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 Fish Crow at Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-08	1997-10-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Fish Crow at Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve in Muscatine County, IA on May 8, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brush, Tim	Fish Crow	Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve	Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve, extreme NE Louisa + SE Muscatine Counties - approximately on boundary	bottomland forest/pond	The documentation form by Tim Brush is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Calls eliminated American Crows, which were calling at the same time. I am familiar with both adult + young crow calls of both American + Fish Crows. The calls were identical to those of Fish Crows in New Jersey. The circling behavior is unique to Fish Crows + the upriver migration is typical of Fish Crows in NJ - overmigration \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:53:00/09:54:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Daily field checking list, Walter Rosene, May 14, 1932	Checklists Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Nests Congresses and conventions Ornithology--Societies, etc	1932-05-14	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Bird checklist dated May 14, 1932. This checklist was used by Walter Rosene to record birds sighted around Des Moines during the field trip at the tenth annual meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	Least Flycatcher Loggerhead Shrike Sora Stilt Sandpiper Philadelphia Vireo Swainson's Thrush Black-throated Green Warbler Wilson's Warbler Yellow-throated Vireo	Des Moines				Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	12	1
Nesting Wood Duck study (35 Years)	Reports Tables (documents)	Birds--Eggs Birds--Nests Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Birdhouses Predatory animals Waterfowl management Eggs--Incubation Ducks--Counting Ducklings Wood duck--Behavior	1984-01-01	1984-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A report compiling the discoveries from 35 years of nesting Wood Duck studies written by Frederic Leopold. The typewritten report details Leopold's findings on the nesting habits of Wood Ducks, including the following: nest site selection, Wood Duck nesting boxes, mating, egg laying, incubation, hatching, departure from the nest, travel of ducklings to water, predatory animals, and maintenance of the Wood Duck nest boxes. A table of 35 years of statistics based on over 10,000 observations is included at the end of the report.	Leopold, Frederic, 1895-1989	Wood Duck	Burlington				Frederic Leopold Papers \| MS 113	12	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Pygmy Nuthatch at Des Moines, 1977	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1977-01-26	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pygmy Nuthatch at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on January 26, 1977. Includes a record review document with votes, multiple articles from Iowa Bird Life, correspondence related to bird sighting and review, and two documentations submitted to the committee.	Brown, Woodward H.	Pygmy Nuthatch	Des Moines	[...] 5400 Woodland Ave.		The documentation form by Woodward H. Brown is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Nicholas Halmi was submitted later. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Mary Brown, Dorothy Ely, Peter C. Petersen, Mary Lou Petersen, Margaret Brooke, Lillian Serbousek, Allen Mueller, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] According to plumage descriptions of the Pigmy and Brown-headed Nuthatches, the only noticeable difference between the two (short of having the bird in hand) is in the color of the crown and nape. The field guides are agreed that the crown of the Brown-headed is brown, but there is a lack of unanimity in their descriptions of the crown of the Pigmy. [...] Margaret Brooke, in writing up the observation for IBL, describes the cap as being "brownish" but has no doubt about this nuthatch being a Pigmy. Mary and I feel the grayish olive description comes closest and cinches the Pigmy identification. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	51
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Boreal Chickadee at Osage, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-11-24	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Boreal Chickadees at Osage in Mitchell County, IA on November 24, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Woolfries, Andy	Boreal Chickadee	Osage	Osage, Iowa Home Feeder board	Home bird feeder - back yard - shrubs and trees.	The documentation form by Andy Woolfries is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Associated with other chickadees but noticable [sic] because of distinctive brown cap. There appeared to be only two. They were positively identified at least 20 times from a distance of about six feet. Reference: "Birds of North America". \| The original documentation form event occurred at least 20 times over November 24 to 26, 1978.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	49
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Boreal Chickadee at Des Moines, 1976	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1976-11-17	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Boreal Chickadee at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on November 17, 1976. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, multiple articles from Iowa Bird Life, a request for reconsideration of record, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brown, Woodward H.	Boreal Chickadee	Des Moines	Des Moines, IA	General: urban, residential Specific: large back yard with both evergreen and deciduous trees and large stand of yew adjacent to feeders	The documentation form by Woodward H. Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Mooney, Nicholas Halmi, Lurene Warters, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Superficially similar to any of the chickadees \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	49
