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 Merlin at North Liberty, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-10-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at North Liberty in Johnson County, IA on October 23, 1982.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Merlin	North Liberty	1 mi. n. of North Liberty, Johnson Co., IA	farm land	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No color or face mark of Kestrel. Pointed wings and flight exclude Sharp-shinned Hawk. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:47:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Burrowing Owl south of Ames, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-04-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Burrowing Owl south of Ames in Story County, IA on April 1, 1981.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Burrowing Owl	Ames	1 mi. S. of Ames IA	farm land - plowed field, grass edge and grassy yard 1 mi S. of U.S. 30 on Elwood, Ames IA	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Kent, Hank Zaletel, James Dinsmore, and unidentified others. \| Elimination of similar species: no similar species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	51
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lark Bunting north of Burlington, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-30	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lark Bunting north of Burlington in Des Moines County, IA on April 30, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, Charles R.	Lark Bunting	Burlington	North of Burlington off Highway 99	Farm land--freshly plowed field, low hedge rows	The documentation form by Charles Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The Bird sighted on a dirt road feeding with a Vesper Sparrow--within 3 feet for comparison. The most conspicuous field mark were the large creamy white wing patches (Not bars). The bird was slightly larger than the Vesper Sparrow with heavy sparrow bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	34
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Elk Lake, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-21	1984-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Elk Lake in Clay County, IA on May 21, 1984.	Brown, Mike	Red-necked Grebe	Elk Lake	Just south of county road, north of Elk Lake Clay Co. IA T95N R35W Sec. 36	Farm Pond	The documentation form by Mike Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Fred Heinz and R.R. Ruthner \| Elimination of similar species: Only other grebe with redneck is Horned Grebe. Horned Grebe is much smaller, has smaller bill, and has ear tufts. Only other long-necked grebe - Western - has white neck and longer, narrower bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Hamburg, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-11-10	1980-04-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for five Greater Scaups at Hamburg in Fremont County, IA during the middle of November 1979.	Getscher, Ione	Greater Scaup	Hamburg	farm pond about 4.7 miles East of Hamburg	farm pond - small pond that is used by cattle, in pastureland	The documentation form by Ione E. Getscher is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Edwin A. Getscher. \| Elimination of similar species: Two Lesser Scaup, not heard, also swimming near by not with the Greater. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00 going to farm.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Boone, 1987	Administrative records Field notes Maps (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-05-29	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck near Boone in Boone County, IA on May 29, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, a map of the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Espeland, Steven R.	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Boone	County: Boone Location in detail: Observed standing in shallows of ~0.25 A. farm pond located on Eilene Glover acreage NW of Boon, Iowa (see map)	Farm pond w/ random stands of cattails, sedges etc.	The documentation form by Steven R. Espeland is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Fulvous Whistling Duck - Lacks distinctive wing patches and pink bill, legs and feet. \| The original documentation form event occurred at 18:00:00 and from 19:00:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Rare bird documentation form for Ring-necked Duck at Saylorville, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-05-26	1985-07-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Ring-necked Duck at Saylorville in Polk County, IA on May 26, 1985.	Engebretsen, Bery	Ring-necked Duck	Saylorville Lake	Farm pond, north of Saylorville	Farm pond. Surrounding pasture / corn field	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: both scaup have gray back, no initial stripe.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rufous Hummingbird at Rippey, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-05-09	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rufous Hummingbird at Rippey in Boone County, IA on May 8, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Laub, Sharon	Rufous Hummingbird	Rippey	Feeder - Rippey- Boone Co. - 3 miles east of Rippey-1/2 mile north	Farm yard	The documentation form by Sharon Laub is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller and James Scheib were submitted later. Other observers include Kurtis Laub, Russ Laub, Bob Myers, Jane Fuller, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: I eliminated Allen's because back appeared rust-orange \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/20:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	24
Rare bird documentation form for Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, IA on January 30, 1983.	Brewer, Marion M.	Carolina Wren	Cherokee County	13W, 1 N of cherokee	Farm yard grove with a few Evergreens	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Bierman and Charles Krekow. \| Elimination of similar species: None \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:05:00/15:08:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	88
