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 Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Red-breasted Merganser, 1942-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1942-05-17	1983-06-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Red-breasted Merganser submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1942-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Red-breasted Merganser	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	54
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Common Merganser, 1942-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1942-05-22	1983-03-12	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Common Merganser submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1942-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Common Merganser	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	54
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Western Meadowlark, 1980-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1980-12-01	1983-06-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Western Meadowlark submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1980-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Western Meadowlark	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	53
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Eastern Meadowlark, 1980-1982	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1980-12-01	1982-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Eastern Meadowlark submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1980-1982. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location. Document titled "The blue list.”	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Eastern Meadowlark	Iowa Polk County Centerville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	53
Lantern slide of a Wilson's Phalarope and White-rumped Sandpipers wading in shallow water	Lantern slides	Bird watching	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A Wilson's Phalarope and White-rumped Sandpipers wading in shallow water near the shore. Slide originally titled "Wilson Phalarope." The lantern slide is hand-colored. Rosene provides details on slide.	Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	Wilson's Phalarope White-rumped Sandpiper					Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	1	53
Starling increasing in Western Iowa	Press releases	Bird watching Birds--Geographical distribution Ornithology--Methodology	1934-11-08	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Press release dated November 8, 1934. In this Outdoor Iowa news release from the Iowa Fish and Game Commission, Philip DuMont notes that the European Starling has now been sighted in 94 of the 99 Iowa counties.	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996 Iowa Fish and Game Commission	Common Starling	Iowa Grand Junction Osceola Hillsdale				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	7	53
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Purple Martin, 1962-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1962-03-23	1983-03-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Purple Martin submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1962-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Purple Martin	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	52
Lantern slide of a male Wilson's Phalarope swimming	Lantern slides	Bird watching	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A male Wilson's Phalarope swimming in a marshy area. Slide originally titled "Wilson's Phalarope–Male." The lantern slide is hand-colored.	Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	Wilson's Phalarope					Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	3	52
Lantern slide and photograph of a Wilson's Snipe	Lantern slides Photographs	Bird watching	1927-11-05	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A Wilson's Snipe captured at Long Pond, November 5, 1927. Slide originally titled "Jack Snipe." The lantern slide is hand-colored. Rosene provides details on photograph.	Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	Wilson's Snipe	Long Pond				Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	1	52
Magpies in Western Iowa	Press releases	Bird watching Birds--Geographical distribution	1934-12-20	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Press release dated December 20, 1934. In this Outdoor Iowa news release from the Iowa Fish and Game Commission Philip DuMont notes the largest Magpie presence in Iowa since the winter of 1921-1922.	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996 Iowa Fish and Game Commission	Black-billed Magpie	Iowa				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	7	51
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Common Loon, 1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1983-04-03	1983-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Common Loon submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members in 1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Common Loon	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	51
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
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Lapland Longspur, 1965-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1965-04-28	1983-04-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Lapland Longspur submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1965-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Lapland Longspur	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	50
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-03	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam in Marion County, IA on December 3, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Res., Marion Co. Iowa.	Des Moines River below Red Rock Reservoir dam.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis L. Moore, Robert K. Myers, Beth Proescholdt, Thomas J. Staudt, Peter C. Petersen, Dennis Thompson, Carl J. Bendorf, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted. Other observers include Hank Zaletel, Phyllis Harris, Gil Sandvick, Carol McMillen, Pauline Mairs, Gladys Black, Jim Fuller, Darwin Koenig, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, John Bowles, and other unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Size and yellow legs exclude Great Black-backed, Western, and Slaty-backed Gulls. Size excludes Yellow-footed Gull. Mantle to [sic] dark for California Gull and leg color too yellow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Jester Park at Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-12-04	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Jester Park at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 4, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Jester Park	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-near Jester Park	resting on mud bar with thousands of other gulls	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The size(larger than Ring-billed Gull, smaller than Herring Gull) eliminates all Gulls except Herring, California, and Lesser Black-backed gulls. Dark mantle color eliminates Herring Gull. The dark gray mantle was too dark for a California Gull, and the legs were a brighter yellow than the dull yellow leg color of a California. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:50:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull near Jester Park at Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-11-15	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull near Jester Park at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 15, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Jester Park	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-near Jester Park	resting on mud bar with thousands of other gulls	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bery Engebretsen. \| Elimination of similar species: The size (larger than Ring-billed Gull, smaller than Herring Gull) eliminates all Gulls except Herring, California, and Lesser Black-backed gulls. The mantle was much too dark for a Herring Gull. Separation from California Gull is much more difficult. Obviously, the mantle color of this bird was much too dark for a California Gull, and the legs were more yellow than the legs of a California Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:44:00/16:38:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-12-29	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 29, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Armstrong, Eugene	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Saylorville Lake	South Saylorville Overlook	Saylorville Ice	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Bery Engebretsen was submitted later. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong and Gale Pederson. \| Elimination of similar species: Greater Black backed gull, this gull much to [sic] small for that species \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull near the Ben Butterworth Parkway, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-02-04	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull near the Ben Butterworth Parkway in Rock Island County, IL on February 4, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, Charles R.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Ben Butterworth Parkway	seen from Riverside Park Moline (Bettendorf IA)	River	The documentation form by Chuck Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Peter C. Petersen was submitted later. Other observers include Mary Lou Petersen, Ann Barker, Jane Fuller, Gerry White, and Tim Dwyer. \| Elimination of similar species: Western - Slatybacked - Yellowlegs Greater Black Backed - size- leg color. difference in mantle color \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Blue Jay, 1981-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1981-09-26	1983-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Blue Jay submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1981-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Blue Jay	Iowa City Mills County Pocahontas Story County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull on the Iowa River in Iowa City, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-01-31	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of Lesser Black-backed Gull on the Iowa River in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 31, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Iowa City	Iowa River - Iowa City	River	The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Carl J. Bendorf was submitted. Another observer includes Cal Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: I question bill color. Wings + mantle not dark enough for great black backed + too dark for California Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:55:00/10:00:00, 10:10:00/10:15:00, and 13:35:00/13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Elk Rock State Park, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-11	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Elk Rock State Park in Marion County, IA on December 11, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Elk Rock State Park	on ice in Lake Red Rock as viewed from bluff in N. Elk Rock St. Park	Reservoir on ice	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Black Backed - size other dark immature gulls - wings - more solid + consistent color + mantle solid dark gray \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:40:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Elk Rock State Park, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-03	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Elk Rock State Park in Marion County, IA on December 3, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Elk Rock State Park	[...] resting on mud bar just w. of old Hwy 14 a long north edge of reservoir.		The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Gil Sandvick was another observer. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Bird slightly smaller than nearby adult Herring Gull, larger than Ring-billed Gulls surrounding it. head white with tan flecking back + mantle slaty grey, much darker than Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/14:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-11-29	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on November 29, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of review, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.	sitting on ice above dam	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Tanya Bray and Barbara Wilson were submitted. Other observers include Peter Wickham, Mark Brogie, and Bery Engebretsen. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Black-backed Gull was eliminated by the smaller size, contrast between the wingtips and the rest of the wing, and by the heavy streaking on the head(head should be mostly white on a Great Black-backed Gull). California Gull was eliminated by the darker mantle, darker underwing and dark carpal bar, lack of a dark spot on the bill, and by the dark smudge at the base of the bill(this is characteristic of 3rd summer Lesser Black-backed Gulls and is never present on California Gulls). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:08:00/12:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 19 in Keokuk, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-10-20	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 19 in Keokuk in Lee County, IA on October 20, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lock Number 19	Behind dam, Lock and Dam 19, Keokuk, Iowa	River rapids	The documentation form by Robert Cecil forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted. Other observers include Chris Pilliod, Jim Sandrock, Cal Knight, Jane Fuller, Charles Fuller, and James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: The only species I could not eliminate on the basis of field marks observed was Yellow-footed, which according to Tom Kent (telephone conversation) is not a known vagrant. More objectively, the Yellow-footed is supposed to be larger than a Herring Gull. As stated above, this bird was about the size of a Herring Gull, or perhaps a little smaller. I don't feel it was larger than a Herring Gull. Seabirds (Harrison) warns of possible confusion with dark race Herring Gull. I have not heard of this race occuring [sic] in Iowa. In any event, the foot coloring was incorrect for Herring Gull, which has pink legs in contrast to this bird's yellow legs. \| The original documentation form event occurred at various times.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at IPL Ponds, 1985	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-05-17	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 17, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, a summary of review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wright, Rick	Lesser Black-backed Gull	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	IPPD Settling Ponds, Pottawatamie [sic] Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Rick Wright is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ken Strom and Marie Strom. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The different mantle colorations of the herring and ring-billed gulls were distinguishable. [...] The presence of other gull species convinced me that I had accurately judged the mantle color of this bird; I was able to compare it with 3 other species, as well as Caspian terns. The size and bill size rule out great Black-backed, the only dark-backed gull with which I am familiar. Although western gull would show a similar upper-wing pattern, I suspect that it too would appear heavy-billed (and would not have yellow feet). Yellow-footed gull is also large and deep-billed, and is probably less likely than lesser black-backed in Iowa. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:30:00/13:30:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5