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Raven at Lake Manawa State Park, 1998	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-02-05	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Raven at Lake Manawa State Park in Pottawattamie County, IA on February 5, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Bunnimit, Manit	Common Raven	Lake Manawa State Park	[...] Lake Manawa State Park, near Council Bluffs, IA. [...] was travelling south on the road that follows the west edge of Lake Manawa.		The documentation letter by Manit Bunnimit is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It flew for most of the time by soaring with its wings held very flat, only twice flapping its wings momentarily (shallow wingbeats) and once folding its wings rather tightly and gliding. All of the crows I have seen flap steadily, gliding only occasionally. [...] It could not have been mistaken even for the tails of the occasional American Crows that appear quite rounded. The sheer size of the bird and the wedge-shaped tail were enough to distinguish it from any of the crows, but what about the Chihuahuan Raven? Fortunately, as it flew by, the bird made two brief call notes that were very hoarse (sounding much more like grrrawgk than the gaw of the American Crow), and much deeper than the Chihuahuan Raven that I heard in northern Texas. However, because it has been a few years since I had seen or heard the Chihuahuan, I decided to double check the calls on a tape I had at home. The tape and I agree that the call was that of a Common Raven. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:10:00/11:11:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	47
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Common Raven west of Mason City, 1966	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1966-12-28	1994-11-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Raven west of Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on December 28, 1966. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Roosa, Dean M.	Common Raven	Mason City	[...] driving from Clear Lake to Mason City		The documentation article by Dean M. Roosa forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Paul Bailey. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Its flight pattern, size, and rounded or wedge-shaped tail distinguished it from nearby Crows.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	47
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Raven at Dubuque, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-12-17	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Raven at Dubuque in Dubuque County, IA on December 17, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, a summary of review, and a documentation submitted to the committee.	Herrman, William	Common Raven	Dubuque	Location was about three miles south of Dubuque city limits, in narrow valley with scattered cedar trees, with bird in a leafless tree		The documentation by William Herrmann is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Feller and John Stampe. \| Elimination of similar species: One half larger than a dozen Am. crows about 100 feet away from the raven at same distance \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	47
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow southwest of Oakville, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-11	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Fish Crow southwest of Oakville in Louisa County, IA on May 11, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Fish Crow	Oakville	1/2 mi SW Oakville, Louisa Co, IA	Bottomland Forest along Iowa River	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Brian Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Am. Crow - larger, different call, flight stronger. Due to late season no Am. Crows have fledged. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Cone Marsh, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-03-28	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Fish Crow in Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on March 28, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Fish Crow	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	In the woods along the edge of Cone Marsh (Louisa County.		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jane Fuller, Chuck Fuller, John Rutenbeck, Rick Hollis, and Jim Durbin. \| Elimination of similar species: The call this bird was making was not that of a Common Crow, and the bird making the call (as well as the other bird) appeared to have a smaller bill and was more glossy than I would expect a Common Crow to be. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:48:00/09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-21	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for four Fish Crows at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Louisa County, IA on April 21, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Fish Crow	Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Louisa Division	Louisa Refuge, Mark Twain NWR, Louisa Co., IA	Mississippi River bottoms	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Johnson and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Chuck Fuller, and Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: The Records Committee has not accepted two previous records of Fish Crow along the Mississippi River in Louisa County because of the difficulty in substantiating the identification. I was well aware of this, and like other committee members, I believed that they were likely present in this area. I can only say that I was watching the birds when I heard them, which eliminates the possibility that they were young American Crows. I would not want to rely on the morphologic features. I was impressed that this group stayed together in the flooded woods, which was unlike the behavior of the American Crows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:40:00/09:30:00 and 10:25:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Big Timber Unit of Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge , 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-25	1997-10-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Fish Crow at Big Timber Unit of Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Louisa County, IA on April 25, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	McKay, Kelly	Fish Crow	Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Big Timber Division	Big Timber Unit of Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge approx. 