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

Fall, early spring, and late spring migration dates for Iowa	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Tyrannidae \| Flycatchers Parulidae \| Warblers	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A handwritten list of fall, early spring, and late spring migration dates for numerous bird species in Iowa. The list includes the date of the sighting, the number of birds seen, as well as a key code indicating the location of the sighting. Also included is the type-written geographic location key used to decipher in which one of the 12 different observation spots the sighting was made.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	American Avocet Upland Sandpiper Horned Grebe Brewer's Blackbird Lapland Longspur Bewick's Wren Common Moorhen Western Kingbird Least Tern Baltimore Oriole Philadelphia Vireo Greater White-fronted Goose Bonaparte's Gull Dark-eyed Junco American Black Duck	Ames Credit Island Forneys Lake Ledges State Park Pilot Knob State Park Sidney DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge Anderson Goose Lake Iowa State University Nobles Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	1	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Red-throated Loon in Wapello County, 1973	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification	1873-04-28	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon on the Des Moines River near Ottumwa on April 28, 1873. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration, the original sighting record found in the publication Revised List of the Birds of Iowa by Philip A. DuMont seen by W. E. Praeger, and referenced by a later publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Red-throated Loon	Ottumwa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
The Ottumwa Bird Club	Administrative records	Bird watchers Bird watching Birds--Nests Ornithology--Societies, etc Women conservationists	1944-01-01	1944-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report on the first year of the Ottumwa Bird Club, including a history of it's founding, summaries of the group's activities, and a list of birds reported by members that year.	Ottumwa Bird Club	Bald Eagle American White Pelican Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Kentucky Warbler Mourning Dove Cliff Swallow	Lake Wapello Ottumwa Cliffland River Access				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	6	16
Ottumwa Bird Club meeting minutes, May 31, 1944	Administrative records	Bird watching Birds--Counting Ornithology--Societies, etc Women conservationists Meetings	1944-05-31	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Meeting minutes from the Ottumwa Bird Club, May 31, 1944, reporting various activities at the meeting, as well as the work of several committee members with the Iowa Ornithologists' Union.	Norris, Maude Ottumwa Bird Club		Ottumwa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	6	16
Documentations of Iowa Birds Submitted by Field Observers through 1999	Administrative records	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1945-01-01	2002-06-17	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of rare bird documentation forms and sightings submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union not reviewed by the Record Committee through 1999 prepared by Thomas H. Kent.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Sandpiper near New Albin, 1946	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1946-05-12	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Purple Sandpiper near New Albin in Allamakee County, IA on May 12, 1946. Includes a record review document with votes, an account of the sighting in An Annotated List of the Birds of Iowa by Woodward H. Brown, and the original sight record of the Purple Sandpiper in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 16:70 by A.C. Stewart.	Stewart, C.A.	Purple Sandpiper	New Albin	[...] vicinity of New Albin, Allamakee County, in the extreme northeast corner of the state.	[...] About one-half mile from where the north fork opens into the Mississippi there is a low, rocky waterfall, surrounded by a sand flat.	The documentation form by Charles A. Stewart is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Townsend's Warbler at Fejervary Park, 1950	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1950-05-07	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Townsend's Warbler at Fejervary Park in Davenport in Scott County, IA on May 7, 1950. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation article reviewed by the committee .	Feeney, Thomas J.	Townsend's Warbler	Fejervary Park	[...] in a ravine at Fejuvary [sic] Park, Davenport.		The documentation article by Thomas J. Feeney is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer includes Thomas Morrissey. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] the distinctive face pattern, the combination of black crown and striped sides made identification certain. \| Observation lasted for ten minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Gray Owl near Quarry, 1959	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1959-05-12	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl near Quarry in Marshall County, IA on May 12, 1959. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Mitchem, Lucile	Great Gray Owl	Quarry	[...] gravel road that follows the Iowa River near the small town of Quarry.		The documentation article by Lucile E. Mitchem forms the basis of this record. Other observer includes her daughter. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I was well acquainted with the Barred Owl, the only other owl an amateur might confuse with the larger Great Gray Owl. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 05:30:00/05:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black Rail at Cone Marsh in 1961	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Rare birds	1961-05-13	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Black Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on May 13, 1961. Includes a record review document with votes, the published sighting record found in the publication General notes reports in Iowa Bird Life 31:65-68 by Woodward H. Brown seen by Tom Kent, and two unpublished field notes about the sighting.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Black Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Jaeger species at Rice Lake, 1966	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1966-09-04	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Jaeger species at Rice Lake in Winnebago County, IA on September 4, 1966. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation account reviewed by the committee.	Sutter, B.E.; Sutter, Barton	Jaegers	Rice Lake	[...] shore of Rice Lake [...]		The documentation form by Barton E. Sutter is the only account reviewed and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Mark Sutter. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] one characteristic had been very noticeable-the great amount of white color that flashed as the bird flew, both on the upper- and undersides of the wings. At the time I did not realize the importance of this detail, but I recorded it along with my other field notes as I knew from past reading that distinguishing between Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers could be tricky. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Groove-billed Ani at Cedar Rapids, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1966-10-22	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Groove-billed Ani at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on October 22, 1966. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for a reconsideration of the review, an excerpt from The Birds of Iowa, and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Vane, Bob	Groove-billed Ani	Cedar Rapids	[...] Bever Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids		The documentation letter by Bob Vane is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jean Vane, Myra Willis, and Lillian Serbousek. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I must say at that particular time, since the bird was new to us, we were not absolutely sure whether it was a Smooth-billed or Groove-billed ani. Upon returning home, however, we found in Bent, "The note of the Smooth-billed ani has been called a wailing or whining whistle - resembling the notes of the wood duck." Our bird's call note was not a whistle at all. And then we found in Pough's Eastern Land Birds under Smooth-billed ani, "The two anis are hard to tell apart except by note, the whining notes of this species being in sharp contrast to the soft double note of the Groove-billed." So for my part, that settled it that our bird was a Groove-billed ani. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	15
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 Western Tanager at Frank Starr Park, 1969	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1969-05-08	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Tanager at Frank Starr Park in Buena Vista County, IA on May 8, 1969. Includes one record review document with votes and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Crocker, Virginia R.	Western Tanager	Frank Starr Park	[...] West Park is a state-owned 13 acre strip of land between Storm Lake and Little Storm Lake on the west side of Iowa 110.		The article by Virginia Crocker is the only one reviewed and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ruth Thornton. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Many insects were flying, and we were watching the large number of Myrtle Warblers feeding on the insects when Ruth exclaimed, "What is that bird with the bright red head?--I've never seen one like it before." Then the bird came into full view. The brilliant colors were breath-taking, and we had little trouble identifying it as a male Western Tanager. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	29
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Western Tanager at De Soto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, 1969	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1969-06-22	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Tanager at De Soto Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on June 22, 1969. Includes a record review document with votes and an article reviewed by the committee.	Bramel, Grover C.	Western Tanager	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	De Soto Bend National Wildlife Refuge		The article by Grover C. Bramel forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It was identified as a male Western Tanager in full breeding plumage, by the following: Size; comparable to more common Scarlet Tanager or Baltimore Oriole; [...] At about the same time and location a bird of similar appearance except for the red face, was seen flying between trees, and may have been the female Western Tanager. \| The original documentation form event lasted around a minute.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	29
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Band-tailed Pigeon west of Fort Dodge, 1970	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1970-09-05	1995-02-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Band-tailed Pigeon west of Fort Dodge in Webster County, IA on September 5, 1970. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Crawford, John	Band-tailed Pigeon	Fort Dodge	[...] seven miles West of Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa on the farm of Joseph R. Crawford.		The documentation article by John A. Crawford is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joseph R. Crawford. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] This bird first caught my attention by the fact that it lacked the typical white rump of a Rock Dove.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Western Tanager at Des Moines, 1971	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1971-11-04	1999-04-02	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Tanager at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on November 4, 1971. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brown, Woodward H.	Western Tanager	Des Moines	Des Moines, IA	Well-kept back yard of apartment in the heart of Des Moines	The documentation form by Woodward H. Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Mary Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Too large for goldfinch, wing bars eliminate Summer or Scarlet Tanagers which would not be here at this time. Bill obviously not oriole or finch. \| The original documentation form event lasted briefly, mid-afternnon [sic].	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	29