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Prairie Falcon at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge, 1981	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-20	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Falcon at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on December 20, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Prairie Falcon	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto	Farming and in cropland	The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rick Wright and Dave Menke. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/08:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	6
Rare bird documentation form for Swainson's Hawk at Bayard, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-09-21	1980-09-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Swainson's Hawks at Bayard in Guthrie County, IA on September 21, 1980.	Newlon, Michael C.	Swainson's Hawk	Bayard	near Bayard, Guthrie Co., IA	farmland	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Shires, Carol Newlon, and Thomas Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: build, combination of white underparts + wing - linings plus dark flight -feathers eliminate other possible buteos - redtail, roughleg, broadwing, ferruginous, red-shoulder. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:30:00/11:40:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	28
Rare bird documentation form for Lark Bunting southeast of Hawarden, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-24	1984-05-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lark Bunting southeast of Hawarden in Sioux County, IA on May 24, 1984.	Silcock, W. Ross	Lark Bunting	Hawarden	5 mi e, 1 mi s, JCT 10+12 in Hawarden, Sioux Co, Iowa	Farmland	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Bobolink- No white on head or back. Small bird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:08:00/10:08:05.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	54
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Chestnut-collared Longspur at northwest Sioux County, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-12	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Chestnut-collared Longspur at northwest Sioux County, IA on April 12, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in Field Notes, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Chestnut-collared Longspur	Sioux County	A545 at 290th St., NW Sioux Co., Iowa	farmland	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The behavior was typical for a longspur and the field marks are distinctive. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	43
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle north and west of Hendrickson's Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-03-19	1983-03-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle north and west of Hendrickson's Marsh in Story County, IA on March 19, 1983.	Proescholdt, Beth	Golden Eagle	Hendrickson Marsh Lake	s.e. Story County, north + west from Hendrickson's Marsh	farmland about 3 miles from Hendrickson's Marsh - open, flat fields, bare with no crops	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Proescholdt and Phyllis Harris. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle - no white head + tail of adult, + not an immature Bald Eagle as it had dark wing linings, not white in the linings. Buteo - much too big for a buteo. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin east of Fairview Golf Course in Iowa City, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin east of Fairview Golf Course in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on April 15, 1984.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Merlin	Fairview Golf Course	e. of Iowa City (e. of Fairview Golf Course), Johnson Co. IA	farmland along small creek	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: Shape eliminates falcon and eliminates Sharp-shinned Hawk. All dark color and heavier direct flight excludes Kestrel. Size excludes Peregrine Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00/11:17:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow in Cerro Gordo County, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-12-17	1994-12-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow in Cerro Gordo County, IA on December 17, 1994.	Goranson, Rita	Vesper Sparrow	Cerro Gordo County	220th St. + Violet, Cerro Gordo Co, IA	Farmland near a farmstead	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joel Hanes. \| Elimination of similar species: not a junco - not the color of not a meadowlark - too small not a longspur - did not have the eye line + lighter eyebrow like longspurs no face patch effect \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:20:00/10:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon east of Lost Island Lake, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-04-03	1993-04-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon east of Lost Island Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on April 3, 1993.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Prairie Falcon	Lost Island Lake	East of Lost Island Lake, Clay County [actually Palo Alto County], Iowa	farmland near glacial lakes	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lee Schoenewe, Bob Cecil, and Harold White. \| Elimination of similar species: This was the best view I have ever had at the underwing of Prairie Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:45:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Chestnut-collared Longspur north of Larchwood, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-12	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Chestnut-collared Longspur north of Larchwood in Lyon County, IA on April 12, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Chestnut-collared Longspur	Larchwood	2 miles north of Larchwood, Lyon Co., Iowa	farmland, fields snow-covered, blacktop road clear.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The black belly and yellow throat, among other things, made this bird easy to separate from the Lapland Longspurs that were present in great numbers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:11:00/13:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	43
