Documents • Iowa State University • Avian Archives of Iowa Online

Title	Genres	Topics	Date (Start)	Date (End)	Type	Description	Creator/Author	Birds	Locations	Locality	Habitat	Remarks

Iowa Birdline update, December 26 & 29, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1993-12-26	1993-12-29	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email of the Iowa Birdline update for December 26 & 29, 1993. Highlights include results from Christmas bird counts and sightings of a Snowy Owl and Long-tailed Ducks.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Bald Eagle Northern Gannet Snowy Owl Long-tailed Duck Northern Goshawk Mew Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull	Clinton Coralville Lake Davenport Des Moines Keokuk Boone County Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve McCausland				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	42	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Yellowthroat at Montrose Cemetery, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-26	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Yellowthroat at Montrose Cemetery in Lee County, IA on December 26, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Common Yellowthroat	Montrose Cemetery	At edge of Cemetery on North side of Montrose, Lee County, Iowa	Natural spring wetland that empties into Missisippi at Montrose	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was John Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: Nashville Warbler has grayish head with bold white eyering. Pine Warbler has dark streaks on the sides and white belly and undertail coverts. Female Yellow Warbler is paler on upper surfaces. All of these also have black legs unlike this bird. Wilson's Warbler auricular area is yellowish. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:20:00/15:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	27
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Black-backed Gull near the Keokuk Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-25	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed near the Keokuk Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lee County, IA on December 25, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Great Black-backed Gull	Keokuk Wastewater Plant	Near Sewage treatment plant, Mississippi River, Keokuk, Lee Co. IA	River	The documentation form by Bob Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: All other gulls eliminated based upon size alone. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00 and around 16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Des Moines River in Des Moines, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-21	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Des Moines River in Des Moines in Polk County, IA on December 21, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Des Moines	Des Moines River, Downtown Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa	River	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Most other dark mantled gulls have pink legs. Yellow-footed gull is larger in size than Herring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Lakeview Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-20	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mew Gull at Lakeview Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 20, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Mew Gull	Lakeview Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA-on jetty at Lakeview Rec. Area	perched on jetty with other gulls	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Susan Grove, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: On the basis of size and general plumage characters, this species could only be confused with Ring-billed Gull, hundreds of which were available for direct comparison. The combination of slightly smaller size, distinct head shape, bill color and shape, dark eye, and slightly darker mantle and upperwings are sufficient to eliminate Ring-billed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:42:00/16:53:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Iowa Birdline update, December 20, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1993-12-20	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email of the Iowa Birdline update for December 20, 1993. Highlights include the first reports from the Christmas bird counts. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Common Redpoll Snowy Owl Black Scoter Mew Gull California Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull American Black Duck Nashville Warbler	Coralville Lake Iowa City Lake Red Rock Mason City Saylorville Lake West Okoboji Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	42	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Nashville Warbler at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-19	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Nashville Warbler at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on December 19, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Nashville Warbler	Hancher Auditorium	Hancher Auditorium Parking Lot, University of Iowa Campus, Iowa City (Johnson City).		The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by James Scheib was submitted. Other observers include John McClure, Tom Kent, and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: The three warblers with which this species might be confused are Mourning, Connecticut, and MacGillivray's. All three have much more extensive gray on the head and upper breast, including the throat. All three also have light colored legs. No one disagreed with the identification. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Whitebreast Recreation Area at Red Rock Reservoir, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-19	1995-07-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mew Gull at Whitebreast Recreation Area at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 19, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentations submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Mew Gull	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Whitebreast Recreation Area, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Sandy area at edge of open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Russ Widner and Jim Fuller were submitted. Other observers include Dick Tetrault and Roy Godwin. \| Elimination of similar species: Size eliminated any gull larger than a Ring-billed. Although structurally the bird more closely represented one of the larger hooded gulls, they were eliminated by the lack of any hood or auricular spot. Furthermore, most hooded gulls with a tail band would also show a strong carpal bar. Laughing Gull could be eliminated by the more diminuative [sic] bill and leg color. Although some individuals seem to carry a vestige of their more motley juvenile plumage into first winter, Ring-billed Gull was eliminated by size, head and bill structure, and clear-cut as opposed to more diffuse tail band. I originally identified this bird as a Mew Gull based on my experience studying structural differences between Ring-billed and Mew gulls on the west coast. I have never seen a first-year Mew Gull, however. In researching the Mew on my return home, I concluded that the bird in question was not dark enough, nor brown enough, to be of the west coast sub-species. By virtue of its strong similarity to a Ring-billed Gull, this bird was most likely the European sub-species known as the Common Gull. Although according to Grant the bill description comes closer to L.c. brachyrhynchus, I assume that this bird's bill coloration was still changing from juvenile plumage. Apparently the Common Gull appears on occasion on the east coast and is therefore probably as likely a vagrant to Iowa as is the western form. