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 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher north of St. Anthony, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-04-29	1987-11-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher north of St. Anthony in Marshall County, IA on April 29, 1987.	Bryan, Georgia	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Saint Anthony	1 mile north of St. Anthony, Marshall Co.		The documentation form by Georgia Bryan is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. The person who transcribed the report was James Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Certainly the two field characteristics (long tail, wing linings) that she immediately recalled will identify the bird.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	73
Rare bird documentation form for Scissor-tailed Flycatcher north and east of Superior, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-10-16	1995-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher north and east of Superior in Dickinson County, IA on October 16, 1995.	Thelen, Ed	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Superior	1 mile north, 1 mile East, 1.5 miles North of Superior in Dickinson County	Gravel Roadside - on telephone wire between glacial knob and wetland	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Benedict and Dan Lempianen. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/13:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	73
Rare bird documentation form for White-faced Ibis at Churdan, 1978	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-21	1978-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four White-faced Ibises at Churdan in Greene County, IA on April 21, 1978.	Dinsmore, James J.	White-faced Ibis	Churdan	1 mile North, 2 1/4 miles East of Churdan, Iowa	Creek pasture, non-timbered, no trees for 1/4 mile, creek bayou (old bed); some vegetation along edges	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Stephen Dinsmore and Dan Towers. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Blue Heron; this Great Blue Heron is the only other bird I've ever seen around here that even comes close to resemblance, and it's not even close. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Ames, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-11-09	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Ames in Story County, IA on November 9, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Northern Goshawk	Ames	1 mile s. of Ames, Story Co.	flew across road and landed in a tree	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The large size (larger than a crow which landed nearby), gray underparts, and white eyebrow eliminates Cooper's and Sharp-shinned hawks. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:18:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Piping Plover south of Alden, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-05-03	1989-05-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Piping Plover south of Alden in Hardin County, IA on May 3, 1989.	Bierman, Dick	Piping Plover	Alden	1 mile south of Alden in Hardin Co.	sewage lagoon	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jeff Brown and Jerry Fifield. \| Elimination of similar species: Semipalmated Plove [sic] is too dark. Snowy Plover doesn't have a chest band. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:10:00/19:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	5
Rare bird documentation form for Smith's Longspur south of the IA 17 bridge near Saylorville Reservoir, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1985-03-23	1985-04-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for one hundred twenty Smith's Longspurs south of the IA 17 bridge near Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on March 23, 1985.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Smith's Longspur	High Bridge	1 mile south of the HWY 17 Bridge across Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County	on grassy road shoulder and gravel along road	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Erik Munson. \| Elimination of similar species: Eliminated from other longspurs and Vesper Sparrow by combination of buffy underparts, white shoulder patch on males, white on outer tail feathers and distinctive black markings on males head.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	67
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing at Iowa City, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-11	1984-11-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bohemian Waxwing at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on November 11, 1984.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Bohemian Waxwing	Iowa City	1 mile w. of #218 on county F20 County: Johnson	Along roadside lined with medium trees and a hillside with lots of bushes and shrubs. Many Cedar Waxwings feeding in same area.	The documentation form by Carl J. Bendorf is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent, Thomas Staudt, and Richard Hollis. \| Elimination of similar species: The size, wing markings, chestnut undertail, and call note were considered in direct comparison to nearby Cedar Waxwings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:35:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at St. Johns Township in Harrison County, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-10-10	1981-10-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at St. Johns Township in Harrison County, IA on October 10, 1981.	Robinson, John C., 1959-	Prairie Falcon	Township of Saint John	1 mile west of Missouri Valley, Iowa; Harrison Co., St. Johns Twsp., Sect. 17.	Open agricultural land; few trees; Winter wheat field (growth of winter what less than 4 inches tall).	The documentation form by John C. Robinson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joe Schaufenbuel. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine Falcon: this species lacks black axillars and white superciliary stripe; moustache is thicker on this species. Merlin: this species is much smaller and lacks moustache and black facial pattern. Gyrfalcon: this species is larger and lacks superciliary stripe and black axillars. