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

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Nebraska, IA in 1819	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1823-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brant at Nebrasksa in Page County, IA around 1819. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication An Account of an Expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains Performed in the Years 1819, 1820 .. London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown by E. James seen by Thomas Say.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Nebraska				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Ingham Lake in 1970	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1977-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brant at Ingham Lake in Emmet County, IA during October 1970. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Waterfowl in Iowa 5th ed. State Conservation Commission by J.W. Musgrove and M.R. Musgrove.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Ingham Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Polk County in 1927	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds	1931-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for twenty-four Brants at Polk County on April 23, 1927. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Polk County Iowa in Des Moines Audubon Society by Philip A. DuMont seen by Watson and Nelson.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Polk County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Polk County in 1925	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1931-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for twenty-four Brants at Polk County, IA on October 26, 1925. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Polk County Iowa in Des Moines Audubon Society by Philip A DuMont seen by Watson.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Polk County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Des Moines in 1925	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds	1931-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for several Brants at Des Moines area in Polk County on March 8, 1925. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Polk County Iowa in Des Moines Audubon Society by Philip A. DuMont, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Des Moines				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Charles City in 1916	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds	1916-09-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Record Committee review for five Brants at Charles City in Floyd County, IA on March 17, 1916. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication 1922-23 by C.L. Fenton seen by John R. Waller, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Charles City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Sac County in 1911	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1917-09-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for five Brants at Sac County, IA in the spring of 1911. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Annotated list of the water birds, gamebirds and birds of prey of Sac County Iowa in Wilson Bull 29:141-160 by J.A. Spurrell seen by Beulah H. May.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Sac County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Boone County before 1907	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds	1907-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a number of Brants at Boone County, IA before 1907. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson seen by Carl Fritz Henning, and referenced by two another publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Boone County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Powesheik County before 1907	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds	1891-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a number of Brants at Powesheik County, IA before 1907. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Poweshiek County Iowa in Ornithologist and Oologist 16:131-134 by C. Kelsey, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Poweshiek County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Black Hawk County before 1907	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds	1907-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a number of Brants at Black Hawk County, IA before 1907. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson seen by Morton Peck, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Black Hawk County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Amana in 1902	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting	1907-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brant at Amana in Iowa County, IA in 1902. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson and seen by George H. Berry, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Amana				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Jasper and Powesheik counties in 1871	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds	1871-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for flocks of Brants at Jasper and Powesheik Counties, IA in 1871. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Iowa Birds in the American Naturalist 5:169 by H.W. Parker, and referenced by three other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Jasper County Poweshiek County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant in Iowa before 1870	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1870-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brant in Iowa before 1870. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication A Catalogue of the Birds of Iowa by J.A. Allen.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Greater Prairie-Chicken at Cherokee, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-01-06	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Greater Prairie-Chicken at Cherokee in Cherokee County, IA on January 6, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, three photos of the bird, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in Field Notes, and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bierman, Dick	Greater Prairie-Chicken	Cherokee Municipal Airport	Cherokee Airport	open, grassy, few weed patches	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Marion Brewer, Dennis Henrickson, Don Poggensee, Jim Fuller, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Jeff Brown, and Jerry Fifield. \| Elimination of similar species: Hen Pheasant, sharptailed grouse. They have longer pointed tails. Gray partridge has a redish [sic] tail and is smaller. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff at Harrier Marsh, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-07-17	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ruff at Harrier Marsh in Boone County, IA on July 17, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene	Ruff	Harrier Marsh	East Harrier Marsh - South of Ogden		The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Feeding beside pectorals Body posture much the same Pectorals had bibs no breasted markings on the ruff. Bill much longer and head larger than a buffbreasted. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff at Red Rock Wildlife Area, 1998	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-10-23	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ruff at Red Rock Wildlife Area in Marion and Warren Counties, IA on October 23, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Ruff	Red Rock Wildlife Area	Runnells Wildlife Area, Marion/Warren Co.'s, IA	large mudflat area with shallow pools	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of size, shape, and plumage was very distinct and eliminated all other shorebirds. The buffy plumage, bill shape, and tail pattern eliminated Lesser Yellowlegs. The larger size, longer legs, bill shape, and plumage eliminated Pectoral Sandpiper. The larger size, very buffy plumage, bill shape, and tail pattern eliminated Stilt Sandpiper. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:26:00/09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff south of Grimes, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-10	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ruff south of Grimes in Polk County, IA on May 10, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Ruff	Grimes	S. of Grimes	minimum-till corn field with standing water, old stocks	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Dennis Thompson, Reid Allen, and Pam Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: white underwings, U-Shaped white tail patch, small head, & size seem to eliminate other species. Too large for White-rumped. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 17:30:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff at Coralville Reservoir, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-08-21	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ruff at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on August 21, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an Iowa Bird Life article, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Ruff	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson County, Iowa	mud flats on old oxbow	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller and Chris Edwards were submitted later. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Jane Fuller, Chris Caster, Carl Bendorf, John Rutenbeck, Ken Lowder, Jim Durbin, Joyce Durbin, and Chuck Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Stilt Sandpiper were present for comparison. This bird was quite distinctive in terms of the orange legs, black smudge across the breast, blackness of the upper parts, and white V in the tail. I judged the sex as a female based on size and plumage, and the plumage as alternate based on the distribution of black and the feather wear. More black on the underparts might be expected in fresh spring plumage. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:40:00 and 16:30:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff west of Mount Ayr, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-22	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ruff west of Mount Ayr in Ringgold County, IA on April 22, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Ruff	Mount Ayr	Two miles west of Mt. Ayr on Rt 2, Ringgold Co.	Bean stubble	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard Trieff. \| Elimination of similar species: Looked like no other shorebird I have ever seen. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff at Riverton Area, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-01	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ruff at Riverton Area in Fremont County, IA on April 1, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Ruff	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton Area (Fremont County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ross Silcock, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Tim Schantz, James Scheib, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Pam Allen, and Reid Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: Differences from Pectoral pointed out in description. Yellowlegs have different leg color, breast pattern is more spotted, and the bill is longer and thinner. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:35:00/08:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff northwest of Bayard, 1991	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-26	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ruff northwest of Bayard in Greene County, IA on May 26, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Ruff	Bayard	approx 1 1/2 miles northwest of Bayard, Iowa	Flooded field	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Maridel Jackson was submitted. Other observers include Walt Jackson, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I first noticed this bird as we were scanning a bunch of dunlin and this bird "stuck out." [...] The bird was about the size of a lesser yellowlegs (also present) but was of different proportions. The body was too heavy (chunky) for a yellowlegs - being more dowitcher like. The neck was fairly long - more so than a dowticher but maybe a little shorter than lesser yellowlegs. The head was defnitely small for the size of the bird. The legs were also fairly long (knobby knees) and again probably a little shorter than a lesser yellowlegs. These basic proportions helped at once to eliminate many species. [..] The bird's head and upper neck were very tawny (similar to buff breasted sandpiper) [...] Tail - This is the one feature along with the basic shape that convinced me. [...] If the bird would have had no color at all I still would have called it a ruff from the proportions. Ruff plumage is variable to say the least. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff at Hendrickson Marsh, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-09-01	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ruff at Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on September 1, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Ruff	Hendrickson Marsh Lake	Hendrickson's Marsh, Story Co.	Long area of exposed mud flats along edge of water	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Beth Proescholdt, and Paul Martsching were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: I thought possibly a Willet at first from its large size and having a straight bill. It was not gray but a deep, rich brownish color. When flushed, it did not have the striking black-and-white wing pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/15:00:00 and 19:00:00/20:00:00 for about ten minutes total.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff east of Tabor, 1982	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-09-08	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ruff east of Tabor in Fremont County, IA on September 8, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, articles in Iowa Bird Life and American Birds, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Ruff	Tabor	4 miles east of Tabor, in Fremont County	Lake Mar-I-War, being a waste disposal pond at Mar-I-War Farms' hog operation.	The documentation form by W. Ross Silcock forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Tanya Bray, Barbara L. Wilson, Thomas H. Kent, and Joe Schaufenbuel were submitted. Other observers include Lynn Schaufenbuel, Peter Petersen, and B.J. Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Yellowlegs, and Pectoral, Western, Least, and Semipalmated Sandpipers.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Greater Prairie-Chicken at Little Spirit Lake, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-08-27	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of around six Greater Prairie-Chickens at Little Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on August 27, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Baker, Warren L.	Greater Prairie-Chicken	Little Spirit Lake Wildlife Management Area	South end - west side Little Spirit Lake, Iowa	- cut field, next to lake	The documentation form by Warren L. Baker is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Karen Baker were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Sharpe [sic] Tailed grouse \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Greater Prairie-Chicken at Five Ridges Prairie, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-09-06	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of six Greater Prairie-Chickens at Five Ridges Prairie in Plymouth County, IA on September 6, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bangma, Jim Johnson, Ann	Greater Prairie-Chicken	Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve	Five Ridges Prairie, Plymouth County, IA	Rolling western Iowa prairie with some agriculture	The documentation form by Ann Johnson and Jim Bangma is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The lack of a pointed tail eliminated even a young Ring-necked Pheasant (confirmed later in the week with observations). Sharp-tailed Grouse have been released in the Loess Hills, but they show a more pointed tail with white at the edges and their flanks are more spotted than barred. Ruffed Grouse has a fan-shaped tail which matches the body color and has a dark subterminal band. We had no doubt that these birds were Prairie Chickens. Lesser Prairie Chicken cannot be eliminated by our sighting but is dismissed based on location and habitat (tall grass vs. short grass prairie). The question of origin then arises. The closest releases of grouse have been Sharp-tailed in the Loess Hills south of Sioux City, but our observations eliminated Sharp-tailed. Greater Prairie Chickens have most recently been released in Ringgold County, some 150-200 miles to the southeast. I discussed possible releases with some birders in the area and no one had any knowledge of released birds. On the other hand, Greater Prairie Chicken nests in South Dakota fairly close to the Iowa border. This map shows the relative abundance of the bird in the plains states based on Breeding Bird Surveys. We therefore feel that it is most likely that these birds come from a native population nearby and might possibly have been a family group. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:20:00/07:22:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	9