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 east of Reinbeck, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-03-01	1989-04-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon east of Reinbeck in Black Hawk County, IA on March 1, 1989.	Johnson, Ann	Prairie Falcon	Reinbeck	4 miles e. Reinbeck, Black Hawk County, IA	Farmstead with silos, open fields	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Brown, Mark Proescholdt, Beth Proescholdt, Chuck Fuller, Cal Knight, and Bernie Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: Other hawks were eliminated by the long, pointed wings and general body shape. Size eliminated all falcons but the peregrine, but the presence of the black axillars confirmed that this was indeed a Prairie Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:56:00/18:28:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff east of Tabor, 1982	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-09-08	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ruff east of Tabor in Fremont County, IA on September 8, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, articles in Iowa Bird Life and American Birds, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Ruff	Tabor	4 miles east of Tabor, in Fremont County	Lake Mar-I-War, being a waste disposal pond at Mar-I-War Farms' hog operation.	The documentation form by W. Ross Silcock forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Tanya Bray, Barbara L. Wilson, Thomas H. Kent, and Joe Schaufenbuel were submitted. Other observers include Lynn Schaufenbuel, Peter Petersen, and B.J. Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Yellowlegs, and Pectoral, Western, Least, and Semipalmated Sandpipers.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon north of Laurens, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-02-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon north of Laurens in Pocahontas County, IA on February 4, 1988.	Fuller, James L	Prairie Falcon	Laurens	4 miles N of Laurens - Pocahontas & Palo Alto Co. line area	open farmland	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Snyder and Ron Harms. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine - Peregrine darker upperparts & lacks the dark underwing areas. Merlin - size and underwing areas. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:40:00/07:40:45.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Wood Stork at Washta, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-10-11	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Wood Stork near Washta in Cherokee County, IA on October 11, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Wood Stork	Washta	4 miles S of Washta	River bottom	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: snow goose. black secondarys [sic] \| The original documentation form event occurred in the mid afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	1
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Pleasantville, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Pleasantville in Marion County, IA on January 7, 1983.	Thornburg, Robert E.	Northern Goshawk	Pleasantville	4 miles S.W. of Pleasantville Marion County	Pine Grove ~ 5 acres ; trees ~ 25 feet tall	The documentation form by Robert Thornburg is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Coopers Hawk could not have been so large or had the head markings. The head and bright red eyes and size left little doubt as to the birds identity. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur south of Nichols, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-03-09	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for twenty Smith's Longspurs south of Nichols in Muscatine County, IA on March 9, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Smith's Longspur	Nichols	4.7 miles south of Nichols, Muscatine Co. along HWY 70.	Area of short grass with partly frozen standing water at edge of larger cultivated fields	The documentation form by Carl J. Bendorf is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Other longspurs and Vesper Sparrow eliminated by distinct buff color of breast and by face pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:50:00/16:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Johnson County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-19	1978-03-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Johnson County, IA on February 19, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Golden Eagle	Johnson County	4.9 mi west of jct. of F20 and W48 in Johnson Co. Iowa. The bird was in trees between F20 and the Iowa River bed.	The bird was perched on the north edge of a stand of trees bordering the Iowa River. Snow covered cornfields were n. of trees.	The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Michael Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Dark phased rough-legged hawk lacks the white wing patches on upper wing surface and is not twice the length of common crow. Also usually has dark upper tail surface. Immature Bald Eagle lacks prominent white wing patches and base of bill not yellow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Hooded Warbler at Ida Grove, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-05-27	1993-05-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hooded Warbler at Ida Grove in Ida County, IA on May 27, 1993.	Ernzen, Peter	Hooded Warbler	Ida Grove	401 Taylor Ida Grove Iowa	In migration?	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Wilson's Warbler female No gray around the black eye, Wilson's has a black tail and darker back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 20:13:00/20:13:15.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	41