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:50:00/16:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Common Barn Owl west of Red Rock Reservoir, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-05	1984-05-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Barn Owl west of Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on May 5, 1984.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Barn Owl	Lake Red Rock	1 mile west of Red Rock Reservoir, Marion County, Ia.	a grove of deciduous trees with some old buildings adjacent to the floodwaters of the RR Reservoir.	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Nolan, Mark Dixon, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and Hank Zalatel. \| Elimination of similar species: Separated from other hawks and owls by the cinnamon-colored back contrasting with pure white underparts and a heart shaped white face with dark borders. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:45:00/15:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike west of Spirit Lake, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike west of Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on November 29, 1978.	Bierman, Dick	Northern Shrike	Spirit Lake	1 mile west of Spirit Lake	Open country 100 yds from farm grove	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Mockingbird, Gray Jay. I am very familiar with both of these. Loggerheaded Shrike. This bird was much lighter, on the back than Loggrehead [sic]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Say's Phoebe west and north of St. Anthony, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-12-22	1980-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Say's Phoebe west and north of St. Anthony in Marshall County, IA on December 22, 1979.	Kurtz, Carl	Say's Phoebe	Saint Anthony	1 mile west, 1/4 mile north St. Anthony, Iowa		The documentation form by Carl Kurtz is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 11:30:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	70
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-rumped Warbler northwest of Cherokee, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-rumped Warbler northwest of Cherokee in Cherokee County, IA on January 28, 1983.	Brewer, Marion M.	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Cherokee	1 W 3 N of Cherokee	Hilly pasture - Heavy forested with pine with 10% hardwoods	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Kinglets, \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/15:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	26
Rare bird documentation form for Rough-legged Hawk east of Mount Vernon, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-11	1982-06-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Rough-legged Hawk east of Mount Vernon in Linn County, IA on May 11, 1982.	Sandrock, James P., 1929-	Rough-legged Hawk	Mount Vernon	1-2 miles east of Mt. Vernon, IA (Linn County) on Highway 30.	N/A	The documentation form by James P. Sandrock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: Did not have the red tail of Red-tailed Hawk; a Northern Harrier would be slimmer with longer, narrower tail and wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:32:00/15:35:00 estimated.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	30
Rare bird documentation form for Worm-eating Warbler at Amana Woods, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1981-06-21	1981-07-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Worm-eating Warbler at Amana Woods north of Homestead in Iowa County, IA on June 21, 1981.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Worm-eating Warbler	Amana Woods	1.5 miles north of Homestead, IA. "Amana Woods"	General: Extensive deciduous woodland. Specific: Small wooded valley with some clearings and small stream.	The documentation form by Carl J. Bendorf is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rick Hollis and Lanny Haldy. \| Elimination of similar species: Other warblers or viroes [sic] eliminated by bold striping on crown. Chipping sparrow eliminated by habitat and greenish color and head stripes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:50:00/08:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	36
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon in Cerro Gordo County, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-02-22	1997-02-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon in Cerro Gordo County, IA on February 22, 1997.	Thelen, Rob	Prairie Falcon	Cerro Gordo Wind Farm	1/2 m. S of 210th + Cardinal, Cerro Gordo Co.	Dead Cottonwood in Farmland (Open)	The documentation form by Rob Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joe Clark. \| Elimination of similar species: This Falcon had the Dark Armpits. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/11:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Cayler Prairie State Preserve, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-07-09	1999-07-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Cayler Prairie State Preserve in Dickinson County, IA on July 9, 1999.	Harr, Douglas C.	Merlin	Cayler Prairie State Preserve	1/2 mi. N. of Cayler Prairie State Preserve, Dickinson Co., IA	Mostly open grasslands w/ scattered trees & brush; Little Sioux River	The documentation form by Douglas C. Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Am. Kestrel -- larger; different color & patterns, different flight pattern, no hovering. N. Harrier -- Smaller; Sharper wings, different body pattern, no white rump patch, no hovering or lazy, low soaring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:46:00/14:49:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Loess Hills, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-04-28	1985-04-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Loess Hills in Fremont County, IA on April 28, 1985.	Moore, Francis L.	