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 of Mississippi Kite at Hartman Reserve, 1992	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-16	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Hartman Reserve in Blackhawk County, IA on May 16, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and one documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Mississippi Kite	Hartman Reserve Nature Center	Hartman Reserve, Cedar Falls, Iowa	River bottom and large field with scattered trees. The bird glided over from south to north and disappeared.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: We were looking for a Swallow-tailed Kite reported the day before, but this bird did not have the forked tail and contrasting black and white of that species. The underparts and tail were not white as would be expected for Black-shouldered Kite. I did note any contrast in the upper wing (white posterior edge of inner wing) -- I may not have seen this or this could of been a first-year bird that lacks this mark. The failure to flap wings and overall gray color is inconsistent with any falcon. I saw a Swainson's Hawk earlier in the morning and its contrasting underwing was very different than this bird. A Red-tailed Hawk was also seen earlier and had an obvious buteo shape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:27:00/10:29:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Grammer Grove Wildlife Area, 1994	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-09-26	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Grammer Grove Wildlife Area in Marshall County, IA on September 26, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Beth	Mississippi Kite	Grammer Grove County Wildlife Area	Grammer Grove, Marshall County - hawk-watch	Wooded ridge paralleling Iowa River	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine, imm male, is similar. See above. It was near the size and shape of a Peregrine with long tapered wings & slim body. I knew this wasn't a Peregrine (but an immature male Peregrine & an imm. Mississippi Kite are similar). However the slim, pointed wings of this bird had a different shape; the tail was longer, proportionately, than a Peregrine's, & squared-off rather than tapered like a Peregrine's. I couldn't see if its tail flared at the tip, but in the gap where we had a second, very quick look, Eloise noted its twisting of the tail which is a Mississippi Kite trait. But it was the wing beat that determined absolutely that it was a Mississippi Kite- light, bouyant, [sic] floppy, leisurely, like a moth-so different from the powerful, rapid, direct flight of a Peregrine, and different from any other raptor's flight we have observed. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at George Wyth State Park, 1979	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1979-04-12	1994-01-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on April 12, 1979. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, correspondence about bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Stone, Tom, Jr. Stone, Tom	Mississippi Kite	George Wyth Memorial State Park	George Wyth State Park	Lowland river bottoms with Deciduous Woodland	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Stone Sr. \| Elimination of similar species: Like Marsh Hawk which has a white rump patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at East of Randall, 1991	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-22	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at east of Randall in Hamilton County, IA on May 22, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Mississippi Kite	Randall	Hamilton County just east of Randall	along Skunk River Valley - wooded river - open area near bridge	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Beth Proescholdt were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Harrier - tail was not right and long enough for harrier and bird was not right color underneath. Nighthawk - Our bird was much bigger than Nighhawk and had no white patches in its wings. Turkey Vulture or Eagle - Our bird was much smaller and had long, narrow pointed wings. Accipiters - Body shape was wrong and did not have extra long tail -look like accipiters have. Osprey - Wrong body shape for osprey and no white markings on our bird. Buteos - Wrong body shape again even for Swainson's Hawk which can appear to have pointed wings when seen overhead. Buteos have much broader wings and should show some white contrasting colors underneath. Falcons - Our bird was too big for a Kestrel or Merlin. I don't think Merlins ever have leisurely, slow flapping flight. This bird didn't fly right for a Peregrine and the body proportions were not right for a Peregrine. I've seen Peregrines fly in a slow, leisurely manner and this did not seem to suggest a Peregrine at all. A Peregrine or Prairie Falcon should show some light-colored areas underneath. Also, a Peregrine's tail tapers down to a rounded end and is not squared off and flared at the end. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:35:00/19:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Dudgeon Lake area, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents) Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-06-06	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Dudgeon Lake in Benton County, IA on June 6, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, three photographs, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Mississippi Kite	Dudgeon Lake State Wildlife Mgt Area	Dudgeon Lake area - N. of Vinton - (Benton Co.)	Riverbottom woods along Cedar River with pond and power line cut	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Steve Dinsmore, Thomas H. Kent, Carl J. Bendorf, Beth Proescholdt, Jim Fuller, Randy Pinkston, Peter C. Petersen, and Diane Porter were submitted later .Other observers include Brian Blevins, Phyllis Harris, Jim Sinclair, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Marc Phelps, Dave Conrads, Anne Barker, and Steve Poe. \| Elimination of similar species: There really are no similar species. An adult Black-shouldered Kite is very distinctive and the immature does not have a barred tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:33:00/07:45:00 and 11:45:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-05-19	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on May 19, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Mississippi Kite	Babcock Access	Coraville Reservoir, Babcock Access, Johnson Co., IA	wide part of reservoir with open mud flats	