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Bullock's Oriole at Clemons, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-05-12	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Bullock's Oriole at Clemons in Marshall County, IA on May 12, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Humpal, Holly	Bullock's Oriole	Clemons	403 Market ave - Clemons Iowa	Tall Elm - Oak and black walnut trees behind my house. House on edge of town very rural - corn fields on 2 sides of house & a lot of trees behind house.	The documentation form by Holly Humpal is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Baltimore Oriole - Has all Black Head - a Little orange on top part of wing and very small white wing bar and tail pattern has more black at top to sides and wider band. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Gray Jay at Mason City, 1976	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1976-11-01	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Gray Jay at Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA in early November 1976. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life as well as a letter and documentation form submitted to the committee.	Tanner, Fern L.	Gray Jay	Mason City	415 N. Jeff Mason City Iowa	spotted in Spruce tree several times - also once on small bush.	The documentation form by Fern L. Tanner is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marvin Tanner, Luella Olsen, and Albert Ewers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Looked larger than Blue Jay that was 18 in. away at time. Little shorter beak than Blue Jay. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	41
Rare bird documentation form for Gray Catbird west of Hiawatha, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-12-15	1990-12-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Gray Catbird west of Hiawatha in Linn County, IA on December 15, 1990.	Bradley, Rob	Gray Catbird	Hiawatha	420-0914 - 1 1/2 miles west of Hiawatha off Blairs Ferry Rd Linn Co.	Sumac - Blackberry - Multiflora Rose overgrown pasture w. small clumps of Hawthorn trees	The documentation form by Robert Bradley is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Demermuth. \| Elimination of similar species: Can't think of anything in this area that resembles a Gray Catbird maybe Junco but way to [sic] small. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:30:02.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eurasian Tree Sparrow at Oxford, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-01-09	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Eurasian Tree Sparrow at Oxford in Johnson County, IA on January 9, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Scheib, James	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Oxford	4296 Black Hawk Ave SW, Oxford, Johnson Co., 5 mi. S. of Oxford I-80 exit	Feeder on cedar tree outside farm house	The documentation form by James Scheib is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers were Pat Schnack and Grace Geyer. \| Elimination of similar species: Easily distinguished from accompanying house sparrows as described above. No other sparrow has a rounded blackear mark completely surrounded by white. Closest might be Lark Sparrow which has a white crown strip, brown ear mark, white around the eye, and white on the tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	18
Rare bird documentation form for Magnolia Warbler at Sioux City, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1995-07-04	1995-07-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Magnolia Warbler at Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on July 4, 1995.	Livermore, Wayne	Magnolia Warbler	Sioux City	4713 Tyler St Sioux City Ia 51108	Urban back yard	The documentation form by Wayne Livermore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Eliminated yellow-rumped because of white breast. Wrong facial coloring for Cape May. All similar species have very disimilar [sic] song. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mute Swan at South Clay County, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-04-08	1994-01-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a a Mute Swan at South Clay County, IA on April 8, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, a page of copied photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, internal correspondence, summary of review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Mute Swan	Clay County	5 East of 71 on 374	Large farm pond, rolling hills most of which were in cultavation [sic]	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vernon Beirman. \| Elimination of similar species: Was from the mute swan because of the straight neck and the Tundra swan because of the dark base of the bill. The wings were not held high like on the Mute swan. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	11
Rare bird documentation form for Lark Bunting southeast of Hawarden, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-24	1984-05-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lark Bunting southeast of Hawarden in Sioux County, IA on May 24, 1984.	Silcock, W. Ross	Lark Bunting	Hawarden	5 mi e, 1 mi s, JCT 10+12 in Hawarden, Sioux Co, Iowa	Farmland	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Bobolink- No white on head or back. Small bird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:08:00/10:08:05.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	54