Peregrine Falcon	Fremont County	1/2 mi. N. of Hwy 2 on W. side of Loess Hills, Fremont Co., Iowa	Near Loess Hills flying over open land of Missouri River bottoms	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ross Silcock and Robert Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: Prairie Falcon would have been much lighter sandy color than this bird. Merlin would have been smaller. \| The original documentation form event occurred at 07:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Sandhill Crane east of New Albin, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-03-30	1986-05-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sandhill Crane east of New Albin in Allamakee County, IA on March 30, 1986.	Zarwell, Ric	Sandhill Crane	New Albin	1/2 mile East of New Albin, Iowa and 1/2 mile south of Minnesota border in extreme northeast Allamakee County, Iowa	Mixed riparian woods and open marsh	The documentation form by Ric Zarwell is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rob Zarwell. \| Elimination of similar species: Eliminated Whooping Crane at once - due to coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	1
Rare bird documentation form for Glossy Ibis at Eldridge, 1981	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-09-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Glossy Ibis at Eldridge in Scott County, IA on September 2, 1981.	Blevins, Lewis D.	Glossy Ibis	Eldridge	1/2 mile north North Eldridge, Scott County, Iowa	wading bird area - bird was feeding in flooded field	The documentation form by Lewis D. Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include members of survey crew. \| Elimination of similar species: The only other species offering same characteristics would be the white-faced Glossy Ibis. This was eliminated by answer question 6. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/13:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon south of Saylorville Reservoir, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-11-10	1991-11-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon south of Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 10, 1991.	Cecil, Robert I.	Prairie Falcon	Saylorville Lake	1/2 mile S. of Highway 17 bridge at Sailorville [sic] Res., Polk Co.	Ag. land interspersed with woodlots.	The documentation form by Bob Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Sue Spieker. \| Elimination of similar species: Narrow, uniform width mustache, streaked crown, and dark axilaries [sic] eliminate Peregrine. Size eliminates Merlin. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at the Dupont Bridge in Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at the Dupont Bridge in the Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in Johnson County, IA on February 19, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	1/2 mile south of Johnson Co. Rd. F-20, 4.9 mi. w. of the crossroad leading to the Dupont Bridge.	General: border between an extensive tract of riverbottom forest and a half-mile stretch of corn and soybean fields (with large patches of unharvested beans). At the north edge of the fields was a road, followed by a wooded ridge. Specific: Perched at the edge of a narrow screen of trees that extended out from the forest, between two fields. [drawing]	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: The three species with which confusion is most likely are the bald eagle (imm) and red-tailed and rough-legged hawks (dark-phase). Several points rule out these species. (1) Size: the body length of the bird was 2&1/2-3 times that of a crow that perched in the same tree; the two hawks are not nearly this large. (2) tail pattern: imm. bald eagles sometimes show tails that are darker at the tip than at the base, but all such individuals that I have seen have had a gradual transition from dark to light, rather than the sharp boundary that this bird showed. Adult melanistic redtails usually have red tails; imm birds should show dark tails crossed by darker bands. (3) Wing pattern: imm bald eagles have white in the wing, but this is usually in the wing-lining rather than the primaries and secondaries; dark-phase rough-legs usually have the primaries and secondaries entirely white. (4) build: bald eagle has longer neck, and more massive head and bill, than golden; this bird had the general proportions of a buteo. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Cherokee, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Long-tailed Duck at Cherokee in Cherokee County, IA on April 16, 1979.	Bierman, Dick	Long-tailed Duck	Cherokee	1/2 miles south of Cherokee at the sewage lagoon.	Sewage lagoon by Little Sioux River. Lagoon is about 10 acres in size.	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marion Brewer. \| Elimination of similar species: Female Ruddy, Female Bufflehead and some of the scoters. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation for Merlin at Calamus, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-02-06	1978-03-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for a Merlin at Calamus in Clinton County, IA on February 6, 1978.	Bryant, Robert R.	Merlin	Calamus	1/3 mi. north of Calamus, Ia.	open country-cornfields, grass ditches, one wooded ditch. Sitting on wire over fence line between snowcovered road ditch and cornfield.	The documentation form by Bob Bryant is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - eliminated because of size and lack of rufous coloring and black facial pattern. Sharp-shinned Hawk - eliminated because tail not long, not near any large wooded area. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Warbler near Lansing Wildlife Area, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Warbler near Lansing Wildlife Area in Allamakee County, IA on May 30, 1982.	Moore, Francis L.	Prairie Warbler	Lansing Wildlife Management Area	1/4 mi. from first turn-off at Lansing Wildlife Area 3 mi. N. of Lansing Allamakee Co.	Clear cut second growth, mostly overgrown with sumac and other saplings	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers and Joe Schaufenbuel. \| Elimination of similar species: Palm Warbler also wags tail but has streaking on the throat and also has a solid brown cap, this bird did not. Palm's call (song) is also different. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	30
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