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 Prairie Falcon north of Laurens, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-02-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon north of Laurens in Pocahontas County, IA on February 1, 1988.	DeWall, Rita	Prairie Falcon	Laurens	5 miles north of Laurens, Pocahontas County, Iowa	Open farm ground	The documentation form by Rita Dewall is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Judy Carlson, Helen Carlson and Ron Reese. \| Elimination of similar species: More brown than Peregrine Falcon, both female Merlin and Peregrine Falcon lack underwing pattern observed in this bird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:45:00/10:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Booth Township in Palo Alto County and Swan Lake Township in Pocahontas County in 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1988-01-25	1988-02-01	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for two separate sightings of Prairie Falcons in Iowa. The first sighting of a Prairie Falcon at Booth Township in Palo Alto County, IA on January 25, 1988. The second sighting of a Prairie Falcon in Swan Lake Township in Polk County, IA on February 1, 1988.	Carlson, Judith	Prairie Falcon	Booth Township Swan Lake Township				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Booth Township in Palo Alto County, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-02-03	1988-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Booth Township in Palo Alto County, IA on February 3, 1988.	Knight, Calvin A.	Prairie Falcon	Booth Township	S.E. Cor. Section 33, Booth Township (T94-N,R34-W) Palo Alto Co., Iowa	open farms land; snow covered	The documentation form by Calvin Knight is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ron Reese, Jim Fuller, M. Stewart, Bernie Knight, and Ron Harms. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine Falcon: lighter color + underwing pattern eliminated the Peregrine \| The original documentation form event occurred at 07:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon southeast of Larrabee, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-07-28	1987-07-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Prairie Falcons southeast of Larrabee in Cherokee County, IA on July 28, 1987.	Brewer, Marion M.	Prairie Falcon	Larrabee	3 east, 1 south of Larabee [sic], Iowa	Rough rolling pastureland (bluff of the Little Sioux River)	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Merlin & Peregrine (see above) [...] It was to [sic] large to be a merlin. It didn't have the wide wisker [sic] of a Peregrine falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon southeast of Kelley, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1986-12-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon southeast of Kelley in Story County, IA on December 16, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Prairie Falcon	Kelley	2 mi. s and 1 mi. e of Kelly [sic], Story Co.	perched in a tree over a large, grassy field	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bart Ballard. \| Elimination of similar species: The long tail and pointed wings make the bird a falcon of some sort. The size eliminates Merlin and Am. Kestrel. The black axillaries eliminate Peregrine Falcon and Gyrfalcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:07:00/11:13:00 on December 16 and 08:10:00/08:23:00 on December 17.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon in Cass County east of Walnut, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-10-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon in Cass County east of Walnut, IA on October 25, 1990.	Petersen, Marietta	Prairie Falcon	Walnut	RR #1, Walnut, Iowa 51577	The area is Upland Prairie Land-pasture, hayfields, corn a soybean fields- and hilly. Little Timber along creek bottoms. We live on a farm in Northwestern Cass County. The bird was sitting on top of a semi-dead Ash tree in our old orchard.	The documentation form by Marietta Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The Red Tailed would not have those kind of face markings. But it was about the size of a Red Tailed. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon east of Hawarden, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-11-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon east of Hawarden in western Sioux County, IA on November 23, 1990.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Prairie Falcon	Hawarden	some five miles east of Hawarden in western Sioux County.		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird sighting for Prairie Falcon at Clay County in 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1993-04-02	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Prairie Falcon at Clay County, IA on April 2, 1993.	Cecil, Robert I.	Prairie Falcon	Clay County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon east of Lost Island Lake, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-04-03	1993-04-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon east of Lost Island Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on April 3, 1993.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Prairie Falcon	Lost Island Lake	East of Lost Island Lake, Clay County [actually Palo Alto County], Iowa	farmland near glacial lakes	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lee Schoenewe, Bob Cecil, and Harold White. \| Elimination of similar species: This was the best view I have ever had at the underwing of Prairie Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:45:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-10-29	1993-10-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Kossuth County, IA on October 29, 1993.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Prairie Falcon	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge	Union Slough N.W.R., Kossuth Co., IA	long narrow slough	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The underwing markings and apparent light coloration argue against Peregrine Falcon. The date and location are appropriate for Prairie Falcon in Iowa. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:50:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon between Treynor and Carson, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-03-03	1995-03-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon between Treynor and Carson in Pottawattamie County, IA on March 3, 1995.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Prairie Falcon	Treynor Carson	between Treynor and Carson on highway 92, Pottawattamie Co., IA	gently rolling hills; small stream with scattered trees.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: The falcon shape was clear to us. The bird was flying directly into a strong southwest wind, but I don't think an accipiter's wing could be that pointed even in a strong wind. The bird was too large and plain to be a kestrel and the flight pattern and behavior were unlike any of the many kestrels seen that day. The light color and open farmland habitat favor Prairie over Peregrine. A Merlin would be smaller and darker. However, I would not have identified this bird as to species with out seeing the underwing pattern. \| The original documentation form event occurred at approximately 12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird sighting for Prairie Falcon at Hitchcock Nature Area in 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-10-25	1994-12-12	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Prairie Falcon at Hitchcock Nature Area in Pottawattamie County, IA on October 25, 1994.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Prairie Falcon	Hitchcock Nature Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon south of Yale, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-04-16	1995-04-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon south of Yale in Guthrie County, IA on April 16, 1995.	Widner, Russ	Prairie Falcon	Yale	South of Yale IA	Bean Field	The documentation form by Russ Widner is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Norm Larsen. \| Elimination of similar species: The size, manner of flying + facial coloration eliminate even a [illegible] female Kestrel. The size, facial pattern, probable axillary pigmentation + lack of strong tail bars eliminate Merlin. The head + face pattern + lack of a broad sideburn a helmet, coloration + somewhat shallower wing beat rule against Peregrine. The face pattern, wing shape, manner of flying + lack of a white rump patch eliminate Harrier. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon northeast of Spirit Lake, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-12-31	1996-01-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon northeast of Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on December 31, 1995.	Thelen, Ed	Prairie Falcon	Spirit Lake	NE of Spirit Lake - Dickinson County	Gravel roadside - on telephone pole	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine & Gyrfalcon don't have dark axillars. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon east of Wall Lake, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-03-12	1996-06-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon east of Wall Lake in Sac County, IA on March 12, 1996.	Thelen, Rob	Prairie Falcon	Wall Lake	1 m. East of Wall Lake	Gravel pits, Railroad Tracks, and Farmland	The documentation form by Rob Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Natasha Thelen. \| Elimination of similar species: Merlin - was to [sic] big to be a Merlin didn't have strong tail bars. Peregrine - didn't have strong face marks or cap on head. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/17:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon in Cerro Gordo County, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-02-22	1997-02-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon in Cerro Gordo County, IA on February 22, 1997.	Thelen, Rob	Prairie Falcon	Cerro Gordo Wind Farm	1/2 m. S of 210th + Cardinal, Cerro Gordo Co.	Dead Cottonwood in Farmland (Open)	The documentation form by Rob Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joe Clark. \| Elimination of similar species: This Falcon had the Dark Armpits. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/11:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned) in Sioux City, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-18	1998-01-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned) in Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on December 18, 1997.	Huser, Bill F.	Prairie Falcon	St. Joseph Hospital (historical)	St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned), Sioux City, Woodbury, IA	tall brick buildings with broken windows providing roosting sites for hundreds of Rock Doves. Numerous perches and open space for flight.	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jerry Probst and Bob Moritz. \| Elimination of similar species: The distinct tear marks eliminated all hawks but falcons and also eliminated the Merlin. Long wings, relative to the tail, and body size eliminated Gyrfalcon. Size and direct comparison eliminated Kestrel. Lack of dark "helmet" eliminated Peregrine Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:45:00/16:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at the junction of Interstate 29 and U.S. 30 west of Missouri Valley in 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-10-10	1981-10-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at the junction of Interstate 29 and U.S. 30 west of Missouri Valley in Harrison County, IA on October 10, 1981.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Prairie Falcon	Interchange 75				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird sighting for Prairie Falcon north of Fairfield in 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-03-16	1999-05-14	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Prairie Falcon north of Fairfield in Jefferson County, IA on March 16, 1999. Document contains additional species sighting information.	Fuller, James L	Prairie Falcon King Rail	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge Fairfield				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Chukar at Davenport in 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-12-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for six Chukars at Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 17, 1995. The birds were also present for two to three years starting in 1981.	Decker, Jacqueline Ruth	Chukar	Davenport				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	36
Rare bird documentation form for Gray Partridge west of North Liberty, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-16	1978-12-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for seven Gray Partridges west of North Liberty in Johnson County, IA on December 16, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Gray Partridge	North Liberty	2 miles west of North Liberty IA on county road F 28	flat farm land, cut snow covered corn field	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Shires, Rick Hollis, and Carl Bendorf. \| Elimination of similar species: Bobwhite, chukar. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:30:00/13:34:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	37
Rare bird documentation form for Gray Partridge near Shenandoah, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-04-22	1995-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Gray Partridge near Shenandoah in Page County, IA on April 22, 1995. It was submitted as an e-mail from Steve Matherly to Ann Johnson on April 25, 1995.	Matherly, Steve	Gray Partridge	Shenandoah	Go west on State Hwy 2 from Shenandoah, Iowa to the country road that goes south to Riverton, Iowa. Proceed west to the next county road (gravel) (approx. one mile) and turn south. Proceed one-quarter of a mile to first farm house (right or west side). Bird was seen along fencerow north of the house.		The documentation form by Steve Matherly is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Matherly and Maribel Matherly. \| Elimination of similar species: Bird easily distinguishable from other possibilities such as hen pheasant, bobwhite quail, and prairie chicken both by size and colorization. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:00:00 .	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	37
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Prairie Chicken south of Pisgah, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-02-07	1979-03-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Prairie Chicken south of Pisgah in Harrison County, IA on February 7, 1979.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Greater Prairie-Chicken	Pisgah	Three miles south of Pisgah, Harrison County, Iowa.		The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Darwin Koenig. \| Elimination of similar species: The close reative [sic] the Lesser Prairie Chicken is smaller, paler and lacks distinct markings. It is also rare, and has never occurred in Iowa. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:20:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	38
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-29	1978-04-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 29, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh, which is located one mile East of Tripoli, Bremer County, IA.	The area of Sweet Marsh where the bird was flushed had a water depth of about two feet. Many large and small clumps of grass covered mounds of earth, there was a shallow marshy spot that was heavily vegitated. Otherwise the area surrounding sighting was similar. This type of habitat covered several acres. The grasses were mostly remanent [sic] of last years growth, with new sprouts over a foot in height. The water was slightly stagnant, and water level was slightly higher than normal because of recent rains.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I can think of no species of bird of similar size with a white patch on hind wing. Other rails would be uniform dark and larger. Perching birds such as a Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza gerogiana) have long tails. Extreme comparisons could be made with Common Snipe (Capella gallinago) which is long billed, has pointed wings, and has a rapid zig-zag flying style. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Conesville Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two or three Yellow Rails at Conesville Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Yellow Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Conesville Marsh Louisa County IA	hay field with scattered marshy areas in it	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Newlon, Rich DeCoster and Tom Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39