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 Viking Lake State Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-09-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Viking Lake State Park in Red Oak in Montgomery County, IA on September 24, 1978.	Bray, Tanya	Merlin	Viking Lake State Park	Viking Lake State Park	Man-made lake surrounded by scrubby fields; some mature woodland	The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Sugar Bottom Recreation Area, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1979-03-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Sugar Bottom Recreation Area at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 11, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Merlin	Sugar Bottom Campground	Sugar Bottom Recreation area on Coralville Reservoir	wooded valley with adjacent open fields. Small valley 1/4 - 1/2 mile from Coralville Reservoir	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Sparrow hawk - no red on tail, no facial marking, unlikely habitat. Sharp-shinned Hawk - wing shape and flight pattern different from Sharp-shinned. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Co. Rd. W48 in Johnson County, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1979-03-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Co. Rd. W48 in Johnson County, IA on March 18, 1979.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Merlin	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	Co. Rd. W48, Johnson Co., Iowa	over flooded fields, tailwaters of Coralville Reservoir	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - slimmer, flight less direct and powerful. Sharp-shin: Rounded wings, relatively longer tail, more flapping flights \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:00:15.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Dunbar Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1980-09-21	1980-09-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Dunbar Slough in Greene County, IA on September 21, 1980.	Newlon, Michael C.	Merlin	Dunbar Slough	Dunbar Slough, Greene Co. IA	marshy slough surrounded by farmland	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol S. Newlon, Tom Shires, and Thomas Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Coloration, lack of strong facial marks, banded tail, eliminates Am. Kestrel; size eliminates larger falcons. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Dunbar Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1980-09-21	1980-09-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Dunbar Slough in Greene County, IA on September 21, 1980.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Peregrine Falcon	Dunbar Slough	Dunbar Slough, Greene Co Iowa	long narrow marsh with a few trees at edge. Dunbar S.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Newlon, Carol S. Newlon, and Tom Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: Shaped definitely that of falcon. Size and flight different from Merlin. Face mark heavier than Prairie Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:10:00/07:15:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Babcock Access, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1982-10-10	1982-12-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Babcock Access in Hawkeye Wildlife Area in Johnson County, IA on October 10, 1982.	Newlon, Michael C.	Peregrine Falcon	Babcock Access	Babcock lake Road, Hawkeye Wildlife Area, Johnson Co. IA	area of dead trees at edge of reservoir	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Dark bar through eye (wide), coloration, falcon shape eliminate Prairie Falcon, Gyrfalcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon southeast of Kelley, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1986-12-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon southeast of Kelley in Story County, IA on December 16, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Prairie Falcon	Kelley	2 mi. s and 1 mi. e of Kelly [sic], Story Co.	perched in a tree over a large, grassy field	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bart Ballard. \| Elimination of similar species: The long tail and pointed wings make the bird a falcon of some sort. The size eliminates Merlin and Am. Kestrel. The black axillaries eliminate Peregrine Falcon and Gyrfalcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:07:00/11:13:00 on December 16 and 08:10:00/08:23:00 on December 17.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Field notes contributed by James P. Sandrock, Fall 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1987-07-07	1987-07-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes contributed by James P. Sandrock, Fall 1987.The notes give details for the sightings of a King Rail, Black-bellied Plovers, Gray Partridges, and Eastern Screech Owls from July 7 to July 19, 1987.	Sandrock, James P., 1929-	Gray Partridge Black-bellied Plover King Rail Eastern Screech-Owl	Maquoketa Birmingham Kalona				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Brookside Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-03-20	1978-04-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on March 20, 1978.	Johnson, Ellen J.	Merlin	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Story County, Iowa	park near Iowa State University. Deciduous woods with many trails - flew over Squaw Creek	The documentation form by Ellen Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ornithology Class (Pam Keigley, Pam White, John Hemphill, and Robin Bruegman). \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - too large for a kestrel. Sharp-shinned hawk - it had more pointed wings. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Notes on Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, June 26, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1986-06-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes for a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Tomahawk Marsh in Sac County, IA on June 20, 1986 by Michael Mahn. The account was given to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union through a phone call transcribed by James Dinsmore on June 26, 1986.	Dinsmore, James J.	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Tomahawk Marsh Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	73
