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

Rare bird documentation form for House Finch at Ames, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1985-07-08	1985-07-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a House Finch at Ames in Story County, IA on July 8, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	House Finch	Ames	Ames, Story County, Iowa	in town	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple Finch - male has a purplish or rosey [sic] red color & no streaking on breast; song is different \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:45:00/08:45:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	82
Rare bird documentation form for House Finch at Brookside Park in Ames, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-10-12	1985-11-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a House Finch at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on October 12, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	House Finch	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Story County, Iowa	youngish maple trees along Squaw Creek	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple Finch - does not have brown streaks on side (Male); back & wings are rosey. [sic] \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:00:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	82
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Ames, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-11-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Ames in Story County, IA on November 16, 1983.	Martsching, Paul	Peregrine Falcon	Ames	Ames, Story County, Iowa [with a drawing and detailed description on second page of document]	in town	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Prairie Falcon is light brown. Merlin is much smaller. accipiters have wide wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/12:48:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon along the Skunk River in Ames, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-11-06	1983-11-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon along the Skunk River in Ames in Story County, IA on November 6, 1983.	Martsching, Paul	Peregrine Falcon	Ames	along Skunk River east side of Ames, Story County, Iowa	river bottom land. over open field	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Pigeon (dark) smaller - white rump patch; wings wider; tail shorter; Usually doesn't fly rapidly any distance in a straight line. Merlin - smaller. Prairie Falcon - I think even in the poor lite [sic] it would have looked brownish if it had been a Prairie Falcon. This bird looked nearly black from above. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:30:20.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Eastern Wood-Pewee at Brookside Park in Ames, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-10-13	1982-10-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Eastern Wood-Pewee at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on October 13, 1982.	Martsching, Paul	Eastern Wood-Pewee	Brookside Park	Brookside Park Ames, Story County, Iowa	General: woods. Specific: trees at edge of woods. These trees were still in the area where the grass is mowed; it flew off into the more natural woods area.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Phoebe: lower part of beak light; wing bars; no tail wagging; no contrast between head and back. Empidonax: bigger; darker; no eye ring; lazier; no olivish on back; or trace of yellowish below \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 11:00:00/11:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	64
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow near Colo, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-03-07	1985-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow near Colo in Story County, IA on March 7, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Vesper Sparrow	Colo	near Colo (along old hi way 30) Story County, Iowa	pasture or weedy fields on either side of road.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: meadowlark is fat with short wide tail; Junco doesn't have stripes on back; Tree sparrow has narrow white edges on tail, but also has rusty cap; Smith's Longpsur has similar tail pattern, but tail is shorter, back markings finer, doesn't have rusty patch on wing; Water Pipit doesn't have streaked back. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Colo, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-09	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Colo in Story County, IA on May 9, 1982.	Martsching, Paul	Peregrine Falcon	Colo	abt 3 miles south of Colo (Story County), Iowa	cropland. field with corn stubble residue	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: male marsh hawk - no white rump patch, speckled underneath, much darker above, contrasting face pattern, style of flight very different. Prarie [sic] Falcon - was dark gray. Buteos - wings were long and very pointed - tail narrow - falcon like flight. Accipiters - wings were long and narrow and pointed. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Parula at Brookside Park in Ames, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1982-10-10	1982-10-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Parula at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on October 10, 1982.	Martsching, Paul	Northern Parula	Brookside Park	Brookside Park - Ames - Story County, Iowa	General: forest with some area with all underbrush cut and grass mowed. Specific: In tree at edge of more natural forest area.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: female Common Yellowthroat doesn't have wing bars and is brownish on head & back. Nashville Warbler doesn't have wing bars; back isn't grayish; yellow extends way down the front. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:00:00/10:00:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	21
Rare bird documentation form for Western Kingbird north of Hendrickson Marsh, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-05-19	1985-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Kingbird north of Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on May 19, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Western Kingbird	Hendrickson Marsh Wildlife Management Area	about 3 1/2 miles north of Hendricksons Marsh in Southeast Story County, Iowa	field on both sides of road with very short corn.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Eastern Kingbird - has black head, white terminal band on tail & breast & belly are white. Crested Flycatcher - has some rust in wings, a very rusty tail, brown head & back, gray upper breast. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	72