2.0 miles downstream of Kilpeck landing. This landing is located 8.0 miles South of Muscatine, Ia. on County Road X61.	Bottomland Hardwood Forest	The documentation form by Kelly McKay forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Peter C. Petersen was submitted. Other observers include Brian Blevins, Michael Bornstein, and Gerald White. \| Elimination of similar species: American Crow: different sounding calls; This bird was smaller than American Crows \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie at Broken Kettle Grasslands, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-10-09	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie at Broken Kettle Grasslands in Plymouth County, IA on October 9, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fields, Will	Black-billed Magpie	Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve	Broken Kettle Grasslands (a Nature Conservancy Preserve, Plymouth Co., IA)		The documentation form by Will Fields is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include unidentified members of Iowa State University Fisheries and Wildlife Biology Club. \| Elimination of similar species: The American crow and the common raven lack do not have such a long tail and they usually do not have white in their plumage. I had seen American crows flying around the preserve earlier that morning. This bird definitely had a longer tail than the American crows. Ring-necked pheasants also have a long tail, but they do not normally have a black and white plumage. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area, 1999.	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-09-27	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area in Pottawattamie County, IA on September 27, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, an e-mail from Sue Mattix to Jim Fuller, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Mattix, Sue	Black-billed Magpie	Hitchcock Nature Area	Hitchcock Wildlife Area, Crescent, IA	forest	The documentation form by Sue Mattix is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Howard Mattix. \| Elimination of similar species: Only similar species would be yellow billed magpie - this one had a black bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-07	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 7, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting and a request for re-evaluation of sighting, summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	California Gull	Cherry Glen Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co. (Cherry Glen Recreation Area)	sitting on ice with other gulls	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull eliminated by larger size, lighter mantle color, lack of black and red spots on bill, and wrong leg color (pink, although a very few Herring Gull show yellowish legs). Ring-billed Gull eliminated by smaller size, lighter mantle color, lack of a black ring on bill, and by yellower leg color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:13:00/14:08:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Gull Point at West Okoboji Lake, 1997	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-09-07	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a California Gull at Gull Point at West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County, IA on September 7, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence from Ken Brock to Thomas Kent, and two copies of a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	California Gull	Gull Point	Gull Point, West Lake Okoboji, Dickinson Co.	Rocky point on natural lake		Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Lost Island Lake, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-03	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Lost Island Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on November 3, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	California Gull	Lost Island Lake	N. Shore of Lost Island Lake, Palo Alto, Co.	Shoreline	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull - bill, eye and leg color Ring-billed Gull - Bill size, tail + wingtips in flight \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:35:00/10:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Mini-Wakan State Park, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-09-06	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Mini-Wakan State Park in Dickinson County, IA on September 6, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bangma, Jim Johnson, Ann	California Gull	Mini Wakan State Park	Spirit Lake, north end, Dickinson Co., IA	Lakeshore	The documentation form by Jim Bangma and Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring-billed is ruled out by the solid gray mantle combined with the extensive molt of the flight feathers. Ring-bills and similar 3 year gulls obtain the gray mantle during a post-juvenal molt. Flight feathers are not molted at this time. Flight feathers are molted after one year, at which time the body of a Ring-bill would be much whiter. Also, the mantle was a much darker shade of gray than any Ring-bill present. Additionally, Ring-billed Gull's bill is proportionally smaller and thinner, with more curve. Herring Gull would be larger. The mantle of a Herring Gull would be paler gray, nearly the same shade as that of the Ring-bills. The bill would be proportionally heavier with a more marked gonydeal angle. Herring Gulls may show a black tipped bill, but the black normally blends into the pink of the base or runs in along the cutting edges of the bill. The bill and legs would be brighter pink. Other similarly sized extralimitals can be ruled out by the mantle color as well as