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 Black-headed Grosbeak at Warren County Conservation Board Headquarters, 1996	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-12	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Conservation Board Headquarters in Warren County, IA on May 12, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Ken Brock to Tom Kent and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Black-headed Grosbeak	Lake Ahquabi State Park	Warrren Co. Conservation Board Headquarters	small deciduous trees	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was David Youngblut. \| Elimination of similar species: Several [female symbol] Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were present for comparison. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:45:00/07:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-10	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on May 10, 1996. Includes one record review document with votes, a photograph, correspondence about bird sighting, an Iowa Bird Life Article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	resting on beach with other gulls	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was clearly one of the "hooded" gulls. The combination of size, mantle color, and upperwing pattern eliminates all of the hooded gulls except for Franklin's Gull. The larger size, less obvious white eye crescents, larger and longer bill, and extensively dark tips to the underwings eliminated Franklin's Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/13:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1996	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-04-06	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on April 6, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about bird sightings, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Iceland Gull	Red Rock Dam	below dam at Red Rock, Marion Co.	D.M. River	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird did not have the large headed, large billed 'predatory' look of a Glaucous Gull. The overall lightness and the lack of dark primaries and no tail band would eliminate Thayers Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:54:00/10:56:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Mark Widrlechner letter to Hank Zaletel regarding the Boone County Christmas Bird Count	Correspondence	Bird surveys Bird watching Birds--Counting Ornithology--Methodology	1996-01-01	1996-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Mark Widrlechner to Hank Zaletel regarding the Boone County Christmas Bird Count. The letter provides details for the bird count in Boone County on January 1, 1997.	Widrlechner, Mark		Ames Boone County				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	1	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rufous Hummingbird at Cedar Rapids, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-11-04	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rufous Hummingbird at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on November 4, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in the Des Moines Register, photographs, letter from Thomas Kent to James Dinsmore, letter from Thomas Kent to Nancy Newfield, letter from Nancy Newfield to Thomas Kent, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Rufous Hummingbird	Cedar Rapids	Backyard of Barbara Stark, 238 24th Street Dr., Cedar Rapids (Linn County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas Kent, Chris Edwards, and Peter Petersen were submitted later. Other observers include Weir Nelson, Pam and Reid Allen, Carol [sic] Thompson, Corey Blevins, Mary Lou Petersen, Chris Caster, Tim Schantz, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Robert and K. Bradley, A. Martin, Ann Barber and Jim Durbin. \| Elimination of similar species: I would identify this bird as a member of the Selasphorus complex. Because of the rufous on the back just above the wing it is most likely a Rufous or Allen's, and of those two, Rufous would be more likely from its range. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:02:00 on November 4, 10:45:00/11:45:00 on November 5, and 12:05:00/12:10:00 on November 9.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Full at Lock 13, 1995	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-10-22	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock 13 in Clinton County, IA on October 22, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation letter with field notes submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 13	Lock 13		The documentation letter and field notes by Peter C. Petersen forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dan Dorrance, Kelly McKay, Mary Lou Petersen, and Dennis Carter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
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
Rare bird documentation form for Scissor-tailed Flycatcher south of Pleasant Creek State Park, 1995	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-07-31	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher south of Pleasant Creek State Park in Linn County, IA on July 31, 1995. It was submitted with a letter from Jim Dinsmore to Thomas Kent on an unknown date.	Dankert, David L.	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Pleasant Creek State Park	Approx. 2 miles s Pleasant Creek S.P. NW Linn Co	cut hayfield	The documentation form by David L. Dankert is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Observing the bird when perched length was approximately three times the size of the A. Goldfinch that was perched close by. Body mass was about the size of an A. Robin. [...] Some field guides suggest confusion can be made between juvenile Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Western Kingbird juvenile but the head of the bird I observed was whiter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:40:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	73