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon east of Reinbeck, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-03-01	1989-04-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon east of Reinbeck in Black Hawk County, IA on March 1, 1989.	Johnson, Ann	Prairie Falcon	Reinbeck	4 miles e. Reinbeck, Black Hawk County, IA	Farmstead with silos, open fields	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Brown, Mark Proescholdt, Beth Proescholdt, Chuck Fuller, Cal Knight, and Bernie Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: Other hawks were eliminated by the long, pointed wings and general body shape. Size eliminated all falcons but the peregrine, but the presence of the black axillars confirmed that this was indeed a Prairie Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:56:00/18:28:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird at Clinton Township in Linn County, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-12-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for thirty-five Brewer's Blackbirds at Section 8 of Clinton Township in Linn County, IA on December 20, 1986.	Zobac, Aldrich	Brewer's Blackbird	Clinton Township	Section 8, Clinton Township Farm on Young Rd. in S. part of Section 8	Farmyard + corn fields adjacent to farm. Large grove of evergreens. Grove of trees.	The documentation form by Aldrich Zobac is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Gladys Zobac. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Relative size of bird: Smaller than grackle Slightly larger than Cowbird. [...] Birds were feeding + flying around with huge flock of starlings + sparrows (house sparrows). At first glance - when birds were first sighted - thought we were spotting a cowbird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on December 20, 1981.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Prairie Falcon	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto	Farmyard in cropland	The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rick Wright and Dave Menke. \| Elimination of similar species: Pigeon size or bigger. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/08:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1993	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-09-18	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on September 18, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Laughing Gull	Saylorville Dam	Below Saylorville Dam, Polk County, IA	Fast moving river with many small fish	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The body and bill structure eliminated all but hooded gulls and the brown plumage indicated a first year bird. Size close to Ring-billed, in addition to plumage already described, eliminated some of the smaller hooded gulls. The most likely candidate for confusion would be the Franklin's Gull. Juvenile Franklin's shows a hooded pattern early in development rather than a brown wash on the head. Franklin's tail band would also be incomplete with white feathers showing on the outer edge. It would also show fewer dark primaries, with the inner flight feathers more approximating the mantle and inner wing color. No other small gull has this characteristic. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/12:10:00 and 15:30:00/14:00:00 [sic].	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird at Cone Marsh, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-04-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Brewer's Blackbirds at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 6, 1988.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Brewer's Blackbird	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone M., Louisa Co, IA	Feed lot	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] These 4 birds were easy to pick out from Rustys + they staid [sic] together. [...] Rusty females were gray + darker wing and had bright yellow eye. Male Rusty were more opaque black with a refaced [?] edging on wing feathers and some [illegible] on flanks. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Ames, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-02-28	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll at Ames in Story County, IA on February 28, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Hoary Redpoll	Ames	our feeder in Ames, Story Co., IA	feeder	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The only similar species is Common Redpoll. The Combination of overall paleness, pale rump, mostly unstreaked undertail covers, smaller crown patch, and bill size and shape were used to eliminate Common Redpoll. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:35:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eurasian Tree Sparrow at Oxford, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-01-09	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Eurasian Tree Sparrow at Oxford in Johnson County, IA on January 9, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Scheib, James	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Oxford	4296 Black Hawk Ave SW, Oxford, Johnson Co., 5 mi. S. of Oxford I-80 exit	Feeder on cedar tree outside farm house	The documentation form by James Scheib is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers were Pat Schnack and Grace Geyer. \| Elimination of similar species: Easily distinguished from accompanying house sparrows as described above. No other sparrow has a rounded blackear mark completely surrounded by white. Closest might be Lark Sparrow which has a white crown strip, brown ear mark, white around the eye, and white on the tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	18