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Whooping Crane north of Clinton, 1972	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1972-10-31	1993-08-27	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Whooping Crane north of Clinton in Clinton County, IA on October 31, 1972. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record of Whooping Crane in Clinton County in Iowa Bird Life 42:98 by Peter C. Petersen seen by George Aurand.	Aurand, George	Whooping Crane	Clinton	[...] about ten miles north of Clinton.		The documentation article in Iowa Bird Life by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. The original observer was George Aurand. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00 for several minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper northwest of Iowa City, 1974	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1974-10-03	1999-04-02	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper northwest of Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on October 3, 1974. Includes a record review document with votes, two articles in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence about the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Johnson County	County road 0, about 15 miles NWW of Iowa City, Iowa	General: puddle in mudflat Specific: shallow water and mud, with sparse clumps of grass	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Pectoral Sandpiper. good juxtaposition. Diff.: chestnut crown, breast spotting much finer, mostly on sides only, no sharp line of demarcation downwards \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:10:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	4
Records committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Campbell's Island in East Moline, 1974	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1974-12-02	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Campbell's Island in East Moline in Rock Island County, IL on December 2, 1974. Includes record review documents with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fawks, Elton	Iceland Gull	Campbells Island	From my residence, Campbell's Island, East Moline, Ill. 3 miles downstream from Lock & Dam 14, Mississippi River	First seen at mouth of Honey Creek, flowing into Miss. R.	The documentation form by Elton Fawks forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ernie Salder was submitted. Other observer includes Mark Henderson and unidentified individuals on a Christmas Bird Count. \| Elimination of similar species: Glaucous Gull \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mountain Bluebird at Black Hawk Park, 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1975-04-10	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird at Black Hawk Park in Black Hawk County, IA on April 10, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Dowell, Virgil Eugene	Mountain Bluebird	Black Hawk Park	[...] we observed a Mountain Bluebird just after crossing Snag Creek near the entrance to Black Hawk Park. This is a county park located at the northwest edge of Cedar Falls adjoining the Cedar River and is in the Cedar River floodplain.		The documentation article by Virgil E. Dowell forms the basis of this record. Other observers include fourteen students in the Field Zoology of Vertebrates class at University of Northern Iowa. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 14:20:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Green-tailed Towhee at Storm Lake, 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1975-05-05	2000-11-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Green-tailed Towhee at Storm Lake in Buena Vista County, IA on May 5, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes and an Iowa Bird Life article reviewed by the committee.	Crocker, Virginia R.	Green-tailed Towhee	Storm Lake	306 W. Ninth St., Storm Lake		The article by Virginia R. Crocker forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Edwin Crocker, Emily Ruth Campbell, Verne Campbell, Barney Campbell, and Georgia Campbell. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 12:00:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	30
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis species at Lake View, 1975	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1975-05-09	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two species of Ibis at Lake view in Sac County, IA on May 9, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Jones, Glenn E.	Glossy Ibises	Lake View	3 mi. S of west Ridge of Lake View, Sac. Co., Iowa	marshy - a grazed out pasture - wet at this time - usually grazed in June and July	The documentation form by Glenn E. Jones is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ed Weiner and Mark Bohemayer. \| Elimination of similar species: Little green heron. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Gallinule near Promise City in 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds	1975-09-01	1994-11-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Purple Gallinule near Promise City in Wayne County, IA on May 10, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Field reports in Iowa Bird Life 45:55-59 by Woodward H. Brown seen by Charlotte Scott, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Purple Gallinule	Promise City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Ivory Gull at Rathbun Reservoir, 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1975-12-20	1999-04-02	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Ivory Gull at Lake Rathbun in Appanoose County, IA on December 20, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, request for reconsideration, correspondence about the sighting and review including an unreviewed documentation form, and a documentation form submitted to the committee and reviewed.	Ayres, Charles C., Jr.	Ivory Gull	Rathbun Lake	Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County, Iowa, 7 miles north of Centerville. Surface area 11,000 acres, about 180 miles of shoreline. Corps of Engineers project.		The documentation form by Charles C. Ayres, Jr. is the only one reviewed and forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Tom Johnson was submitted and not reviewed. Other observers include Blossom H. Hallberg, Virgil Corzette, Jean Corzette, Darlene Ayres, Gary Wymore, and Madeline Wymore. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:15:00/13:28:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis species at Lake View, 1976	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1976-04-19	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of two Ibises at Lake View in Sac Co. on April 19, 1976 and May 9, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, two Iowa Bird Life articles, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Jones, Glenn E.	Glossy Ibises	Lake View	3 mi. S of West ridge of Lake View, Sac. Co., Iowa	marshy - a grazed out pasture - wet at this time - usually grazed in June and July	The documentation form by Glenn E. Jones is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Bohemayer and Ed Weiner. \| Elimination of similar species: Little green heron. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21