Area	Runnells W.A., Marion Co., IA	large lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ray Cummins was submitted later. Other observers include Jim Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of size, brown coloration, and bill and leg color eliminated other gull species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-10	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on May 10, 1996. Includes one record review document with votes, a photograph, correspondence about bird sighting, an Iowa Bird Life Article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	resting on beach with other gulls	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was clearly one of the "hooded" gulls. The combination of size, mantle color, and upperwing pattern eliminates all of the hooded gulls except for Franklin's Gull. The larger size, less obvious white eye crescents, larger and longer bill, and extensively dark tips to the underwings eliminated Franklin's Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/13:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing 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 Laughing Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area in Marion County, IA on September 3, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Red Rock Wildlife Area	1 mi e. of Swan, Marion Co. (Runnells W.A.)	shallow pool of water	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Sinclair and Thomas H. Kent were submitted. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: The only species this bird could be confused with was Franklin's Gull. The larger size, bill size, and head and wing patterns all eliminated Franklin's Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/12:24:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Letter to Iowa Ornithologists' Union members regarding an Iowa Birdline	Correspondence	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Citizen science	1981-09-01	1981-09-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter to Iowa Ornithologists' Union members regarding a working proposal for an Iowa Birdline (phoneline). The letter includes a survey to gather information in order to set up the Birdline.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Hollis, Richard Jule		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Iowa Birdline information provided to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Administrative records	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Citizen science	1981-01-01	1981-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The Iowa Birdline information sheet provided to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. The document includes the first year operating expenses and subsequent years. It also includes a sample message for reporting.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Letter to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union regarding setting up a Birdline	Correspondence	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Citizen science	1981-06-01	1981-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union announcing a proposal to set up a Birdline. Includes advantages of using a phone number (Birdline) for members to call to report bird sightings. The letter is also asking members to contribute money towards the cost of set up.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Hollis, Richard Jule		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Richard Jule Hollis letter to Hank Zaletel regarding the Iowa Birdline, December 17, 1981	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Counting Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Richard Jule Hollis letter to Hank Zaletel announcing that the Iowa Birdline is now in operation. The letter includes directions on how to use the Iowa Birdline. This letter was sent to Hank Zaletel in advance of sending a letter to all members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Hollis, Richard Jule		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Letter to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union announcing the Iowa Birdline is now in operation, December 1981	Correspondence	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Citizen science	1981-12-01	1981-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union announcing the Iowa Birdline is now in operation. A handwritten note by Richard Jule Hollis at the bottom of letter thanks Hank Zaletel for all his help.	Bendorf, Carl J. Hollis, Richard Jule		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18