bill pattern and shape. A striking feature of this bird was its leg length. In an effort to better understand this, Bangma paid a visit to the American Museum of Natural History and examined specimens of Herring, Ring-billed and California Gulls. Measurements were made of a representative selection of specimens. The following chart shows the results. [Chart] While there is some overlap between these species, it is interesting to note that the breaking point between California Gull and the other two is very near the ratio of 1.5. While not diagnostic by itself, the length of this bird's tarsus relative to the culmen as estimated by us in the field is indicative of California Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-09-03	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area in Marion County, IA on September 3, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	California Gull	Red Rock Wildlife Area	1 mi e. of Swan, Marion Co. (Runnells W.A.)	pool of shallow water	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Sinclair, Thomas H. Kent, and Jim Fuller were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring-billed and Herring gulls are the two most likely species of confusion. Ring-billed Gull never shows this much brown in any plumage, has a dark tail band in immature plumages, has a different wing pattern, and is structurally different from California Gull. Herring Gull is more similar in first-basic plumage, but always shows a pale window on the inner primaries, lacks the double dark bar effect in the innerwing, is larger, and very rarely shows a strongly bicolored bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:55:00/12:24:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
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
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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-10-27	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 27, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, two articles in Iowa Bird Life, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	California Gull	Babcock Access	Babcock Access, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson County, Iowa	shallow, open area of reservoir	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, Randy Pinkston, Carol Thompson, and Carl J. Bendorf were submitted later. Other observers include Timothy Dwyer, John Cordell, James Huntington, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Rick Hollis. \| Elimination of similar species: First-year Ring-billed Gulls were all in first winter plumage with gray mantle and were much lighter overall. The only other species considered is juvenile Herring Gull. The size is small for Herring Gull. The elongated appearance and short legs fit California Gull. Most young Herrings that I see in early fall have mostly dark bills that are larger than that of this bird. The double inner wing bar and lighter tertial tips fit California Gull. The overall relatively uniform and relatively light brown color without windows in the inner primaries also made this bird look different from Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/16:55:00 on October 27, 1990 and from 19:10:00/22:30:00 and 15:00:00/16:00:00 on October 28, 1990.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-08	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on September 8, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and the article California Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Iowa Bird Life 61:20 by Stephen Dinsmore reviewed by the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	California Gull	Oak Grove Recreation Area	[...] Oak Grove Beach Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County.		The article by Stephen J. Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...]The bird was similar in size to the largest Ring-billed Gulls, but slightly larger than others. I approached closer and noted that, when compared to a Ring-billed Gull, the bird had duller yellow legs, a stouter bill with black and red spots near the tip of the lower mandible, and a darker gray mantle. [...] The bird was slightly larger than most of the Ring-billed Gulls, although one or two of the biggest Ring-billed Gulls were as large as the bird I was studying. Proportionately, the bird was heavier and larger-headed than a Ring-billed Gull. [...] I estimated the mantle color to be about midway between those of Ring-billed Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. [...] The bill was heavier than the bill of a Ring-billed Gull and had a distinct gonys. The legs were pale gray-green, unlike the bright yellow legs of a Ring-billed Gull. Leg length appeared similar to a Ring-billed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/09:27:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Credit Island, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-23	1993-07-21	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Credit Island in Scott County, IA on November 23, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence about the sighting from Louise Augustine to Carl Bendorf, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Augustine, Louise	California Gull	Credit Island	Credit Island - Davenport, Iowa - Scott County	This is an unfamiliar Area for me - I have never birded there before - The Place Credit Island - Backwater of Mississippi River - There was some ICE and open water - Many Gulls were in this Backwater area - on ice and in water. Probably around 1,500 Gulls -	The documentation form by Louise Augustine forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Peter C. Petersen and Jim Fuller were submitted. Other observers include Randy Pinkston, Mary Lou Petersen, Jerome Augustine, David Augustine, and Julie Augustine. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull - darker mantle - Dark eye - Leg Color - ashy-green gray not Pink - smaller size - slimmer build Ring-billed Gull - mantle too dark - dark eye - Bill had only a spot Leg Color not yellow - This bird larger than Ring-billed gulls - \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1