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 House Finch at Iowa City, 1986	Field notes	Bird feeders Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-05-10	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a House Finch at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on May 10, 1986.	Hollis, Richard Jule	House Finch	Iowa City	Iowa City, Iowa	Suburbs - Niger [sic] feeder in Sycamore Tree	The documentation form by Richard Hollis is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Janet Hollis. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple Finch: lack of strong marking around face the pale mousey [sic] brown Rose b grosbeak: the above and size bill shape Pine Siskin - this bird showed no yellow Bill shaped wrong Pine Siskins' tails are very strongly notched Cassin's Finch. I am not familiar with this species, but from reveiwing [sic] the Field Guides it would appear to be ruled out by Bill Shape - if Cassin's really has bill as long as in Geog guide, I would have noted same. Tail of Cassins appears more notched than this bird Cassin's have more strongly marked head and the spots on Cassins the belly are darker + more distinct \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	82
Rare bird documentation form for Purple Finch at the Croton Unit at Shimek State Forest, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-08-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Purple Finch at the Croton Unit at Shimek State Forest in Lee County, IA on August 28, 1985.	Cecil, Robert I.	Purple Finch	Shimek State Forest Wildlife Management Area - Croton Unit	Croton Unit, Shimek State Forest, Lee County, Iowa	Open woodland, woodland edge	The documentation form by Robert I. Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: House Finch has gray/ brown cap, brown, not reddish back. House Finch also has streaks on sides. This bird had unstreaked sides. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/08:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	81
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-02-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Grosbeak at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines in Polk County, IA on February 15, 1985.	Fuller, James L	Pine Grosbeak	Glendale Cemetery	Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines	cemetery and yard edge	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Charles Fuller, Jane Fuller, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Size - not quite robin size + somewhat thinner than robin shape with long notched tail [...] Flight - seemed to fly "differently" - body held more vertical + more erratic than most birds. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:50:00 and 14:15:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Lamoni in 1984	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Rare birds	1984-11-08	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Grosbeak at Lamoni in Decatur County, IA on November 8, 1984.	Breshears, Joe	Pine Grosbeak	Lamoni				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Denver, 1984	Field notes	Bird feeders Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-02-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Grosbeak at Denver in Bremer County, IA on February 12, 1984.	Proescholdt, Beth	Pine Grosbeak	Denver	Denver, Bremer Co.	window feeder of Robert Wylder	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Proescholdt, Bob Myers, and Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: I don't think there is a similar species like the russet coloration \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:35:00/14:38:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Pine Grosbeaks at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 13, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Pine Grosbeak	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City	[illegible] open and tree edge with small stand of pine trees	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Staudt and Richard DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: none \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:40:00/08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Pine Grosbeaks at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 12, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Pine Grosbeak	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City, Johnson Co Iowa	General: on edge of small forested areas, mostly deciduous with some pine plantings. Specific: Hickory Hill is about 100 acres of undeveloped park land with a creek + several branches running through it. Forested and grassy area are interspersed.	The documentation form by Richard J. DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing else looks much like the female plumaged pine grosbreaks. Evening grosbeaks have larger beaks + shorter tails. Crossbills have crossed bills. Female purple finches lack wingband and the olive coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:12:00 and 09:40:00/09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Chris Reed card to Peter C. Petersen regarding Baltimore Oriole sighting, 1981	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds Meetings	1981-01-14	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Photocopied card detailing a Baltimore Oriole sighting at Fairport in Muscatine County, IA on January 14, 1981. It is a copy of https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/2323/view.	Reed, Chris	Baltimore Oriole	Fairport				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	79