Beth Proescholdt letter to Michael C. Newlon regarding a Northern Shrike sighting, December 1, 1984	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1984-12-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Beth Proescholdt to Michael C. Newlon adding a Northern Shrike sighting to the fall report on December 1, 1984. The shrike was seen on November 30 in northern Marshall County, IA.	Proescholdt, Beth	Northern Shrike	Marshall County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Ross Silcock memo to Thomas Kent regarding Eastern Phoebe sighting, Winter 1986-87	Correspondence	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Photography of birds Rare birds	1986-12-01	1987-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Memo from Ross Silcock to Thomas Kent. Silcock thanks Kent for slides for an upcoming presentation, updates Kent about the correct location of an Eastern Phoebe sighting and progress on the Winter 1986-1987 winter report, and mentions the sighting of five Western Grebes.	Silcock, W. Ross	Western Grebe Eastern Phoebe	Glenwood Lake Manawa State Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	69
Two letters sent between Rushton G. Cortelyou and Thomas H. Kent, regarding a Piping Plover sighting, July 1986	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Birds--Nests Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1986-05-28	1986-07-12	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rushton G. Cortelyou letter to Thomas Kent, July 10, 1986, regarding a Piping Plover nest at the MidAmerican Energy Settling Ponds near Council Bluffs, IA on May 28, 1986. There is a response from Kent about Piping Plover sightings as well as how Nebraska ornithologists should report Iowa bird sightings dated July 12, 1986.	Green, Ruth Cortelyou, Rushton G.	Piping Plover	MidAmerican Energy Ponds				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	5
Rathbun Christmas Count - December 19, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1988-12-19	1988-12-20	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Details for several rare species seen at the Christmas Bird Count including Black-bellied Plover at Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County, IA on December 19, 1998, documented by Bill Heusinkveld.	Heusinkveld, Bill	Blue-winged Teal Red-breasted Merganser Trumpeter Swan Black-bellied Plover Yellow-rumped Warbler Bonaparte's Gull	Rathbun Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	2
Compiled rare bird reports featuring the Ruby-crowned Kinglet near Solon in unknown year	Administrative reports Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compiled rare bird reports featuring the Ruby-crowned Kinglet near Solon in Johnson County, IA on an unknown date and year. Other rare bird sightings include Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Double-crested Cormorant in the Iowa City area.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Cooper's Hawk Double-crested Cormorant Ruby-crowned Kinglet Sharp-shinned Hawk	Iowa City Johnson County Solon				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	4
Rare bird documentation form for Hermit Thrush at Sundown Ski Area near Asbury, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1981-12-26	1981-12-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hermit Thrush Sundown Ski Area near Asbury in Dubuque County, IA on December 26, 1981.	Miller, John Carl	Hermit Thrush	Asbury	Along the Heritage Trail across the crick from the longest ski run of Sundown Ski Area.	Streamside cover consisting of: understory (shrubs and bushes). Young tree growth and some mature trees (all deciduous). Cedars nearby.	The documentation form by John Carl Miller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian Larson. \| Elimination of similar species: smaller than a robin larger than a sparrow \| The original documentation form event occurred from 08:30:00/08:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	9
Addendum to the Cedar Falls, IA Christmas Bird Count - December 27, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1980-12-27	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Christmas Bird Count addendum featuring a Varied Thrush in the Cedar Falls area in Black Hawk County, IA on December 27, 1980. Also includes details about bird sightings of the Peregrine Falcon, Mallard, Brown Thrasher, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Grosbeak, and Hoary Redpoll.	Moore, Francis L.	Varied Thrush Pine Grosbeak Brown Thrasher Hoary Redpoll Peregrine Falcon Red-breasted Nuthatch Mallard	Black Hawk County Cedar Falls Cedar Hills Sand Prairie				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Rathbun Christmas Count - December 19, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1998-12-19	1998-12-20	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Details for several rare species seen at the Christmas Bird Count including the Yellow-rumped Warbler in the Rathbun area in Appanoose County, IA on December 19, 1998, documented by Bill Heusinkveld.	Heusinkveld, Bill	Blue-winged Teal Red-breasted Merganser Trumpeter Swan Black-bellied Plover Yellow-rumped Warbler Bonaparte's Gull	Rathbun Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	26
