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
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike at Babcock Access, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-16	1978-12-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike at Babcock Access in Johnson County, IA on December 16, 1978.	Newlon, Carol S.	Northern Shrike	Swan Lake	West of Swan Lake and east of Babcock Lake rd on Swan lake road at intersection with county road to the south.		The documentation form by Carol S. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Staudt, Ruth Williams, Mona Brown, and Noel Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: too clingy on the breast and to be a loggerhead shrike - also, the mask stopped at the bill too chunky to be mockingbird - also heavy hooked bill rather than slender one. \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 09:00:00/09:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Loggerhead Shrike at Coralville Reservoir west of Green Castle, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-19	1978-12-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Loggerhead Shrike at Coralville Reservoir west of Green Castle in Johnson County, IA on December 19, 1978.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Loggerhead Shrike	Green Castle (historical)	Coralville Reservoir west of Green Castle,	General: open country near river, scattered tree stands and individual trees. Specific: single bare tree at least 40yds from nearest trees.	The documentation form by Thomas J. Staudt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol Newlon, Mona Brown, and Noel Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: The obvious mask on this bird so contrasted with the mask on a Northern Shrike seen only a little over an hour earlier that this bird seemed to have to be a Loggerhead. also the point in the illustration that the mask seemed to go through the beak and across the upper mandible should eliminate an adult Northern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	74
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike east of Green Castle at Coralville Reservoir in 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1978-12-25	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike east of Green Castle at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on December 16, 1978.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Northern Shrike	Green Castle (historical)				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Townsend's Solitaire at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-02-03	1979-02-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Townsend's Solitaire at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon in O'Brien County, IA on February 3, 1979.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Townsend's Solitaire	East Lawn Cemetery	East Lawn cemetery, Sheldon (extreme western O'Brien Co.), Iowa. This cemetery covers an extensive area and is planted with many large evergreen, viz., spruce (mostly Norway Spruce), pine (Austrian Pine, I think), and a species of cedar or juniper (I am not sure of the species; it resembles the Red Cedar of the East somewhat, but has a more open crown); these junipers carry many blue berries.	among evergreen, moving from tree to tree, selecting mostly the juniper/cedar trees, see above: Location	The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: one who knows neither the Solitaire not the Mockingbird might conceivably mistake it for the latter. But the Mockingbird is larger, has no eye ring, shows no buff on the wing, and flashes conspicuous white in wing and tail in flight. I have lived both in California and in southern New York, where the Mockingbird is common: I am very familiar with the Mockingbird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	5
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 Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-02-11	1979-02-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on February 11, 1979.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Coralville Lake	farm country between Rt. 6 and the Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co IA	An area of mixed cropland and timber south of the Iowa River; just to the north is an extensive area of public land, with mixed fields and woods; to the south are farms on flatter land, with much less timber.	The documentation form by Mike Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rick Hollis and Carl Bendorf. \| Elimination of similar species: large size and slow wingbeat rule out buteos, as do the dark primaries and secondaries (melanistic redtails and roughlegs have white in the flight feathers). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:10:00/11:11:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Varied Thrush at Shenandoah, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-02-23	1979-02-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Varied Thrush at Shenandoah in Page County, IA on February 23, 1979.	Phipps, Ruth O.	Varied Thrush	Shenandoah	Shenandoah, Iowa	Many trees and shrubs in the area - not far from the cemetery where there are many pine trees	The documentation form by Ruth O. Phipps is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vera Jennings, Betty Walters, Mary Beth Vaughn, Barbara Cummingham, and Marie Spears. \| Elimination of similar species: Similar to a robin in size and coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:40:00/08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Field notes for Pileated Woodpecker at Willow Slough, Spring 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-03-01	1979-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes submitted as a fide report by Barb Wilson to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union for Spring 1979. It discusses a Pileated Woodpecker sighting by Ed Greenwood at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Pileated Woodpecker	Willow Slough State Game Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	62
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Gyrfalcon at Guthrie County in 1979	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Rare birds	1979-03-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Gyrfalcon at Guthrie County, IA on January 17, 1979. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Field Reports in Iowa Bird Life 49:23-26 by N.S. Halmi seen by Gene Burns.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Gyrfalcon	Guthrie County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Princeton, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1979-03-10	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for twenty Greater Scaups at Princeton in Scott County, IA on March 10, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Greater Scaup	Princeton	Mississippi River from I 80 north to Princeton	Mississippi River - partly ice covered lot - mostly open	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include T.K. Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser scaup - There were about 40 of these for direct comparison, in the same field of view at times. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Sugar Bottom Recreation Area, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1979-03-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Sugar Bottom Recreation Area at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 11, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Merlin	Sugar Bottom Campground	Sugar Bottom Recreation area on Coralville Reservoir	wooded valley with adjacent open fields. Small valley 1/4 - 1/2 mile from Coralville Reservoir	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Sparrow hawk - no red on tail, no facial marking, unlikely habitat. Sharp-shinned Hawk - wing shape and flight pattern different from Sharp-shinned. