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

Iowa RBA, January 26, 1998	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-01-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email for the Iowa RBA for January 26, 1998. Highlights include Snowy Owl, Varied Thrush, Glaucous Gull, Thayer's Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Eurasian Collared Dove. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Ferruginous Hawk Thayer's Gull Varied Thrush Eurasian Collared Dove White-winged Crossbill Snowy Owl Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Pileated Woodpecker	Cerro Gordo County Fort Defiance State Park Grinnell Lock and Dam 15 West Branch Fairmont Cemetery				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie at Loess Hills in northwest Plymouth County, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-24	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for three Black-billed Magpies at Loess Hills in northwest Plymouth County, IA on January 24, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Smith, Brian L.	Black-billed Magpie	Plymouth County	Northwest Plymouth County	Loess Hills (prairie)	The documentation form by Brian L. Smith is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Mike Martin. \| Elimination of similar species: nothing similar w/ long tail + white wing patches.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Iowa RBA, January 19, 1998	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-01-19	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email for the Iowa RBA for January 19, 1998. Highlights include Varied Thrush, Dickcissel, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Carolina Wren and Winter Wren. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Varied Thrush Carolina Wren Eurasian Collared Dove White-winged Crossbill Dickcissel Eurasian Tree Sparrow Fox Sparrow Golden-crowned Kinglet Winter Wren	Burlington Dickinson County Grinnell Lake Darling State Park Lake Park Mason City Muscatine West Branch Clinton County Dankwardt Memorial Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Three-toed Woodpecker north of Iowa City, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-13	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Three-toed Woodpecker north of Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 13, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thompson, Joan	Three-toed Woodpecker	Iowa City	14 Woodland Heights North of Iowa City IA, off N Dubuque St, off Stewart Road	suet feeder in heavily wooded lot with much woodpecker activity of all common Iowa species.	The documentation form by Joan Thompson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I have not seen any similar species. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	29
Iowa RBA, January 12, 1998	Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-01-12	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa RBA for January 12, 1998. Highlights include Lesser Black-backed Gull, Glaucous Gull, and Thayer's Gull.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull Mute Swan White-winged Crossbill Trumpeter Swan Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Hermit Thrush Gray Catbird Yellow-rumped Warbler	Decorah Lake Red Rock Mason City White Wildlife Area Fraser Carroll City Cemetery Springfield Church				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Summer Tanager at Iowa City, 1998	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-11	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Summer Tanager at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 11, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo, an article in Field Notes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an e-mail from Mary E. Noble to Jim Fuller, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Summer Tanager	Iowa City	315 S. 7th Ave. Iowa City, Iowa	Urban area, small back yard with several feeders and brush cover.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted later. Other observers include Mary Noble and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: The overall coloration and plainness indicate a female or immature bird. The lack of prominent gray in the auriculars and light bill color argue against Hepatic Tanager. The bill length, head shape, and relative paleness of the wings favor Summer Tanager over Scarlet Tanager. The lack of prominent wing bars appears to exclude Western Tanager. The apparent lack of orange tint suggest a bird from the West or perhaps an immature. The Summer Tanager photographed at Pleasant Valley in Scott County on 2 December 1990 was more orange-yellow than the Iowa City bird. The latest Midwest record for Scarlet Tanager in books of these states was 26 Nov in Minnesota. There are a few winter records of Summer Tanager: in Tennessee (4) 5, 18, 21 Dec and 2 Feb-15 Mar; in Michigan 1 Dec; in Missouri 3-10 Jan 1987. There are also winter records from Florida and the Texas Coast. This does not constitute an exhaustive search for winter records. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/08:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	28
Iowa RBA, January 5, 1998	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-01-05	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email for the Iowa RBA for January 5, 1998. Highlights include Prairie Falcon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Glaucous Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Thayer's Gull.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Prairie Falcon Thayer's Gull Carolina Wren Eurasian Collared Dove White-winged Crossbill Merlin Lesser Black-backed Gull Eurasian Tree Sparrow Black-crowned Night Heron Glaucous Gull	Cedar Lake Grinnell Iowa City Marshalltown Red Rock Dam Saylorville Lake Wanata State Park Aspen Grove Cemetery Graceland Park Cemetery				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