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Reservoir, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-11-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 24, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	White-winged Scoter	Saylorville Lake	(upstream side of dam) Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County, Iowa		The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Black Scoter & Surf Scoter don't have white wing patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:55:00/12:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-08-24	1985-11-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on August 24, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Pine Warbler	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Story County, Iowa	lowland forest	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Bay-breast & Blackpoll have streaks on back & don't have yellow eyebrow. neither is inclined to be yellow on breast, tho [sic] Blackpoll may be dingy yelowish-green. [sic] Bay-breast usually with no streaks below. Bay-breast usually with buff or pink wash on sides. Cape May & Yellow - R have yellow rumps \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00/09:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Hendrickson Marsh, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-04-24	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on April 24, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Martsching, Paul	Black Rail	Hendrickson Marsh Lake	Hendrickson's Marsh, Story County, Iowa	General: marsh along shore of large shallow lake Specific: area with much old grass more or less bent down with new growth less than six inches. Was a little water under the grass where it flew up	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Paul Martsching (later time, but same bird) were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora - bigger,lighter, yellow beak. Virginia - bigger, lighter, long thin beak. Rail chick - too early in year - and was flying \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Clark's Grebe at Hendrickson Marsh, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-05-30	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for three Clark's Grebes at Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on May 30, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Martsching, Paul	Clark's Grebe	Hendrickson Marsh Lake	Hendrickson Marsh, Story County, Iowa	shallow open water "lake" with quite a bit of marshy area adjacent.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Steve Dinsmore was submitted later. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt, Mark Proescholdt, and Hank Zaletal. \| Elimination of similar species: Western is dark immediately around the eye. Red necked is reddish on front and sides of neck this time of year, with white confined to chin, throat and cheek. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 20:00:00/20:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Peregrine Falcon at Ames, 1984	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-06-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Peregrine Falcon at Ames in Story County, IA on June 23, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Martsching, Paul	Peregrine Falcon	Ames	Ames, Story County, Iowa	General: I once saw a Prairie Falcon flying the same way in S. Dakota. Specific: in town (southwest of intersection of 13th & Grand)	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Prairie Falcon, not overall tannish. Marsh Hawk, no white rump, wings too dark below, wings too pointy \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:20:00/18:21:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	5
Rare bird documentation form for Townsend's Solitaire north of Polk City, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-12-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Townsend's Solitaire north of Polk City in Polk County, IA on December 16, 1990.	Hertzel, L. Paul	Townsend's Solitaire	Polk City	North of Polk City, Iowa: So. side of 146th street.	mixed conifers: junipers, hemlocks, cedars	The documentation form by Paul Hertzel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tony Hertzel, Judy Schearer, Barney Cook, and unidentified others. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Townsend's Solitaire at Polk City Cemetery, 1992	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-17	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Townsend's Solitaire at Polk City Cemetery in Polk County, IA on May 17, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hertzel, L. Paul	Townsend's Solitaire	Polk City Cemetery	Polk City Cemetary. [sic]	Mowed grass with scattered pines and bushes.	The documentation form by Paul Hertzel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Briefly considered Mockingbird, but posture (upright) and behavior was wrong. On closer look had orange, not white, wing bars. Lacked sleek head and longer bill of Mockingb[...] Eye-ring was very obvious. \| The original documentation form event lasted occurred from approximately 12:00:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	6
Rare bird documentation form for Varied Thrush at Long Grove, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-02	1978-02-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Varied Thrush at the Laglin addition of Long Grove in Scott County, IA on approximately January 2, 1978.	Ferleman, Paul	Varied Thrush	Long Grove	Laglin Addition - Long Grove Iowa	undetermined (his yard - grass + scattered oaks)	The documentation form by Paul Ferleman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jo Ann Ferleman and Marge Hansen. \| Elimination of similar species: Similar to thrushes but with dark breast band and lines over eyes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:15:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Rare bird documentation form for Black Scoter at Rathbun Lake, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-12-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Black Scoters at Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County, IA on December 15, 1990.	Egeland, Paul	Black Scoter	Rathbun Lake	Rathbun Lake just off face of Rathbun Dam	Lake on Rock face of Dam	The documentation form by Paul A Egeland is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Deb Egeland and Ray Cummins. \| Elimination of similar species: Consulted "Birds of North America" after by Chander S. Robbins, etc. Field notes were taken. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/07:34:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13