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for MacGillivray's Warbler at Eagle City County Park, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-06-02	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a MacGillivray's Warbler at Eagle City County Park in northern Hardin County, IA on June 2, 1995. Includes two record review documents with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in Illinois Birds, an article in Birds of Missouri, two articles from The Auk, an article in Meadowlark, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	MacGillivray's Warbler	Eagle City Park	Eagle City Co. Park - (North Hardin County)	Brushy tangle along park's edge up the hill from Iowa River Greenbelt	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: In "Spring" this should not be mistaken for any other warbler. A ♂ Mourning Warbler lacks the vivid eye crescents. A Connecticut Warbler has a complete white eyering and no black smudge on the upper breast and the gray head is a lighter gray color. In "fall" the female and immature Mourning Warblers may show a thin, nearly complete eyering (which I have seen on Mournings in the fall), but this could not be mistaken for the vivid white eye crescents of this breeding-plumaged male MacGillivray's Warbler along with its very noticeable black smudge on its upper breast below its gray hood. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:15:00/11:15:05.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Golden-crowned Sparrow east of Little Wall Lake, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-04	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for at least three Golden-crowned Sparrows east of Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on May 4, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence about the sighting and documentation, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wilcox, Dorothy	Golden-crowned Sparrow	Little Wall Lake	At platform feeder and on the ground	Lg. oak trees, shrubs (Rural)	The documentation form by Dorothy Wilcox is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include family and friends. \| Elimination of similar species: white crowned and white throat, definite difference in eye line and crown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:00:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	40
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mountain Bluebird east of Sutherland, 1995	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-12	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird east of Sutherland in O'Brien County, IA on April 12, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Koenig, Darwin	Mountain Bluebird	Sutherland	3 miles east of Sutherland, O'Brien County, Iowa		The documentation form by Darwin Koenig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] with 8-10 Eastern Bluebirds; [...] Size of Eastern Bluebird; \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of South Polar Skua at Credit Island, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-02	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a South Polar Skua at Credit Island in Scott County, IA on April 2, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, three different copies of a photograph, an article in American Birds, an article in Birds of Missouri, correspondence about the sighting, a documentation form, and an audiotape transcription submitted to the committee.	Hodges, Herbert James	South Polar Skua	Credit Island	Credit Island, Davenport, IA.	frozen harbor off Miss. River	The documentation form by Jim Hodges is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No Jaeger or Gull has a comparable white streak down the primary bases into the secondaries. Lack of a dorsal view made species id. impossible. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Common Eider at Red Rock Reservoir, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents) Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-01-27	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Common Eider at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on January 27, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence over the sighting, photos, drawings of the bird sighting, articles in Iowa Bird Life, Field Notes, and other publications, and twelve documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Common Eider	Red Rock Dam	Des Moines River below Red Rock dam - Marion Co., Iowa	open stretch of river	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Dinsmore, Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, Reid Allen, Ann Johnson, Mark Proescholdt, Chris Edwards, Peter C. Petersen, Ray Cummins, Robert Cecil, and Diane Porter were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: See above discussion (Description). Steller's Eider eliminated by size. Female and immature King Eider eliminated by pattern of barring on flanks, size of bill, position of eye, faint white supercilium, and pattern of feathering on bill. Spectacled Eider eliminated by facial pattern and bill shape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:45:00/15:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Midwest Power Pond, 1994	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-10-19	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Midwest Power (South) Pond in Pottawattamie County, IA on October 19, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, a documentation letter from Paul Lehman to Ross Silcock, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Laughing Gull	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Midwest Power (South) Pond, Pottawattamie Co., IA		The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentations by Babs and Loren Padelford as well as Paul Lehman were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Later it was seen at rest with Ring-billed and Franklin's Gulls, the latter group including a few individuals of the same age as the Laughing Gull, allowing careful comparison. [...] The wings were long and pointed, the overall jizz of the bird more attenuated than a Franklin's. [...] There was a grayish-black wash over the crown and nape, slightly intensified in the upper nuchal area, and a paler grayish wash