Iowa RBA, January 4, 1998	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-01-04	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email for the Iowa RBA for January 4, 1998. Highlights include Spotted Towhee, Thayer's Gull and Long-tailed Duck. Includes updates for January 6, 1998 and January 7, 1998.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull Rusty Blackbird Brown Thrasher Long-tailed Duck Trumpeter Swan Merlin Spotted Towhee Tundra Swan	Clive Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area Iowa City Polk County Red Rock Dam Sioux Center Boone County Fairfield Swan Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-crowned Night-Heron at Cedar Lake, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-02	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-crowned Night-Heron at Cedar Lake in Linn County, IA on January 2, 1998. Includes one record review document with votes and a documentation form.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black-crowned Night Heron	Cedar Lake	Cedar Lake, Cedar Rapis, Linn Co., IA	Large round backwater lake kept open by output from Quaker Oats Plant. The lake was half frozen two days ago, but two warm days made it ice free.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The short legs and large rounded head with thick neck are the main features that distinguish immature Black-crowned from Yellow-crowned Night-Herons. The round white dots on the upper wing are supposed to be more prominent on the Black-crowned, but this is difficult for me to judge. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:05:00/13:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Marsh Wren at Brown's Lake in Woodbury County, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-01	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Marsh Wrens at Brown's Lake in Woodbury County, IA on January 1, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Marsh Wren	Browns Lake	Brown's L., Woodbury Co., IA	marsh with open water	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Both birds were clearly wrens. I would have been very surprised if they had been any wren species other than Marsh or Sedge in this habitat. The combination of a white eyeline, dark mantle with thin white stripes, white throat and breast, and dark crown eliminated other wrens, especially Sedge Wren. I also recognized the chip note as that of a Marsh Wren. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/08:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	2
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Virginia Rail at Brown's Lake in Woodbury County, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-01	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Virginia Rail at Brown's Lake in Woodbury County, IA on January 1, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Virginia Rail	Browns Lake	Brown's L., Woodbury Co., IA	marsh with open water	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 much too small to be a King Rail. Bill shape and pattern on the underparts eliminated Sora, the only other likely species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:23:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	13
Iowa RBA, December 29, 1997	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1997-12-29	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email of the Iowa RBA update for December 29, 1997. Highlights of the update include sightings of a Ross's Gull, a Prairie Falcon, Common Redpolls, White-winged Crossbills, and several additional species of Gulls. Also included are handwritten notes for the next week's update with sightings of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Snowy Owls, and Northern Saw-whet Owls.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, Charles R.	Prairie Falcon Thayer's Gull Ross's Gull Rusty Blackbird American White Pelican White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Snowy Owl Long-tailed Duck Trumpeter Swan Lesser Black-backed Gull Marsh Wren Glaucous Gull Northern Saw-whet Owl Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Northern Shrike	Bettendorf Boone Clive Colo Council Bluffs Dubuque Lake Manawa State Park Lock and Dam 11 Lock and Dam Number 18 Nevada Red Rock Dam Woodbury County Black Hawk Lake Wright County Fort Madison Jewell Carroll Aurelia Aspen Grove Cemetery Monroe Macbride Nature Recreation Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	43	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Marsh Wren at New Lake, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-27	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for three Marsh Wrens at New Lake in Woodbury County, IA on December 27, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Huser, Bill F.	Marsh Wren	New Lake	New Lake, Woodbury County, IA	Cattail marsh with open water	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Shawn Pfautsch. \| Elimination of similar species: Call note and appearance indicated a wren. White supercilliary eliminated House Wren and Winter Wren. Black cap eliminated those two plus Carolina and Bewick's Wren. The lack of crown streaking eliminated Sedge Wren. Habitat was a strong indicator of Marsh Wren and a detraction from all others except, perhaps, a Sedge Wren. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	2
