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 Prairie Falcon southeast of Kelley, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1986-12-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon southeast of Kelley in Story County, IA on December 16, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Prairie Falcon	Kelley	2 mi. s and 1 mi. e of Kelly [sic], Story Co.	perched in a tree over a large, grassy field	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 tail and pointed wings make the bird a falcon of some sort. The size eliminates Merlin and Am. Kestrel. The black axillaries eliminate Peregrine Falcon and Gyrfalcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:07:00/11:13:00 on December 16 and 08:10:00/08:23:00 on December 17.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake in 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1984-05-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on April 14, 1984.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Red-necked Grebe	Little Wall Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Big Spirit Lake, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1995-10-06	1995-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Surf Scoters at Big Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on October 6, 1995.	Thelen, Ed	Surf Scoter	Spirit Lake	West side of Big Spirit Lake in Dickinson County	Glacial Lake	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White-winged Scoter - how white-wing patch. Surf Scoter - white on side of head - these birds has 2 patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Davenport, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1992-12-20	1993-01-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 20, 1992.	Sowl, LeRoy W.	Surf Scoter	Davenport	I-280 Bridge, Davenport, IA	Miss. River	The documentation form by LeRoy W. Sowl is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Bryant and Dan Dorrance. \| Elimination of similar species: other scoters No white wing patch, front white facial patch had a vertical orientation and more bare bill was showing than on a white-wing. It did not have the facial pattern of a Black Scoter. Bill did not have the bump. Head not round like Black Scoter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Green Island Wildlife Area, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1996-05-13	1996-05-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Green Island Wildlife Area in Jackson County, IA on May 13, 1996.	Petersen, Peter C.	Surf Scoter	Green Island Wildlife Management Area	Green Island W.A. - Jackson Co.	Marsh- pond area diked from river	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian Blevins and Don Moeller. \| Elimination of similar species: No whit [sic] on wing, eliminating wh-wg. Scoter. White much to limited for Black Scoter, also wings uniformly dark. Too large for Harlequin Duck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:15:00/06:16:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Jester Park, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1990-11-10	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Jester Park in Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 10, 1990.	Johnson, Ann	Surf Scoter	Jester Park	Jester Park, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	Open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bery Engrebretsen, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Pam Allen, Reid Allen, and others from the Des Moines Audubon. \| Elimination of similar species: Most ducks were eliminated by the angle/slope of the head and bill and the size of the bill. Although there was a similarity of head profile to the Common Eider, the facial spots eliminated any eider. Black Scoter would have a more rounded head with a uniform lighter cheek area as opposed to the spots on this bird. White-winged Scoter should have shown more rounded angle form the top of the head to the bill, generally would have less distinct facial spots, and definitely would have had white wing patches when the bird raised its wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:50:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Winterfeld Park, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1998-12-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Winterfeld Park in Sioux County, IA on December 2, 1998.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Surf Scoter	Winterfeld Boat and Fish Area	Winterfeld Park along the north side of Rock Valley in Sioux County		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I rule out any possible confusions, as follows: - White-winged Scoter has white in the wing and lacks sharp contrast between crown and face - Black Scoter has rounded forehead and lacks pale head patches - Ruddy Duck is smaller, has differently shaped bill and dark line across cheek - Female Scaups have white in the wing, differently shaped white patch at base of bill, and little contrast between crown and face. \| The original documentation form event occurred for around 20 minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Lake Anita State Park in 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1981-11-06	1981-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four White-winged Scoters at Lake Anita State Park in Cass County, IA on November 6, 1981.	Hensley, R. Craig	White-winged Scoter	Lake Anita State Park	Lake Anita State Park, one mile south of Anita, Iowa	Large, open lake	The documentation form by R. Craig Hensley is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The surf scoter and black scoter are similar. However, the specimans [sic] that I observed had the white wing patch that these two species do not have. In addition, two of the birds seen had white about their eyes, as neither of the other two have. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:20:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Little Wall Lake, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1979-11-10	1979-11-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three White-winged Scoters at Little Wall lake in Hamilton County, IA on November 10, 1979.	Dinsmore, James J.	White-winged Scoter	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake, Hamilton Co., IA	open water of freshwater lake	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark and Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Black Scoter- these birds had white wing patches Surf Scoter- no evidence of white patch on back of head, also wing patches Double-crested Cormorant-wing patches, didn't hold bill up like cormorants do, coloration on head not like cormorant. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Dam, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1982-11-15	1982-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two White-winged Scoters at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on November 15, 1982.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	White-winged Scoter	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Dam, Polk Co., Iowa	Larger Reservoir, surrounded by wooded hills.	The documentation form by Joseph P. Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The uniform dark brown, with white eye and orange bill separates the birds from other two scoters. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/13:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Reservoir Dam, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1982-04-08	1982-04-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Reservoir Dam in Polk County, IA on April 8, 1982.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	White-winged Scoter	Saylorville Dam	By Saylorville Reservoir Dam, Polk Co., Iowa	Open Reservoir above dam.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other large species of Duck female is so uniformly brown with a white speculum. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rathbun Christmas Count - December 19, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1998-12-19	1998-12-20	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Details for several rare species seen at the Christmas Bird Count including the Yellow-rumped Warbler in the Rathbun area in Appanoose County, IA on December 19, 1998, documented by Bill Heusinkveld.	Heusinkveld, Bill	Blue-winged Teal Red-breasted Merganser Trumpeter Swan Black-bellied Plover Yellow-rumped Warbler Bonaparte's Gull	Rathbun Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	26
Rathbun Christmas Count - December 19, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1988-12-19	1988-12-20	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Details for several rare species seen at the Christmas Bird Count including Black-bellied Plover at Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County, IA on December 19, 1998, documented by Bill Heusinkveld.	Heusinkveld, Bill	Blue-winged Teal Red-breasted Merganser Trumpeter Swan Black-bellied Plover Yellow-rumped Warbler Bonaparte's Gull	Rathbun Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	2
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk west of Conesville, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-04-29	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk west of Conesville on edge of Louisa and Muscatine County, IA on April 29, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Ferruginous Hawk	Conesville	1 mi. W. conesville edge of Muscatine and Louise Cos., IA	cultivated fields	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian, Corey, and Lewis Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Rough-legged hawk - underwing would show more dark in the underwing coverts, well defined tail band. Kriders Red-tail - has a very light head. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:45:00/13:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Jaeger species at Lake Manawa, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-09-24	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Jaeger species bird at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, Iowa in September 24, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Jaegers	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa		The documentation form by Babs and Loren Padelford is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] We saw a gull like bird sitting on the water. We identified it as a jaeger by the all brown coloration and black, hooked bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted about a minute at an undisclosed time.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Lake Icaria, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-11-21	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Lake Icaria in Adams County, IA on November 21, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pacific Loon	Lake Icaria	Lake Icaria, Adams Co.	large lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include William R. Clark. \| Elimination of similar species: The size, neck pattern, bill shape, and chinstrap eliminate other species of loons. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-06	1994-02-05	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 6, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a request of the reconsideration of sight records, and a documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Near Rock rip-rap off shore from Cherry Glen, Saylorville Res., Polk Co. Open water near cove.	Open water near cove	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-throated and Common Loon does not have tri-toned neck pattern as this bird had. Red-throated also has slightly upturned bill, this bird did not. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/12:05:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Prairie Falcon east of Sioux City, 1981	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-19	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Falcon east of Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on December 19, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee. The documentation form is related to field notes detailing other sightings https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/8756/view	Duecker, Steve	Prairie Falcon	Sioux City	Aprox [sic] 6 miles east of Sioux City, HY. 141	Bluffs on North Flat Land on South of HY.	The documentation form by Steve Duecker is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Documentation form was completed by Robert Nicholson. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 07:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	6