Rare bird documentation form for Western Kingbird near Ames, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Kingbird near Ames in Story County, IA on May 11, 1978.	Heagy, Patricia A.	Western Kingbird	Ames	Iowa, Story County; T84N, R24W, sec 30; ISU Beef Farm	General: In a wooded pasture with a creek running through. Specific: Along the creek in a single locust, above a brush pile scattered trees nearby, open wooded pasture. Farmland adjacent (plowed).	The documentation form by Patricia A. Heagy is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cassin's Kingbird - does not occur this far northeast and lacks the white outer tail feathers, has a white chin and dark breast Myiarchas flycatchers do not have black tails. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:40:00/09:42:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	72
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Iowa State University Beef Farm, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-01	1978-05-16	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Iowa State University Beef Farm in Story County, IA on May 1, 1978.	Heagy, Patricia A.	Prairie Falcon	Story County	Iowa, Story County, T84N, R24W, Sec 30; ISU Beef Farm	wooded pasture, surrounded by grassy pasture, cropland, and woods. Open woodland pasture along Onion Creek	The documentation form by Patricia A. Heagy is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: American Kestrel - smaller and without dark axillar. They also have rusty backs, and do not have complete tail bands. Peregrine Falcon - has a darker face pattern and a slate-colored back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:40:00/09:41:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle in Decatur County, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-11-25	1990-11-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle in Decatur County, IA on November 25, 1990.	Schlarbaum, Pat	Golden Eagle	Decatur County	Decatur County, Iowa ... at my parent's farm ... T69N R24W Sec. 17		The documentation form by Pat Schlarbaum is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Kathy Schlarbaum, Dale Schlarbaum, and Mildred Schlarbaum. \| Elimination of similar species: Considering the flat flight plane, size of bird, the white tail band, the white on the wings' undersides, we were convinced the bird was an immature golden eagle. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Laurens, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-03-02	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll at Laurens in Pocahontas County, IA on March 2, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harms, Ronald Harms, Pat	Hoary Redpoll	Laurens	318 W. Garfield, Laurens, Ia 50554	Low cedar type spreaders + high bush cranberry	The documentation form by Pat and Ron Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include four and five others at different times. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Redpolls have more definite 'red' color. Common were usually feeding & this specimen. \| The original documentation form event lasted from AM to PM.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Clark's Grebe at Blue Lake, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-05-21	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Clark's Grebe at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on May 21, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Allen, Pam Allen, Reid I.	Clark's Grebe	Blue Lake	Monona County, South Blue Lake		The documentation form by Pam and Reid Allen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent and J. Fuller were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The Western Grebes (Aechmorphorus occidentalis) had a much duller, greyish-greenish yellow bill and the body and flanks were blacker. Plus, the black cap extended over the eyes and lores. The Western Grebes seemed to be slightly smaller headed than the Clark's Grebe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:30:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Clark's Grebe at Diamond Lake, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-13	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Clark's Grebe at Diamond Lake in Poweshiek County, IA on December 13, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, photos, an Iowa Bird Life article, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Allen, Pam Allen, Reid I.	Clark's Grebe	Diamond Lake	Poweshiek County, Diamond Lake Park		The documentation form by Pam and Reid Allen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Mark Proescholdt, Thomas H. Kent, Phil Walsh, and Michael D. Overton were submitted later. Other observers include Jim Sinclair, Ann Johnson, Eugene Armstrong, Dixie Overton, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: The Western Grebe (Aechmorphorus occidentalis) has a much duller, greyish-greenish yellow bill and the body and flanks are blacker. Plus, the black cap extends over the eyes and lores, and there is a more solid blackish cast on the bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:15:00/14:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Gray Owl at Claybanks Forest, 1997	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-02-08	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl at Claybanks Forest in Cerro Gordo County, IA on February 8, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, a photocopy of a photograph, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Allen, Pam Allen, Reid I.	Great Gray Owl	Claybanks Forest	Cerro Gordo County, 1/4 mile west of the intersection of Wren and 225th Street; on 225th St.		The documentation form by Pam and Reid Allen forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Carolyn Fischer, Jim Fuller, and Stephen J. Dinsmore were submitted. Other observers include Mark Proescholdt, Beth Proescholdt, James J. Dinsmore, Dick Tetrault, Chris Caster, Dale Fye, Diane Porter, Ron Muilenberg, Gerald White, Jan Walter, Rita Pedelty, Tom Fischer, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: There really is no other owl except a Barred Owl which could be confused with this bird. The yellow eyes of the Great Gray Owl eliminated the possibility of a Barred Owl which has dark eyes. Also, size would eliminate the Barred Owl. The Great Gray Owl looked almost twice as large as a Barred Owl. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:52:00/16:09:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18