on the flanks in the area below the bend of the wing, imparting a "dirtier" look to the underparts than on same-age Franklin's Gulls (seen when at rest). At rest, the black primaries extended well past the tail, a feature compared easily with nearby Franklin's, and there were no small white crescents in the primaries of the Laughing Gull, a feature easily seen in same-age Franklin's nearby. The Laughing Gull was almost as big as the Ringbills near it, while it appeared significantly larger than the adjacent Franklin's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/11:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, 1994	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-15	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on May 15, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, seven photographs and photocopies of them, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton GMA, Fremont County		The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include B.J. Rose, Roger Rose, and Doug Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It resembled a Pectoral Sandpiper, but differed in the following ways: the crown was streaked, and showed noticeable rufous coloration in the feathering; the off-white superciliary stripe was lengthy and broadened towards the rear; the breast markings were dense as in a Pectoral but did not show a clearcut ending at the whitish belly, but instead ended indeterminately by gradually fading out. [...] Once ready to record, we flushed the bird and it gave a soft series of notes, somewhat like a Lesser Yellowlegs, but rather flat and unmelodious. This call was most unlike the harsh, grating call of a Pectoral Sandpiper. [...] Plumage, time of year, call upon flushing, and key plumage differences from Pectoral Sandpiper, cited above, led us to identify this bird as an adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sprague's Pipit at Kettleson's Hogback Wildlife Management Area, 1994	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-09	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sprague's Pipit at Kettleson's Hogsback Wildlife Management Area in Dickinson County, IA on April 9, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, a follow up letter from Lee Schoenewe to the IOU Records Committee, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Sprague's Pipit	Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area	Kettleson's Hogsback WPA., Dickinson Co.	Grassland along shallow marsh	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was LaVonne Foote. \| Elimination of similar species: American Pipit - Leg color; Behavior; Breast color + streaking; streaked back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:50:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	13
Todd Tracy email to Jim Fuller regarding Gyrfalcon sighting, February 14, 1994	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-02-14	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email from Todd Tracy to Jim Fuller dated February 14, 1994. Todd reports sighting a Gyrfalcon near Kirkwood Community College in Linn County, IA on December 1, 1992.	Tracy, Todd T.	Gyrfalcon	Kirkwood Community College				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	33
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ringed Kingfisher at Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, 1994	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-01-07	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ringed Kingfisher at Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on January 7, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Dee, Debbie	Ringed Kingfisher	Lock and Dam 14	[...] Iowa side of Lock and Dam 14.		The documentation form by Debbie Dee is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred at 09:30:00 for several minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Big Marsh, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-11-01	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Big Marsh in Butler County, IA on November 1, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, two photographs, an article in The Southwestern Naturalist, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, James J.	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Big Marsh Wildlife Area	Big Marsh	freshwater marsh	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rodney Steere. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing it could be confused with	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Gyrfalcon in Hanover Township in Crawford County, 1993	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-10-17	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Gyrfalcon at Hanover Township in Crawford County, IA on October 17, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter about reporting the sighting from Jim Fuller to Dan Eiten on October 29, 1993, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Eiten, Dan	Gyrfalcon	Hanover Township	Hanover Twp Crawford County IA 6 1/2 NW Denison	Near Bean field on Field Fencepost	The documentation form by Dan Eiten is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Arlan Gierstorf. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull south of Saylorville, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-04-24	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull south of Saylorville in Polk County, IA on April 24, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Passenger Pigeon, an article in Illinois Audubon Bulletin, correspondence about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Laughing Gull	Saylorville	South of Saylorville	Flooded bean field (Des Moines River bottom land)	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Bird flew & sat on ground next to Franklin's Gulls, and Bonaparte's gulls. Did not have white wedge of Bonapartes, Blackheaded or Sabine's Gull's. The other black-headed gull, the Little Gull, has no black at all on wing tips. See above for comparison to Franklin's. [...] Larger bill, compared to adjacent Franklin's, was not pure red, partially black. Eye ring smaller, less conspicuous, again, than adjacent Franklins. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:20:00/09:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Walter Rosene, Jr. letter to Pam Allen regarding the nomination of the Goldfinch as the Iowa State bird, March 24, 1993	Correspondence	Ornithology--Societies, etc State birds Birds in art	1993-03-24	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Walter Rosene, Jr. letter to Pam Allen regarding the origin of how the Goldfinch became nominated for the Iowa State bird. The letter highlights a visit Walter Rosene, Jr. and his father made to Althea R. Sherman's house and how after seeing a very artistic painting of a Goldfinch by Althea's sister, his father said that the Goldfinch should be the state bird.	Rosene, Walter, 1912-	American Goldfinch	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	46	11