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Wapello Township in Louisa County, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-04-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle at Wapello Township in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1992.	Ohde, Bill	Great-tailed Grackle	Wapello Township	SE 1/4 of section 19, T74N, R4W, Louisa County, Iowa	Rural farmstead on edge of large timber block. In tall (15') backyard shrubs.	The documentation form by Bill Ohde is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common grackle - this bird was nearly crow-sized, longer tailed, with the peculiar whistles and rattles. Boat-tailed grackle - song was wrong. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Nicholas S. Halmi letter to Vernon M. Kleen regarding birds sighted during May-July 1973	Correspondence Field notes	Bird populations Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Habitat Rare birds	1973-05-01	1973-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes from Nicholas S. Halmi describing birds sighted during May-July, 1973. This item was used as supporting documentation for American birds, spring 1973 report. This item was also used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of spring 1973.	Halmi, Nicholas S.		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	12
Letter from Janet Greer to Vernon M. Kleen reporting a Snowy Egret, May 22, 1974.	Correspondence Field notes	Bird populations Bird watching Birds--Behavior	1974-03-01	1974-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Detailed report of a Snowy Egret near Pacific Junction from Janet Greer to Vernon M. Kleen on May 22, 1974. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of spring 1974.	Greer, Janet	Snowy Egret	Pacific Junction				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	13
Letter and bird sighting checklist from Robert and Valerie Jessen to Vernon M. Kleen, spring migration 1974	Checklists Correspondence Field notes	Bird banding Bird populations Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Nests Falconiformes \| Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, Osprey, and Vultures	1974-03-01	1974-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter and accompanying checklist from Robert and Valerie Jessen to Vernon M. Kleen reporting birds banded and sighted near Oskaloosa. These items were used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of spring 1974.	Jessen, Robert Jessen, Valerie	Great Horned Owl White-winged Crossbill Barred Owl Chuck-will's-widow	Oskaloosa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	13
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing at MacLean Hall at University of Iowa, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-02-01	1976-02-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bohemian Waxwing at MacLean Hall at University of Iowa in Johnson County, IA on February 1, 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Bohemian Waxwing	MacLean Hall	near the southwest corner of the Physics Building on the University of Iowa Campus.		The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Its large size and large crest made the bird stand out. \| The original documentation form event lasted around three minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16
Rare bird documentation form for Harris' Sparrow at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1976-04-10	1976-04-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Harris' Sparrows at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on April 10, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Harris' Sparrow	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir Iowa City, Iowa 52240	woodlot with tall trees, weed patches, brush pile, in an area of fields and second-growth woods.	The documentation form by Michael C Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers are unidentified in the documentation form. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] large sparrow, built like a white-crown but larger, longer-tailed, posture less erect.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	64
Rare bird documentation form for LeConte's Sparrow at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for ten to twenty minimum LeConte's Sparrows at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Le Conte's Sparrow	Sand Point	Sand Point, on Coralville Resevoir [sic] n. of Iowa City IA.	V. extensive weedy flats (waist to head-high) on shore of resevoir [sic]	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: grey face patch on yellow face, yellow-orange breast, narrow white crown stripe rule out Henslow's, sharp-tail, grasshopper, Baird's sparrows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	58
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Sharp-tailed Sparrows at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Sand Point	Sand Point on Coralville Resevoir [sic], n. of Iowa City IA	extensive weedy flats - waist to head-high on shore of resevoir. [sic]	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol S. Newlon, Cal Knight, and Bernie Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: Crown-pattern rules out Henslows (lacks grey crown stripe) LeContes (has narrow white stripe), Grasshopper, Baird's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	59
Fern L. Tanner letter to Nicholas S. Halmi reporting the sighting of a Gray Jay, winter 1976-1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior	1976-12-01	1977-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A detailed sighting of a gray jay described by Fern L. Tanner in an incomplete letter to Nicholas S. Halmi. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of Winter 1976-1977.	Tanner, Fern L.	Blue Jay Gray Jay	Mason City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	19
Bird sighting of Ospreys at Lake Red Rock contributed by Jon Stravers, winter, 1976-1977	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Binoculars	1976-12-01	1977-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Bird sighting of Ospreys was contributed by Jon Stravers. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of winter 1976-1977.	Stravers, Jon	Bald Eagle Osprey Mallard	Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	19