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The pointed wings indicate a kite or falcon. The gliding flight was that of a kite not a falcon. The white body and head also eliminates all falcons. The lack of white rump as well as the flight pattern eliminate Northern Harrier. Swallow-tailed Kite would have a forked tail and different flight pattern. Black-shouldered Kite has a white and black shoulder. The lack of white patches in the secondaries and brownish tail indicate a subadult (first year bird). I looked for bands in the tail, but could not appreciate them. Failure to see bands could be due to the lighting and distance or, as noted by Clark and Wheeler, to the fact that "A few immatures have solid, unbanded dark brown tails." The prominent light and dark underwing puzzled me, but Dunne says that "Immature has body and underwing coverts buffy, with dark streaking and spotting of variable density; may be lighter or darker than illustrated." The underwing coverts and body appeared about the same shade to me. The lighting and distance may have precluded my appreciating any streaking. This bird appeared lighter than the bird I saw at Dudgeon Lake last year, especially the underwing coverts. The profile and flight characteristics allowed me to immediately recognize the bird as a Mississippi Kite. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:35:00/13:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Clive, 1992	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-23	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Clive in Polk County, IA on May 23, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Mississippi Kite	Clive	Clive, Polk Co., Iowa. Same bird observed by many others and photographed by Tom Kent.		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Really unmistakable perched at such close range. Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) basically a white bird with a white tail, much less likely in Iowa.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-29	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mew Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 29, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Mew Gull	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	large reservoir	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The wing pattern, size, and lack of black marks on the face eliminated any of the smaller gulls (i.e. Bonaparte's). The small size and smaller bill size eliminated California Gull. Ring-billed Gull was eliminated on the basis of the darker mantle and upperwings, large, dark eye, and bill color and shape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:03:00/16:41:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-12-11	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mew Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam in Marion County, IA on December 11, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Mew Gull	Red Rock Dam	below Red Rock Reservoir dam, Marion Co., IA	spillway	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Sinclair, Ray Cummins, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted. Other observers include Tim Schantz, Jim Fuller, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The only species with which this bird could be confused is Ring-billed Gull. The tail and wing patterns, generally darker coloration, large eye, and smaller bill all eliminate first-winter Ring-billed Gull. Identification to subspecies was based on tail pattern and more extensive dark color on head and underparts. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:20:00/08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Lock and Dam 14, 1982	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-12-19	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mew Gull at Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on December 19, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, comments and correspondence on the sighting, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Laughing Gull	Lock and Dam 14	Lock and Dam 14, Scott Co. Iowa	Mississippi River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas J. Staudt, Peter C. Petersen, Tim Dwyer, and Francis L. Moore were submitted. Other observers include Don Moeller, Jean Moeller, Mary Lou Petersen, Bob Linden, Clark Scott, and Larry Linder. \| Elimination of similar species: Separated from Ring-bill by gray head and mantle, wing-tip, size, character of terminal tail band, and bill color and shape. Separated from Franklin's by wing tip pattern (in face of nearly white tail, ie 2nd year bird) \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:40:00/09:50:00 and 14:15:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Lakeview Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-20	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mew Gull at Lakeview Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 20, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Mew Gull	Lakeview Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA-on jetty at Lakeview Rec. Area	perched on jetty with other gulls	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Susan Grove, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: On the basis of size and general plumage characters, this species could only be confused with Ring-billed Gull, hundreds of which were available for direct comparison. The combination of slightly smaller size, distinct head shape, bill color and shape, dark eye, and slightly darker mantle and upperwings are sufficient to eliminate Ring-billed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:42:00/16:53:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Lake Rathbun, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-11-04	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mew Gull at Lake Rathbun in Appanoose County, IA on November 4, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Mew Gull	Rathbun Lake	Lake Rathbun Appanoose Co.	Sandy beach with about 50 other gulls including Ring-billed, Franklin's, Bonaparte's and the 1st winter Mew Gull. After about 20 min the bird departed to the north with about a dozen other gulls. Did not see them take off.	The documentation form by Ray Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: See Ring-billed Gull comparicons [sic] above. [...] The size was slightly but noticeably smaller than all the Ring-billeds present. The head was more rounded in appearance than the ring-billeds. The bill was smaller in portion than the Ring-billeds, both shorter and thinner. [...] The tail was black, but not as black as side by side comparisons with the adult Ring-billeds. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/08:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Fairport Fish Hatchery, 1995	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-09-08	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mew Gull at Fairport Fish Hatchery in Muscatine County, IA on September 8, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence from Peter Petersen to Thomas H. Kent, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Mew Gull	Fairport State Fish Hatchery	Fairport Fish Hatchery, Muscatine Co. IA	Fish rearing ponds + adj. Miss. River	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring-billed Gull- much more black on primary tips, black ring on yellow bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:05:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Merlin in southwest Chickasaw, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-06-03	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Merlin in southwest Chickasaw County, IA on June 3, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Merlin	Chickasaw County	S.W. Chickasaw Co.	Fence row in row-cropped ag. land	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other small falcon has uniform dark brown back and upper wing surface. It was much too small to be a female Peregrine. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:45:05.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Magnificent Frigatebird at Red Rock Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc Wildlife conservation	1988-10-03	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Magnificent Frigatebird at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on October 3, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article Iowa Bird Life, two pages from Iowa Birdlife by Gladys Black, internal correspondence on the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Youngblut, David	Magnificent Frigatebird	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Reservoir	Lake	The documentation form by David Youngblut is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Gladys Black. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	15
Records Committee review for bird sighting of Magnificent Frigatebird at Clear Lake, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-09-25	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Magnificent Frigatebird at Clear Lake in Gordo County, IA on September 25, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, articles from American Birds and Iowa Bird Life, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Walter, Janice L.	Magnificent Frigatebird	Clear Lake	Crane Street on south shore of Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa	Residential area on wooded lakeshore	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Steve Dinsmore, Jim Dinsmore, Peter Petersen, Beth Proescholdt, Mark Proescholdt, Jim Fuller, Thomas H. Kent, and Mike Thomas were submitted later. Other observers include Joel Hanes, Daryl Hansen, Patricia Hansen, Jim Walter, Mary Lou Petersen, Ann Barker, Francis Moore, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Bob Myers, Jim Sinclair, and Beth Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Size, wing length and shape, long forked tail, white breast on an otherwise all black bird are diagnostic of female Magnificent Frigatebird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:20:00/11:26:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Long-tailed Jaeger at Tomahawk Marsh, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-09-04	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Long-tailed Jaeger at Tomahawk Marsh in Sac County, IA on September 4, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a photocopy of two photos, field notes of the sighting, and eleven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Ernzen, Peter	Long-tailed Jaeger	Tomahawk Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Tomahawk Marsh - Sac Co about 2 1/2 miles N of Lake View on M68. West sided of Hiway.	Marsh.	The documentation form by Pete Ernzen forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Babs Padelford and Loren Padelford, Ross Silcock, Harold White, Lee A Schoenewe, Peter C. Petersen, Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, Don Poggensee, Mark Proescholdt, and Beth Proescholdt were submitted. Other observers include Joshua Ernzen, Nancy Shoenewe, Pam Allen, Reid Allen, Ann Johnson, Pam Poggensee, Dan Smith, Bob Livermore, Jim Sinclair, Bill Huser, Dick Tetrault, Brian Blevins, Corey Blevins, Kelly McKay, Roland Barth, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Other Jaeggers [sic] - Long tail & no brown on chest. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:20:00/15:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Long-billed Curlew south of Black Hawk Lake, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-22	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Long-billed Curlew south of Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on May 22, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Ernzen, Peter	Long-billed Curlew	Black Hawk Lake	dredge pond area southeast of Blackhawk Lake in Sac Co.		The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joshua Ernzen. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Whimbrel was eliminated by size, color and bill size. The whimbrel should have been slightly smaller to about the same size as the marbled godwits. The brown body and cinnamon wing linings did not fit whimbrel either. The bill size is variable with shorebirds, however the great length of the bill was more suggestive of the long billed curlew. The call heard does not fit the description for whimbrel in my National Geographics [sic] Field guide to Birds of North America. Three outside possibilities the far Eastern curlew, Eurasian curlew, and bristle thighed curlew were eliminated as well. The far Eastern curlew size is about the same as that of the marbled godwit. The bird also has white wing linings with dark barring. The barring would be hard to see, however the lighter color would be distinguishable. The Eurasion [sic] curlew was eliminated because this bird would have a white rump, and white wing linings. The bird I saw in flight turned and twisted. I did not notice any white markings on the rump. The bristle thighed curlew is much more similar to the smaller whimbrel and would be eliminated by small size, shorter bill and call - "chu-a-wut". \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:50:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Long-billed Curlew at MidAmerican Energy Ponds, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-07-04	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Long-billed Curlew at MidAmerican Energy Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on July 4, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, notes about the sighting, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Long-billed Curlew	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	IPL Ponds, Pottawattamie Co.	