Report of committee for selection of "State Bird", April 30, 1927	Reports	Ornithology--Societies, etc State birds	1927-04-30	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A report from the committee that was appointed at the Iowa Ornithologists' Union annual meeting in 1926 to investigate the feasibility of selecting a state bird for Iowa. The plan from the committee suggests having members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union nominate five birds which would be narrowed to a final nomination of five to six birds. The final nomination of birds would then be submitted to the school children of Iowa for them to vote and ultimately select the state bird. In order to cover the expense of this campaign, the committee suggests increasing membership dues by $1.00 per member.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Palas, Arthur J. Spiker, Charles J. Wendelburg, Toni Whitney, Thomas H. Clark, Ella		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	38	21
Iowa Birdline update, September 19, 1988	Field notes	Bird watching Accipitridae \| Hawks and Eagles Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds Parulidae \| Warblers Meetings Dial-a-message telephone calls	1988-09-19	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa Birdline update for September 19, 1988. Highlights of the update include a recap of sightings from the fall IOU meeting, including a flyover Black-billed Magpie, nine raptor species, and a variety of Warblers for a total of 106 species seen. Also of note from around the state were observations of two rarely seen birds, a Western Tanager and a Prairie Falcon. In addition, sightings of several hundred American White Pelicans, 62 Caspian Terns, and an immature Black-crowned Night Heron were also reported.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Swainson's Hawk Prairie Falcon Western Tanager Clay-colored Sparrow Carolina Wren American White Pelican Black-billed Magpie Forster's Tern Black-crowned Night Heron Caspian Tern Winter Wren Pine Warbler Sharp-shinned Hawk	Hendrickson Marsh Lake Iowa City Saylorville Lake Spencer Dolliver Memorial State Park Rush Lake Brushy Creek State Park Carlson Recreation Area Sugar Bottom Recreation Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	41	1
Oscar Allert letter to Mary Lou Petersen regarding honorary membership in the Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Correspondence	Ornithology--Societies, etc	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Undated letter from Oscar Allert to Mary Lou Petersen. Allert thanks Petersen and the Iowa Ornithologists' Union for granting him honorary membership during the Union's most recent annual meeting. This document is in response to a letter from Petersen: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/10089/view	Allert, Oscar P.		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	45	7
Mary Lou Petersen letter to Oscar Allert regarding honorary membership in the Iowa Ornithologists' Union, May 31, 1976	Correspondence	Ornithology--Societies, etc	1976-05-31	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Mary Lou Petersen to Oscar Allert dated May 31, 1976. Petersen informs Allert that he has been elected an honorary member of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union at their recent annual meeting. This document is answered by a letter from Allert: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/10088/view	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Petersen, Mary Lou		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	45	7
Present Articles of Incorporation of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Administrative records Articles of incorporation	Ornithology--Societies, etc Articles of incorporation	1972-01-01	1972-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Articles of incorporation of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union containing twelve articles with administrative information for the Union. The articles reflect items as published in Iowa Bird Life (v. 23, pages 49-40, 1953) and amendments to the articles that were enacted and filed in 1972.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	46	11
Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Administrative records Articles of incorporation	Ornithology--Societies, etc Articles of incorporation	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Includes six restated articles of incorporation that reflect the nonprofit status of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. James Dinsmore is noted as the Vice-President and Ann Barker is noted as the secretary of the organization.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	46	11
Walter Rosene, Jr. letter to Pam Allen regarding the nomination of the Goldfinch as the Iowa State bird, March 24, 1993	Correspondence	Ornithology--Societies, etc State birds Birds in art	1993-03-24	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Walter Rosene, Jr. letter to Pam Allen regarding the origin of how the Goldfinch became nominated for the Iowa State bird. The letter highlights a visit Walter Rosene, Jr. and his father made to Althea R. Sherman's house and how after seeing a very artistic painting of a Goldfinch by Althea's sister, his father said that the Goldfinch should be the state bird.	Rosene, Walter, 1912-	American Goldfinch	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	46	11