B.J. Rose letter to Doug Rose regarding Christmas Bird Count sightings, January 16, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1993-01-16	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from B. J. Rose to Doug Rose documenting birds seen during the Glenwood Christmas Bird Count on December 27, 1992. Rose gives details for the sighting of a Great-tailed Grackle, a Chipping Sparrow, and four Yellow-rumped Warblers.	Rose, B.J.	Yellow-rumped Warbler Chipping Sparrow Great-tailed Grackle	Glenwood Bartlett Bartlett State Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Western Flycatcher at Lake Ahquabi State Park, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-11-14	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Flycatcher at Lake Ahquabi State Park in Warren County, IA on November 14, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in American Birds, excerpts from Western Birds, articles in Pennsylvania birds, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, eight photographs, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Empidonax Flycatchers	Lake Ahquabi State Park	Lake Ahquabi State Park, Warren County, IOWA	Woodland edge consisting primarily of honeysuckle and junipers	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, and Brian Blevins were submitted later. Other observers include Ross Silcock, Peter Petersen, Kelly McKay, Corey Blevins, Jim Scheib, Jim Sinclair, John Daniel, Tim Schantz, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Chuck Fuller, David Youngblut, Beth Brown, Sherry Dragula, Bill Overland, Jane Overland, John Miller, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The date of observation is historically good for a vagrant western flycatcher species, so this was in the back of my mind in assessing the characteristics observed. The presence of both eye ring and wing bars, in addition to size and shape, indicate that the bird fits the Empidonax complex. The combination of green back, yellow throat and pure orange lower mandible with no markings would eliminate Least, Hammond's, Dusky, Gray, Buff-breasted, Alder, and Willow Flycatchers. A juvenile Acadian can be eliminated by the short primary extension, color of the wings, size and shape of the eye ring, and active behavior. Only three species are indicated by the green upper parts and yellow under parts. Two are separable only by voice. The choices were between Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Western (Cordilleran and Pacific-slope) Flycatcher. Back color is greener in Yellow-bellied and more olive in Western. Although the back looked olive, this was rather subjective. According to the Audubon Master Guide, behavior would be more indicative of a Yellow-bellied in that the bird was not flicking both tail and wings. According to Kaufman, however, behavior is quite variable. Three characteristics made me lean more toward Western complex. They were peaked appearance to the head (usually smooth and rounded in Yellow-bellied); almond-shaped eye ring (round, narrow, and more even in Yellow-bellied); and browner wings than eastern Empidonax. The color of the wings is again subjective, but the contrast between wing color and wing bars was less than the black/white (or even black/buff in fall birds) of eastern birds. Even with the variability that may occur in any Empidonax, it is unlikely that these three characteristics, which are common to the Western Flycatcher, would appear simultaneously in a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Further support is found in the Audubon Master Guide to Birding where it states in the description of Western Flycatcher, "...olive wash on the breast, flanks, and especially the sides tends to highlight a midventral yellow stripe" - one of the more obvious characteristics when viewed at close range from the front. IF the call notes heard belonged to this bird, it would indicate a Cordilleran Flycatacher, the most likely vagrant. None of us were able, however, to get the bird to call as we were observing it. Cal Knight played a tape and the bird became very agitated but did not call. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/14:00:00 on November 14, 1992 and 11:30:00/13:45:00 on November 15, 1992.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Glossy Ibis at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Photography of birds Rare birds Ornithological illustration	1992-05-04	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two Glossy Ibises at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Kossuth County, IA on May 4, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from J.V. Remsen to Tom Kent, letters between Tom Kent and Bob Janssen, a letter from Matt Kenne to Tom Kent, a letter from Bruce Fall to Tom Kent, five photographs, a page with two ibis head sketches, the original sighting record found in the publication Iowa Bird Life 53:68 by Matthew Kenne, and the article Field identification of White-faced and Glossy Ibises by H. Douglas Pratt, published in Birding 8(1):1-5. The Glossy Ibises were seen by Bobbi Webber and photographed by Dave Bunkofske.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Glossy Ibis	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	23