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-24	1978-02-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Pine Grosbeaks at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines in Polk County, IA on January 24, 1978.	Mooney, Richard D., 1905-1997	Pine Grosbeak	Glendale Cemetery	Glendale Cemetary [sic]-50th St. & University Ave. Des Moines	Cemetary [sic] with numerous assorted evergreen trees and various other trees.	The documentation form by Richard D. Mooney is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pauline Mooney, Ruth Binsfeld, Woodward Brown, and Mary Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Evening Grosbeak eliminated by coloration. Purple Finch eliminated by size and coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-04	1978-05-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-throated Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on May 4, 1978.	Fredricks, Gary	Yellow-throated Warbler	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Iowa	General: open woods on edge of thick woods. Specific: found in hackberry tree (celtis occidentalis.)	The documentation form by Gary Frederick is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Magnolia Warbler - no white belley [sic] Blackburnian " - no yellow throat \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	28
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Credit Island Park in Davenport, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-13	1978-05-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Credit Island Park in Davenport in Scott County, IA on May 13, 1978.	Petersen, Peter C.	Yellow-throated Warbler	Credit Island Park	Credit Island Park, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa	General: Bottomland forest, understory cleared. Specific: dead tree (sp?), and oak just leafing out	The documentation form by Peter Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Elton Fawks. \| Elimination of similar species: written eve. of 5/13 -> [...] Blackburnian - no orange or yellow stripe through eye. No single, long wing bar Graces - This [arrow to "no yellow stripe"] also eliminates this species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	28
Rare bird documentation form for Hermit Thrush near Tiffin, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-16	1978-12-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hermit Thrush near Tiffin in Johnson County, IA on December 16, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Hermit Thrush	Tiffin	1/4 mile south of US Rte 6, 1 mi. west of Tiffen [sic], Johnson Co., Iowa	General: Small forested area on hilly terrain with some underbush. Woods cut by country road and interspersed with a few houses. Specific: Bushes growing at bottom of ditch alongside county road. Several of bushes contained berries that the bird was eating.	The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington, Mike Lewis-Beck, and Arline Lewis-Beck. \| Elimination of similar species: Other small brown thrushes do not have reddish-brown tail contrasting with brown back. Tail-pumping and white eye ring also unique to Hermit Thrush. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/08:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	9
Rare bird documentation form for Field Sparrow near Tiffin, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-16	1978-12-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Field Sparrow near Tiffin in Johnson County, IA on December 16, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Field Sparrow	Tiffin	~1/2 mi. s. of Tiffen [sic], Johnson Co., Ia. at Clear Creek Bridge	Creek bed with forested area to north and open field to south. Deep snow covered most of area. South-facing north slope of creek provided open grassy area as snow had mostly melted. Several song sparrows were in same area.	The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: The Tree Sparrow, usually abundant in winter around Iowa City, has a dark upper bill and lacks the white eye ring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:05:00/08:06:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	51
Rare bird documentation form for Townsend's Solitaire at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-02-03	1979-02-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Townsend's Solitaire at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon in O'Brien County, IA on February 3, 1979.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Townsend's Solitaire	East Lawn Cemetery	East Lawn cemetery, Sheldon (extreme western O'Brien Co.), Iowa. This cemetery covers an extensive area and is planted with many large evergreen, viz., spruce (mostly Norway Spruce), pine (Austrian Pine, I think), and a species of cedar or juniper (I am not sure of the species; it resembles the Red Cedar of the East somewhat, but has a more open crown); these junipers carry many blue berries.	among evergreen, moving from tree to tree, selecting mostly the juniper/cedar trees, see above: Location	The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: one who knows neither the Solitaire not the Mockingbird might conceivably mistake it for the latter. But the Mockingbird is larger, has no eye ring, shows no buff on the wing, and flashes conspicuous white in wing and tail in flight. I have lived both in California and in southern New York, where the Mockingbird is common: I am very familiar with the Mockingbird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	5
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park in 1979	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Rare birds	1979-05-19	1979-05-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for two Yellow-throated Warblers at Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine County, IA on May 19 and May 27, 1979.	Newlon, Michael C.	Yellow-throated Warbler	Wildcat Den State Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	28