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow northeast of Ames, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-12-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow northeast of Ames in Story County, IA on December 16, 1989.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Vesper Sparrow	Ames	5 mi. east and 2 mi. north of Ames, Story Co., IA	sitting on gravel road in agricultural area	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Andy Fix. \| Elimination of similar species: The white eye ring, tail pattern, pattern of streaking on the breast, and habitat eliminates other sparrows, especially Savannah, Song, and Lincoln's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:40:00/14:56:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Burrowing Owl north-northwest of Mason City, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-08-23	1987-08-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Burrowing Owls north-northwest of Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on August 23, 1987.	Dinsmore, James J.	Burrowing Owl	Mason City	5 miles NNW of Mason City	birds were on fenceposts and along ditch next to a soybean field	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Much too small for a Short-eared Owl, flight pattern different. Only other small earless owl, the N. Saw-whet, is smaller, juvenile pattern is different, and doesn't have long legs like this bird. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	51
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-01-05	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings in Mills County, IA on January 5, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Vesper Sparrow	Hastings	5 miles north + 1 1/2 miles west of Hastings, Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: A good size brown sparrow with white outer tail feathers is likely to be a Vesper Sparrow except in winter. I probably wouldn't call this one if I hadn't seen it better before + after. \| The original documentation form event occurred around mid-morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-01-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings in Mills County, IA on January 7, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Vesper Sparrow	Hastings	5 miles North 1 1/2 miles west of Hastings, Iowa Mills Co.		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White outer tail feathers + face pattern = Vesper sparrow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:33:00/10:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Paulina, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-06-03	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Paulina in O'Brien County, IA on June 3, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bierman, Dick	Ferruginous Hawk	Paullina	5 miles North of Paulina Iowa OBrien [sic] Co.	Flat, Agricultural, only farm Groves for Trees	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Swainson's Hawk have dark primaries. Red Tails with light tails have a terminal band. This one didn't. Red Tails do not have dark legs that are feathered to the ankle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:18:00 and 09:40:00 to 09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings in Mills County, IA on December 23, 1981.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Vesper Sparrow	Hastings	5 miles North, 1 1/2 miles west of Hasings, [sic] Iowa Mills County		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White outer tail feathers on a streaked Sparrow suggests strongly Vesper Sparrow. Lapland Longsurs have white over tail feathers, but lack the white eye ring, are streaked on the sides but not, or only faintly, across the breast. Longspurs do not typically sit in trees. Longspurs have short tails, too. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Cattle Egrets near Cherokee, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-06-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for fifteen Cattle Egrets near Cherokee in Cherokee County, IA on June 18, 1984.	Brewer, Marion M.	Cattle Egret	Cherokee	5 miles South of Cherokee and 2 West	Marshy end of a pasture and in a flooded corn field next to pasture	The documentation form by Marion M. Bewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vernon Bierman and Jim Huber. \| Elimination of similar species: Too small for any other egret and orange coloring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:10:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	21
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Five Ridge Prairie State Park, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-01-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Five Ridge Prairie State Park in Plymouth County, IA on January 3, 1999.	Probst, Jerry	Northern Goshawk	Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve	5 Ridge Prarie Plymouth Co. IA	Below dam Riparian + Upper transition Red Cedar - Burr Oak	The documentation form by Jerry Probst is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Warren Dunkle. \| Elimination of similar species: Cooper's - This bird was too heavy bodied, strong wing beats and the whitish gray ventral side (body). Red-shouldered - Goshawk gray color - wing pattern - flight. \| The original documentation form event occurred twice at 09:00:00 and 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Black Scoter at Jester Park at Saylorville Lake, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-04-09	1989-04-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Scoter at Jester Park at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on April 9, 1989.	Fix, Andrew S.	Black Scoter	Jester Park	50 ft. off Jester State park South end - Saylorville Reservoir	water	The documentation form by Andrew S. Fix is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ann Johnson, Bery Engebretsen, and Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Other breeding plumage male scoters have characteristic white markings on head, coots have a white bill, moorhens have white along the side. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13