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 Field Sparrow near Tiffin, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-16	1978-12-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Field Sparrow near Tiffin in Johnson County, IA on December 16, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Field Sparrow	Tiffin	~1/2 mi. s. of Tiffen [sic], Johnson Co., Ia. at Clear Creek Bridge	Creek bed with forested area to north and open field to south. Deep snow covered most of area. South-facing north slope of creek provided open grassy area as snow had mostly melted. Several song sparrows were in same area.	The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: The Tree Sparrow, usually abundant in winter around Iowa City, has a dark upper bill and lacks the white eye ring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:05:00/08:06:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	51
Rare bird documentation form for Hermit Thrush near Tiffin, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-16	1978-12-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hermit Thrush near Tiffin in Johnson County, IA on December 16, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Hermit Thrush	Tiffin	1/4 mile south of US Rte 6, 1 mi. west of Tiffen [sic], Johnson Co., Iowa	General: Small forested area on hilly terrain with some underbush. Woods cut by country road and interspersed with a few houses. Specific: Bushes growing at bottom of ditch alongside county road. Several of bushes contained berries that the bird was eating.	The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington, Mike Lewis-Beck, and Arline Lewis-Beck. \| Elimination of similar species: Other small brown thrushes do not have reddish-brown tail contrasting with brown back. Tail-pumping and white eye ring also unique to Hermit Thrush. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/08:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Gyrfalcon in Western Iowa in 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Animal migration--Climatic factors Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds	1978-06-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for Gyrfalcons in Western Iowa before and around 1978. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Two visitors in Iowa Bird Life 48:80 by Steve Duecker.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Gyrfalcon	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Cardinal Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-29	1984-03-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Cardinal Marsh in Winnesheik County, IA on May 29, 1978.	Moore, Francis L.	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Cardinal Marsh State Wildlife Area	North side of lake near dam at Cardinal Marsh,	Edging between grass 6" to 10" tall and cattail marsh	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: LeConte's Sparrow does not have a dark stripe down the top of its head. It had a light colored head stripe (crown stripe). The orange colored eye stripe eliminates all other species except LeConte's which is eliminated by the dark crown stripe on this bird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:25:00/09:27:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	59
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Credit Island Park in Davenport, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-13	1978-05-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Credit Island Park in Davenport in Scott County, IA on May 13, 1978.	Petersen, Peter C.	Yellow-throated Warbler	Credit Island Park	Credit Island Park, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa	General: Bottomland forest, understory cleared. Specific: dead tree (sp?), and oak just leafing out	The documentation form by Peter Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Elton Fawks. \| Elimination of similar species: written eve. of 5/13 -> [...] Blackburnian - no orange or yellow stripe through eye. No single, long wing bar Graces - This [arrow to "no yellow stripe"] also eliminates this species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	28
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-04	1978-05-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-throated Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on May 4, 1978.	Fredricks, Gary	Yellow-throated Warbler	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Iowa	General: open woods on edge of thick woods. Specific: found in hackberry tree (celtis occidentalis.)	The documentation form by Gary Frederick is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Magnolia Warbler - no white belley [sic] Blackburnian " - no yellow throat \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	28
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-headed Blackbird at Council Bluffs, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-26	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-headed Blackbird at Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on February 26, 1978.	Greer, Janet	Yellow-headed Blackbird	Council Bluffs	Feeder at 341 Steven Circle, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501		The documentation form by Janet Greer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include the Greer family. \| Elimination of similar species: There are none. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	75
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-24	1978-02-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Pine Grosbeaks at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines in Polk County, IA on January 24, 1978.	Mooney, Richard D., 1905-1997	Pine Grosbeak	Glendale Cemetery	Glendale Cemetary [sic]-50th St. & University Ave. Des Moines	Cemetary [sic] with numerous assorted evergreen trees and various other trees.	The documentation form by Richard D. Mooney is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pauline Mooney, Ruth Binsfeld, Woodward Brown, and Mary Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Evening Grosbeak eliminated by coloration. Purple Finch eliminated by size and coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bohemian Waxwing at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 13, 1978.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Bohemian Waxwing	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City, Iowa	General: City park Specific: shallow ravine with deciduous and coniferous plantings	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cedar Waxwing close, good comparison of a) size; b) whitish undertail coverts in C.W.; C) lack of white on wing in C.W. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:18:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Pine Grosbeaks at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 13, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Pine Grosbeak	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City	[illegible] open and tree edge with small stand of pine trees	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Staudt and Richard DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: none \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:40:00/08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Pine Grosbeaks at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 12, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Pine Grosbeak	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City, Johnson Co Iowa	General: on edge of small forested areas, mostly deciduous with some pine plantings. Specific: Hickory Hill is about 100 acres of undeveloped park land with a creek + several branches running through it. Forested and grassy area are interspersed.	The documentation form by Richard J. DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing else looks much like the female plumaged pine grosbreaks. Evening grosbeaks have larger beaks + shorter tails. Crossbills have crossed bills. Female purple finches lack wingband and the olive coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:12:00 and 09:40:00/09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sighting reports, March 18, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Predation (Biology)	1977-03-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Gladys Black to Nicholas S. Halmi, regarding bird sighting reports. Sightings reported include a partially leucistic robin. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Report of spring 1977.	Black, Gladys	Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Henslow's Sparrow Great Horned Owl Snowy Owl Northern Shrike	Lake Red Rock Centerville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Peter C. Peterson letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sighitings, February 13, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds	1977-02-13	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Peter C. Petersen to Nicholas S. Halmi, dated February 13, 1977, that details various bird sightings, including a Black-legged Kittiwake at the Duane Arnold Energy Center by Bryan Gielins on January 22 and 23, 1977.	Petersen, Peter C.	Lapland Longspur Merlin Black-legged Kittiwake Lark Sparrow Golden Eagle Greater White-fronted Goose Ring-necked Dove	Clinton Credit Island Davenport Des Moines Lock and Dam 14 Scott County Duane Arnold Energy Center				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Joe Schaufenbuel letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding a Cooper's Hawk sighting, February 12, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification	1977-02-12	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A Cooper's Hawk sighting contributed by Joe Schaufenbuel in a letter to Nicholas S. Halmi. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of winter 1976-1977.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Cooper's Hawk	Saint Lucas				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	19
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, January 8, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Research Wit and humor Birds--Feeding and feeds	1977-01-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Bird sightings contributed by Gladys Black in a letter to Nicholas S. Halmi. Black recounts a story of an injured mockingbird who enjoys eating mince pie. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of winter, 1976-1977.	Black, Gladys	Snowy Owl Northern Mockingbird Mallard	Newton Red Rock Dam Knoxville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	19
Myrle M. Burk letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding a sighting of a flock of Canada Geese in Waterloo, Iowa, January 2, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird populations Bird watching Birds--Behavior	1977-01-02	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report of a flock of Canada Geese in Waterloo, Iowa contributed by Myrle M. Burk in a letter to Nicholas S. Halmi. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of winter, 1976-1977.	Burk, Myrle M.	Canada Goose	Waterloo				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	19
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, December 14, 1976	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior	1976-12-14	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A story about watching a snowy owl, along with other bird sightings, contributed by Gladys Black in a letter to Nicholas S. Halmi. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of winter 1976-1977.	Black, Gladys	Snow Bunting Snowy Owl Red-breasted Nuthatch	Rathbun Lake Warren County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	19
Fern L. Tanner letter to Nicholas S. Halmi reporting the sighting of a Gray Jay, winter 1976-1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior	1976-12-01	1977-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A detailed sighting of a gray jay described by Fern L. Tanner in an incomplete letter to Nicholas S. Halmi. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of Winter 1976-1977.	Tanner, Fern L.	Blue Jay Gray Jay	Mason City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	19
Bird sighting of Ospreys at Lake Red Rock contributed by Jon Stravers, winter, 1976-1977	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Binoculars	1976-12-01	1977-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Bird sighting of Ospreys was contributed by Jon Stravers. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of winter 1976-1977.	Stravers, Jon	Bald Eagle Osprey Mallard	Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	19
Rare bird documentation form for LeConte's Sparrow at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for ten to twenty minimum LeConte's Sparrows at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Le Conte's Sparrow	Sand Point	Sand Point, on Coralville Resevoir [sic] n. of Iowa City IA.	V. extensive weedy flats (waist to head-high) on shore of resevoir [sic]	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: grey face patch on yellow face, yellow-orange breast, narrow white crown stripe rule out Henslow's, sharp-tail, grasshopper, Baird's sparrows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	58
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Sharp-tailed Sparrows at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Sand Point	Sand Point on Coralville Resevoir [sic], n. of Iowa City IA	extensive weedy flats - waist to head-high on shore of resevoir. [sic]	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol S. Newlon, Cal Knight, and Bernie Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: Crown-pattern rules out Henslows (lacks grey crown stripe) LeContes (has narrow white stripe), Grasshopper, Baird's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	59
Letter from Ross Silcock to Iowa Ornithologists' Union regarding bird sightings and locations, August 11, 1976	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Habitat	1976-08-11	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of birds and locations contributed by Ross Silcock. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Field Report of Summer 1976.	Silcock, W. Ross		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	17
More Gray Jays in Iowa		Bird watching Birds--Behavior Zoological specimens	1976-08-01	1977-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report on Gray Jays sighted in Iowa in the fall of 1976 and winter of 1976/77 by Nicholas, S Halmi. This document was written as a response to an article by Gladys Black that was published in the Des Moines Register. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of spring 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Gray Jay	Cedar Falls Decorah Mason City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Rare bird documentation form for Harris' Sparrow at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1976-04-10	1976-04-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Harris' Sparrows at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on April 10, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Harris' Sparrow	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir Iowa City, Iowa 52240	woodlot with tall trees, weed patches, brush pile, in an area of fields and second-growth woods.	The documentation form by Michael C Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers are unidentified in the documentation form. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] large sparrow, built like a white-crown but larger, longer-tailed, posture less erect.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	64
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing at MacLean Hall at University of Iowa, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-02-01	1976-02-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bohemian Waxwing at MacLean Hall at University of Iowa in Johnson County, IA on February 1, 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Bohemian Waxwing	MacLean Hall	near the southwest corner of the Physics Building on the University of Iowa Campus.		The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Its large size and large crest made the bird stand out. \| The original documentation form event lasted around three minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16