Cooling ponds for power plant; gravel banks.	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Tanya Bray were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Possibilities are Whimbrel, eliminated by absence of head striping and presence of cinnamon wing linings and distinctive call; Marbled Godwit, eliminated by strongly decurved bill and call; and other rarer curlews, all eliminated by the combination of field characters noted above (Bristle-Thighed eliminated by absence of rufous rump). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/17:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Long-billed Curlew at Riverton Area, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1989-04-11	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Long-billed Curelew at Riverton Area in Fremont County, IA on April 11, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Priebe, Carl	Long-billed Curlew	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton Area Fremont County, IA	Shallow water area 3-4" of about 1-2 acres surrounded by mudflats	The documentation form by Carl Priebe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Whimbrel - The curlew was larger than the Marbled Godwit, Whimbrels would be about the same size or slightly smaller. Marbled Godwit - This bird has an upturned bill Hudsonian Godwit - This bird has an upturned bill No other bird has a bill comparable to the length and downward curve of the Long-billed Curlew \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser White-fronted Goose at Lake Macbride, 1998	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-06-11	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Lesser White-fronted Goose at Lake Macbride in Johnson County, IA on June 11, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes, a color photograph, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Lesser White-fronted Goose	Lake Macbride State Park	Northeast corner of the south arm of Lake MacBride (Johnson County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Thomas H.Kent was submitted later. Other observers include James Huntington and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: Greater White-fronted Goose is larger with a larger head and longer bill, and lacks a yellow eye-ring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 05:55:00/06:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at IPL ponds, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-08-27	1993-07-21	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Laughing Gull at the IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on August 27, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Laughing Gull	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa Power & Light Settling Pond, south pond, Pottawattamie Co.		The documentation form by Babs & Loren Padelford is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: At rest, the bird had a very slender and streamlined appearance, not stocky like that of a Franklin's Gull. The head had no trace of a dark hood. The head was the same color as the rest of the body except for lighter areas around bill, on forehead and top of the head. The bill seemed longer and more curved than a Franklin's, but difficult to say with no Franklin's for comparison. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/11:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Spencer Creek in Pleasant Valley, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-09-30	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Laughing Gull at Spencer Creek in Pleasant Valley in Scott County, IA on September 30, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two copies of a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Laughing Gull	Spencer Creek	mouth of Spencer Creek, Pleasant Valley, Scott Co. + flying down Miss R.	gravel bar at mouth of creek + over river	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include May Lou Petersen and Dan Dorrance. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's Gull - larger, much heavier bill, wider tail band, this bird with much more extensive area of black on primaries. Franklin's were in the area but not standing on same gravel bar. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1987	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-06-29	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on June 29, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thompson, Dennis	Laughing Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	New Beach (sw of marina) Saylorville Lake Polk Co Ia	Sandy beach.	The documentation form by Dennis Thompson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's gull - bird had a completely different build. I had the advantage of a direct comparison with ring-billed. This bird was smaller, but still larger than a Franklin's. I would say it was half-way between a Ring-bill + Franklin's in size. White was almost non existent in the wingtips, both at rest + in flight. The most obvious difference was the structure of the bird. As soon as I saw it, I knew it wasn't a Franklin's. The long neck, size, long legs, long bill, + "pot-bellied" look caught my eye immediately. I guess another way to describe it was upright-looking. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:30:00/06:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Rathbun Reservoir, 1994	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-08-06	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Laughing Gull at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on August 6, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, a photocopy of a photograph, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Thomas N.	Laughing Gull	Rathbun Lake	Lake Rathbun	Sandbar	The documentation form by Tom Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted later. Other observers include Dot Cornett, Chuck Fuller, and Mary Montgomery. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Bill was slimmer than ring bill gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18