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Purple Gallinule north of Burlington, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-06-21	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Purple Gallinule north of Burlington in Des Moines County, IA on June 21, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Purple Gallinule	Burlington	Just north of Burlington in Des Moines County, Iowa	Recently flooded farm pond with emergent vegetation, dead trees and shrubs.	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, and Diane Porter were submitted later. Other observers include Elizabeth Chrstiansen, Chuck Fuller, Jane Fuller, Gary Wagner, Cal Knight, and Michael Porter. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Moorhen slate-colored, not purple, and has red, not blue frontal shield. This bird was pretty unmistakable. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/08:00:00 on June 21, 1988 and 13:30:00/14:00:00 on June 28, 1988.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red-throated Loon at Pleasant Creek Lake, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-04-13	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn County, IA on April 13, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, a photo and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Red-throated Loon	Pleasant Creek State Park	Pleasant Creek Recreation Area (Linn County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Chris Edwards were submitted later. Other observers include John Daniel, Ken Lowder, and Dale Fye. \| Elimination of similar species: The other smaller loon, Pacific has darker gray upperparts and minimal white marks on the back, gray surrounding the eye, a straight bill, black eye, a more rounded top of the head, and often displays a chin strap, all features which differ from Red-throated Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:37:00/14:54:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sandhill Crane south of Boone, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-04-11	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of 205-6 Sandhill Cranes south of Boone in Boone County, IA on April 11, 1980 to April 19, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Newhouse, David A.	Sandhill Crane	Boone	Harold Adams field near Wildl. Res. Sta., 4 mi S of Boone(lat 4159/Long 9352)	General: Prairie/Riparian-upland forest ecotone Specific: corn stubble field near oak-hickory timber	The documentation form by David A. Newhouse is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bruce Ehresman and Gary Silver. \| Elimination of similar species: Great blue heron is much smaller, different habitat, doesn't fly with neck extended. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the mornings and evening 11 through 19 April 1980.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	16
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Gray's Lake, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-11-30	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Thayer's Gull at Gray's Lake in Polk County, IA on November 30, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Thayer's Gull	Grays Lake	Gray's Lake, Des Moines, Polk County, IA	Lake with some open water	The documentation form by Bob Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer includes Mary Michelle Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring much more "contrasty", including dark secondary bar, dark tail band, very dark towards ends of primaries. This bird was smaller than 1st wither [sic] Herring, as well as paler brown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow-billed Loon at Clear Lake, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-11-13	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Yellow-billed Loon at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on November 13, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walter, Janice L.	Yellow-billed Loon	Clear Lake	West end of Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo Co. Ia off Harbor Inn parking lot	Sheltered, shallow end of large lake	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Walter and Curt Nelson. \| Elimination of similar species: Large bill, thicker at the base, and painted, not hooked at the tip eliminated immature Double-crested Cormorant. Larger size, bill shape and absence of white crescent from white chin to behind eye eliminated winter plumage Red-necked Grebe. Larger size and bill size, shape, and color eliminated winter plumage Pacific and Red-throated Loons. Heavy yellow bill, head paler than back, narrow area of crown and nape color, and brown appearance eliminated Common Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	8
Records Committe review for rare bird sighting for Whimbrel at Bjorkboda Marsh, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-10-01	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Whimbrel at Bjorkboda Marsh in Hamilton County, IA on October 1, 1995. Includes one record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Jackson, Maridel	Whimbrel	Bjorkboda Marsh	Bjorkboda Marsh in Hamilton Co.		The documentation form by Maridel Jackson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Barb Bettis. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It too landed in the shallow water and muddy shore area and as I scoped it dettermined it had to be a whimbrel. I have seen them only in Texas, but this bird could not have been anything else. It was slightly larger than the willet or the greater yellow legs and it had a obvious white eyestripe and dark legs. It's bill was not nearly as long a long billed curlew, but was obviously very decurved. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	23
Records Committee review for Anhinga at Lake Darling State Park, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-09-17	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Anhinga at Lake Darling State Park in Washington County, IA on September 17, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in the Iowa Bird Life, an article from the Loon, correspondence by mail and e-mail, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Anhinga	Lake Darling State Park	Lake Darling S.P., Washington Co.	soaring high over lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cormorants are the only birds likely to be confused with an Anhinga. I have seen thousands of Double-crested Cormorants and I have never seen one soar in this manner. Also, a Double-created Cormorant has a neck which is always longer than the tail (in flight) and looks conspicuously large-headed and thick-necked when seen overhead. Neotropic Cormorant is much smaller and, although it is longer-tailed than a Double-crested, the tail is still shorter than the neck in flight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:42:00/16:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	14