Iowa RBA, December 22, 1997	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Piciformes \| Woodpeckers and allies Dial-a-message telephone calls	1997-12-22	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email of the Iowa RBA update for December 22, 1997. Highlights of the update include observations of several outstanding birds from seven Christmas Bird Counts held around the state. The best birds discovered on the counts were several species of Gulls and Woodpeckers as well as White-winged Crossbills, Long-tailed Ducks, and Common Redpolls. Also included are handwritten notes for the next week's update with sightings of Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Merlin, and Surf Scoter.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Prairie Falcon Thayer's Gull Brewer's Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Short-eared Owl American White Pelican Brown Thrasher Franklin's Gull White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Long-tailed Duck Trumpeter Swan Merlin Mew Gull Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Marsh Wren Le Conte's Sparrow Common Loon Black-crowned Night Heron Surf Scoter Ruddy Duck Glaucous Gull Ruby-crowned Kinglet Yellow-rumped Warbler Lincoln's Sparrow Northern Shrike	Atlantic Burlington Clive George Wyth Memorial State Park Iowa City Keokuk Nevada Rathbun Lake Red Rock Dam Saylorville Lake Sioux City Spirit Lake West Okoboji Lake Aspen Grove Cemetery Medicine Creek Wildlife Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	43	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-legged Kittiwake in Waterloo, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-21	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-legged Kittiwake in Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on December 21, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Black-legged Kittiwake	Waterloo	On South Side of Cedar River between Cedar Falls and Waterloo opposite George Wyth S.P.	Open river front	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Al Brown, Opal Uher, Maurice Hanson, Tom Stone, and Ruby Hanson. \| Elimination of similar species: No other adult gull has this combination of fieldmarks, all yellow bill, black legs, black outer primaries, smudge on back of head onto the nape, black eyes, rest of body all white, white slightly forked tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:10:00/13:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Marsh Wren at Brenton Slough, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-21	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Marsh Wren at Brenton Slough in Dallas County, IA on December 21, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Marsh Wren	Brenton Slough	Brenton Slough, Dallas Co.	cattail marsh	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Rick Trieff. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	2
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Le Conte's Sparrow at Brenton Slough, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-21	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Le Conte's Sparrow at Brenton Slough in Polk County, IA on December 21, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Trieff, Richard	Le Conte's Sparrow	Brenton Slough	Brenton Slough - west of Granger Iowa	rolling short grass field adjacent to pothole depression	The documentation form by Richard Trieff forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Sinclair was submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: Grasshopper sparrow - The bird I observed did not give the flat head appearance of a Grasshopper sparrow, had more distinctly striped appearance on its crown than a Grasshopper sparrow, and did not display the shy, secretive behavior of a Grasshopper sparrow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:30:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	37
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-21	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam in Marion County, IA on December 21, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kenne, Matthew C.	Iceland Gull	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Res, Marion Co.	spillway below Red Rock Res.	The documentation form by Matt Kenne is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Glaucous Gull larger with bicolored bill. Thayer's has noticeable tail band, overall color usually darker, and upper side of primaries darker, especially the tips. Secondary bar not present. \| The original documentation form event occurred periodically from 08:00:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-crowned Night-Heron at Polk City, 1997	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-21	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-crowned Night-Heron at Polk City Wildlife Area in Polk County, IA on December 21, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Black-crowned Night Heron	Polk City Wildlife Area	Polk City Wildlife Area, Polk Co., IA		The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore was submitted later. Other observers include Aaron Brees and Phil Walsh. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was eliminated by the boldness of the markings on both the upper and underparts of the body and by the leg extension in flight. \| The documentation form event occurred at approximately 09:30:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-20	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mew Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam in Marion County, IA on December 20, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Mew Gull	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	large reservoir	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Michael D. Overton was submitted. Other observers include Maridel Jackson, Ann Johnson, Aaron Brees, Gordon Brand, and many other unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The wing pattern, size, and lack of black marks on the face eliminated any of the smaller gulls (i.e. Bonaparte's). The small size and smaller bill size eliminated California Gull. Ring-billed Gull was eliminated on the basis of the darker mantle and upperwings, large, dark eye, and bill color and shape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eastern Phoebe east of Lost Nation, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-19	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Eastern Phoebe east of Lost Nation in Clinton County, IA on December 19, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dietrich, Renee	Eastern Phoebe	Lost Nation	Five miles East of Lost Nation	Woodland	The documentation form by Renee Dietrich is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Karen Brix and Gloria Friederichsen. \| Elimination of similar species: Due to the lack of a black cap the chicadee [sic] was eliminated. Size of the bird also eliminated this possibility as well as coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	36
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-legged Kittiwake in Red Rock Dam, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-17	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-legged Kittiwake in Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on December 17, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Black-legged Kittiwake	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Reservoir Dam (Marion County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Michael D. Overton was submitted. Other observers include Chuck Fuller, Chris Fuller, Aaron Brees, Bob Domalgoski, Mark Proescholdt, Janice Walter, Chris Wood, Curt Nelson, and numerous unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Winter adult Franklin's Gull has a black bill, darker mantle, and lacks the obvious dark markings behind the eye and on the nape. Ring-billed Gull has more massive bill with black ring, yellow legs, yellow eye, and streaking on neck and head. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:45:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam, 1997	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-17	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam in Marion County, IA on December 17, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Iceland Gull	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Reservoir - (Marion Co.)	Below the dam - churning waters	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Michael D. Overton and Stephen J. Dinsmore were submitted. Other observers include Kay Niyo, Curt Nelson, Jan Walter, Chris Wood, and Jim Sandrock. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] We saw this gull twice in our viewing time and debated if it was an adult Kumlien's Iceland Gull or an adult Thayer's Gull. It was an adult Kumlien's Iceland Gull because a Thayer's Gull has much more blackish coloration at the primary tips and more dark coloration at the primary tips than the Kumlien's which has grayish markings on the primary tips and less dark-colored markings at the primary tips overall. Also, a Kumlien's Iceland Gull shows the almost white wing tips like we saw with a little grayish markings on some primary tips. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Heard on the Birdline, December 15, 1997-March 15, 1998	Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching Laridae \| Gulls and Terns Rare birds Dial-a-message telephone calls	1997-12-15	1998-03-15	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Summary of the Iowa Birdline update for December 15, 1997-March 15, 1998. Highlights of the update include sightings of two Ross's Gulls, an adult Black-legged Kittiwake, and seven different Snowy Owl observations in December. Very unusual reports of a Common Raven and a Sprague's Pipit were reported in February. Other interesting observations were of a mid-winter sighting of a Summer Tanager in January and February as well as a continued winter presence of White-winged Crossbills.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Prairie Falcon Ross's Gull Summer Tanager Sprague's Pipit Varied Thrush White-winged Crossbill Snowy Owl Long-tailed Duck Black-legged Kittiwake Common Raven Hoary Redpoll Northern Saw-whet Owl	Decorah Dickinson County Dubuque Hamilton County Iowa City Lake Red Rock Lake Manawa Red Rock Dam Scott County Sioux City West Branch Wright County Fort Madison O'Brien County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	40	18
Iowa RBA, December 15, 1997	Field notes	Bird watching Emberizidae \| Sparrows Dial-a-message telephone calls	1997-12-15	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Iowa RBA update for December 15, 1997. Highlights of the update include two outstanding birds, a second state record Ross's Gull and Clark's Grebe. Other sightings of note include a Black-legged Kittiwake, a Varied Thrush, a Western Grebe, and White-winged Crossbills. Also included are handwritten notes for the next week's update with sightings of a Prairie Falcon and Short-eared Owls.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-shouldered Hawk Prairie Falcon Thayer's Gull Ross's Gull Clark's Grebe Varied Thrush Short-eared Owl White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Western Grebe Ross' Goose Trumpeter Swan Northern Goshawk California Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Ringed Turtle-Dove Canada Goose Red Crossbill	Ames Elk Rock State Park Ida Grove Jester Park Lake Red Rock Marion Norwalk Rathbun Dam Red Rock Dam Saylorville Lake Sioux City West Okoboji Lake Diamond Lake Garner Mystic Aspen Grove Cemetery Cherry Glen Recreation Area Marble Beach State Recreation Area Polk City Wildlife Area Shell Rock River Greenbelt Medicine Creek Wildlife Area Washburn				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	43	6