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Co. Rd. W48 in Johnson County, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1979-03-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Co. Rd. W48 in Johnson County, IA on March 18, 1979.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Merlin	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	Co. Rd. W48, Johnson Co., Iowa	over flooded fields, tailwaters of Coralville Reservoir	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - slimmer, flight less direct and powerful. Sharp-shin: Rounded wings, relatively longer tail, more flapping flights \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:00:15.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Guttenberg in 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-03-23	1979-03-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for ten or more Greater Scaups at Guttenberg in Clayton County, IA on March 23, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Greater Scaup	Guttenberg				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Black Scoter at Conesville Marsh, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-03-31	1979-04-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Scoter at Conesville Marsh in Louisa County, IA on March 31, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black Scoter	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Conesville Marsh, Louisa County Iowa	marshy lake west arm of conesville marsh	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Noel Brown, Mona Brown, and Mike Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: White-winged Scoter - no white in wing, wrong face pattern. Surf Scoter - wrong head shape and face pattern. Ruddy duck - much larger, wrong shape, short tail, all dark body. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13
Rare bird documentation for Black Scoter at Cone Marsh, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-03-31	1979-04-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for a Black Scoter at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on March 31, 1979.	Newlon, Michael C.	Black Scoter	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co, IA	large area of ponds, flooded fields + timber, bottomland. pond bordered by woods + flooded fields	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include CS Newlon, Tom Kent, Noel Brown, and Mona Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Female Bufflehead has much smaller white patch on face. Other female scoters, harlequin duck have more than 1 patch + patches are smaller. Female Ruddy duck is smaller + white does not extend onto throat or neck, also differs in properties (stockier, with heavier head + neck for size). Male hooded merganser has white sides, chest, side stripes, more slender bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:15:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike north of Decorah, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-03-31	1979-04-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike north of Decorah in Winneshiek County, IA on March 31, 1979.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Northern Shrike	Decorah	Six miles no. of Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa		The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The Loggerhead Shrike has a stubbier less strongly hooked bill, and has less white in facial pattern and black mask meeting over bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/07:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Hoosier Creek in 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Greater Scaups at Hoosier Creek in Johnson County, IA on April 7, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Greater Scaup	Hoosier Creek	Hoosier Creek, Ely road, Johnson Co.	Flood coastal reservoir at high water, flood corn field	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:40:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Mute Swan at St. Mary's in Warren County, 1979	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-10	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-tailed Hawk at St. Mary's in Warren County, IA on April 10, 1979.	Brown, Woodward H.	Mute Swan	Saint Marys	3 miles south of St Mary's. Warren Co., IA in farm pond	pastures/hedgerows/woods	The documentation form by Woodward H. Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard Mooney, Margaret Brooke, Jeannette Eyerly, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Whistling Swan - smooth bill, neck less curved. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/13:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	29
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at New Albin, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-14	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Greater Scaups at New Albin in Allamakee County, IA on April 14, 1979.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Greater Scaup	New Albin	New Albin, Allamakee 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: Not the light gray color of the Lesser Scaups. The female Greater Scaup was much like the males in shape and size, but differed from the Lesser Scaup female in plumage slightly. The three Greater Scaups kept to themselves, surrounded by at least 75 other waterfowl, including the Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Redhead and Ruddy Ducks. The Greater Scaup dived infrequently, much less than the Lesser Scaup. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Cherokee, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Long-tailed Duck at Cherokee in Cherokee County, IA on April 16, 1979	Brewer, Marion M.	Long-tailed Duck	Cherokee	2 South of Cherokee on River Road	Sewer Lagoon	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Bierman. \| Elimination of similar species: None. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:30:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Cherokee, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Long-tailed Duck at Cherokee in Cherokee County, IA on April 16, 1979.	Bierman, Dick	Long-tailed Duck	Cherokee	1/2 miles south of Cherokee at the sewage lagoon.	Sewage lagoon by Little Sioux River. Lagoon is about 10 acres in size.	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marion Brewer. \| Elimination of similar species: Female Ruddy, Female Bufflehead and some of the scoters. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Cone Marsh Wildlife Area, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Cone Marsh Wildlife Area in Louisa County, IA on April 21, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Merlin	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Conesville Marsh Louisa Co. Iowa	wet grassy field and wooded edge. Conesville Marsh between lakes	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include T.K. Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/08:40:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Sweet Marsh in 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-22	1979-05-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 22, 1979.	Myers, Robert K.	Merlin	Sweet Marsh				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32