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Lake Manawa, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-13	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Trumpeter Swan at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 13, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Trumpeter Swan	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Babs Padelford and Loren Padelford. \| Elimination of similar species: Black bill without knob and neck posture eliminates Mute Swan. Tundra Swan eliminated by neck posture and lack of yellow on bill: darker plumage of juvenile. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Iowa Birdline update, December 13, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Laridae \| Gulls and Terns Dial-a-message telephone calls	1993-12-13	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email of the Iowa Birdline update for December 13, 1993. Highlights include large number of Gulls, including some that are rare in the state. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull Double-crested Cormorant Franklin's Gull Trumpeter Swan Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Northern Pintail Golden-crowned Kinglet Tundra Swan	Allamakee County Coralville Lake Green Castle Recreation Area Saylorville Lake Oak Grove State Park Rock Valley				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	42	4
Field reports, Iowa, fall 1993, December 12, 1993	Field notes Reports	Bird watching Birds--Counting Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Podicipediformes \| Grebes Laridae \| Gulls and Terns Falconiformes \| Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, Osprey, and Vultures Ornithology--Methodology Parulidae \| Warblers Strigiformes \| Owls Emberizidae \| Sparrows	1993-12-12	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	An annotated list of bird sightings organized by species, December 12, 1993. The list also contains the number of birds seen, date of sighting, location, and observer of each species. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of fall 1993.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	25	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Dam, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-11	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Dam in Johnson County, IA on December 11, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Coralville Dam	Coralville Reservoir dam, Johnson County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randy Pinkston is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Carl Bendorf and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include John McLure, Chris Edwards, Jonnie Ellsworth, Lanny Haldy, Randy Graesser, Dan Ray, Angela Ray, Kathleen Kuenstling, Tom Kent, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Size and appearance rule out all other regular and vagrant North American gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-06	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on December 6, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	California Gull	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Reservoir dam, Polk County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randy Pinkston is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore was submitted later. Another observer includes Susan Grove. \| Elimination of similar species: I am uncomfortable committing to California Gull given the brief and distant view I had, and my limited past experience with the species. My fear is that this was just a small Herring Gull. Herring can be quite variable in overall size, bill size, and in terms of color and shade of the first-winter plumage. Supposedly 10-15% of first-winter Herrings' can have a "dipped-in-ink" bill in the fall (Harrison 1983 or Grant 1986?). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Bery Engebretsen letter to Thomas H. Kent regarding fall bird sightings, December 6, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification	1993-12-06	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Bery Engebretsen to Thomas H. Kent regarding fall bird sightings, December 6, 1993. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1993.	Engebretsen, Bery	American Avocet Red-necked Grebe Blue Jay Blue-winged Teal Golden-winged Warbler Western Grebe Ruddy Duck Black-throated Blue Warbler Red-breasted Nuthatch Lesser Scaup Bonaparte's Gull Common Merganser Great Egret Mallard	Des Moines Saylorville Lake Moeckley Prairie				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	25	6
Iowa Birdline update, December 6, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Waterfowl Dial-a-message telephone calls	1993-12-06	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email of the Iowa Birdline update for December 6, 1993. Highlights include 15 species of waterfowl at Pleasant Creek including Black Scoters, a White-winged Scoter and Long-tailed Ducks. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Long-tailed Duck Trumpeter Swan Black Scoter Merlin Eurasian Tree Sparrow White-winged Scoter Yellow-rumped Warbler Tundra Swan Eastern Screech-Owl	Bonaparte Bremer County Cedar Rapids Pleasant Creek State Park Monona County Des Moines County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	42	4
Field notes contributed by Dick Bierman, December 2, 1993	Field notes Reports	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification	1993-12-02	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall report of birds contributed by Dick Bierman. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1993.	Bierman, Dick	Cattle Egret Merlin	Monona County Cherokee				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	25	6
Field notes contributed by Dennis L. Carter, December 1, 1993	Field notes Reports	Bird watching Birds--Habitat Birds--Identification Birds--Nests Parulidae \| Warblers Birds--Infancy Emberizidae \| Sparrows	1993-12-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall report of birds and locations contributed by Dennis L. Carter. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1993.	Carter, Dennis L.	Northern Flicker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Pied-billed Grebe Bobolink Black-and-white Warbler Indigo Bunting Red-breasted Merganser Semipalmated Plover Common Nighthawk Great Crested Flycatcher Red-eyed Vireo Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Red-breasted Nuthatch Tennessee Warbler Yellow-throated Vireo Winter Wren Barn Swallow Northern Shrike Cliff Swallow	Cardinal Marsh State Wildlife Area Decorah Storm Lake Effigy Mounds National Monument Twin Springs Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	25	6
Iowa Birdline update, November 29, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1993-11-29	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email of the Iowa Birdline update for November 29, 1993. Highlights include reports for Long-tailed Duck, two Scoter species, Western Grebe, Golden Eagle and Snowy Owl. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Horned Grebe Snowy Owl Long-tailed Duck Western Grebe Black Scoter White-winged Scoter Golden Eagle Pileated Woodpecker Tundra Swan	Allamakee County Lyon County Pleasant Creek State Park Saylorville Lake Effigy Mounds National Monument Clayton County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	42	4
Field reports contributed by Thomas H. Kent, November 28, 1993	Field notes Reports	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Nests Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Laridae \| Gulls and Terns Scolopacidae \| Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and allies Parulidae \| Warblers	1993-11-28	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall report of birds and locations contributed by Thomas H. Kent. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1993.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Northern Flicker Broad-winged Hawk Green-backed Heron Prairie Falcon Thayer's Gull Double-crested Cormorant Eared Grebe Blue Jay Rusty Blackbird Carolina Wren American White Pelican Brown Thrasher Reddish Egret Dunlin Long-billed Dowitcher Le Conte's Sparrow Peregrine Falcon Common Snipe Gray Catbird House Wren Great Egret	Buffalo Center Colfax Coralville Lake Dickinson County Iowa City Lake Red Rock Pleasant Creek State Park Spirit Lake Swan Lake Wildlife Management Area Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge Zirbel Slough Silver Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	25	6
Carl Priebe letter to W. Ross Silcock regarding Fremont County Snowy Owl sightings, November 24, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Bird kills Bird watching Birds--Identification	1993-11-24	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Carl Priebe to W. Ross Silcock regarding Fremont County Snowy Owl sightings, November 24, 1993. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1993.	Priebe, Carl	Snowy Owl	Forneys Lake Fremont County Farragut Locust Grove Township				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	25	6
Iowa Birdline update, November 22, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1993-11-22	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email of the Iowa Birdline update for November 22, 1993. Highlights include sightings for a California Gull, Red Crossbills, Long-tailed Ducks and Scoters. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Horned Grebe Snowy Owl Long-tailed Duck Black Scoter California Gull White-winged Scoter Golden Eagle Red Crossbill Northern Shrike	Allamakee County Dale Maffitt Reservoir Marshall County Pottawattamie County Harpers Ferry Hickory Grove County Park Rock Creek State Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	42	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Carter Lake, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-11-21	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Carter Lake in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 21, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	California Gull	Carter Lake	Carter Lake, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Loren and Babs Padelford, and Ross Silcock were submitted. Other observers include Jerry Toll and B.J. Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: Both Ring-billed and Herring Gulls are eliminated by bill coloration, size, slightly darker mantle, and eye color. Western, Lesser-black backed would be darker mantled, different bill coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Iowa Birdline update, November 15, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1993-11-15	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email of the Iowa Birdline update for November 15, 1993. Highlights include the sighting of a Mew Gull; a Thayer's Gull has been sighted at the same location. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull White-winged Crossbill Snowy Owl Black Scoter Mew Gull American Pipit Greater Scaup White-winged Scoter Golden Eagle	Allamakee County Pleasant Creek State Park Red Rock Dam Elkader Buena Vista County Badger Creek State Recreation Area Island View Park Roberts Creek Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	42	4
Iowa Birdline update, November 10, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1993-11-10	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email of the Iowa Birdline update for November 10, 1993. Highlights include sightings of Evening Grosbeaks, a White-winged Crossbill, Snowy Owls, Scoters and a Pacific Loon. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Snow Bunting White-winged Crossbill Evening Grosbeak Snowy Owl Pacific Loon Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Golden Eagle Great Crested Flycatcher	Lake Manawa Moorehead Pioneer Park Pleasant Creek State Park Yellow River State Forest Rolling Cove Park Effigy Mounds National Monument Island View Park Silver Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	42	4
Iowa Birdline update, November 6 & 8, 1993	Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1993-11-06	1993-11-08	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa Birdline update for November 6, 1993. Highlights include sightings of a White-winged Scoter, Snowy Owl, Long-tailed Duck, and Surf Scoter. Includes notes for the Iowa Birdline update for November 8, 1993.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Cooper's Hawk Horned Grebe Snowy Owl Long-tailed Duck Pacific Loon Common Loon Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Bonaparte's Gull	Lake Red Rock Lake Manawa Moorehead Pioneer Park Pleasant Creek State Park Rolling Cove Park Monroe County MidAmerican Energy Ponds Island View Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	42	4