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

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Western Bluebird at western Iowa before 1889	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1889-02-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for Western Bluebirds at western Iowa before 1889. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Preliminary Annotated Catalogue of the Birds of Iowa in the Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences 5:113-161 by Charles R. Keyes and H.S. Williams also seen by Mr. Atkinson, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Western Bluebird	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermillion Flycatcher at Carter Lake in 1954	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1955-04-01	1996-04-25	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for Vermillion Flycatcher at Carter Lake in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 21, 1954. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication The Vermilion Flycatcher in Nebraska in Nebraska Bird Review 23:28-29 by W.F. Rapp, Jr. seen by R.G. and Grace Cortelyou.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Vermilion Flycatcher	Carter Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sabine's Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-09-27	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for up to two Sabine's Gulls at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on September 27, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentations submitted to the committee.	Ernzen, Peter	Sabine's Gull	Black Hawk Lake	[...] at Black hawk Lake in Sac Co.		The documentation report by Peter Ernzen forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted. \| The original documentation form viewing events lasted from as little as two minutes to over one hour at various times from September 27, 1995 to October 14, 1995.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Whooping Crane at northernmost dike at Riverton Area in 1963	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1964-03-01	1993-08-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two Whooping Cranes at northernmost dike at Riverton Area in Fremont County, IA on October 23, 1963. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Whooping Cranes in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 34:26 by Carl W. Matherly.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Whooping Crane	Riverton Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-faced Ibis at Willow Slough, 1981	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-05-19	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two White-faced Ibises at Willow Slough in Northeast Mills County, IA on May 19, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wilson, Barbara L.	White-faced Ibis	Willow Slough Dam	Willow Slough, N.E. Mills County, Iowa	Wading in pool behind beaver dam in marshy slough. No large vegetation there; Eleochoris at edges.	The documentation form by Barbara L. WIison is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: That large, dark with decurved bill it must be a Glossy or White-faced Ibis. Complete, wide white stripe around the face indicates White-faced. Perhaps soft-parts color tells too but I don't know. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:30:00/07:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-faced Ibis at Forney Lake, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-05-13	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two White-faced Ibises at Forney Lake in Fremont County on May 13, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	White-faced Ibis	Forneys Lake	Forney L., Fremont Co., Iowa	marsh	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ruth Phipps was submitted later. Other observers include Don Priebe, Ross Silcock and Tom Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: Glossy Ibis - white on face, red eye, and red legs eliminate this species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:10:00/16:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rock Wren at Sioux City in 1899	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Rare birds	1907-03-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two to three Rock Wrens at Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on June 1, 1899. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson seen by Guy C. Rich.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Rock Wren	Sioux City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur west of Essex, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-03-29	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two to ten Smith's Longspurs west of Essex in Page County, IA on March 29, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of the review and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Smith's Longspur	Essex	4 mi. North of Red Oak, Ia. and 2 mi. West of Essex, Iowa	General: Open - rolling terrain Specific: usually in ankle	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Lapland does not have buffy breast or white patches on shoulders or head. \| The original documentation form event occurred at various times on March 29, 30, and 31, 1984.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur west of Essex, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-03-29	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two to ten Smith's Longspurs west of Essex in Page County, IA on March 29, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Smith's Longspur	Essex	4 mi. North of Red Oak, Ia. and 2 mi. West of Essex, Iowa	General: Open - rolling terrain Specific: usually in ankle	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Lapland does not have buffy breast or white patches on shoulders or head. \| The original documentation form event lasted occurred at various times on March 29, 30, and 31, 1984.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Records committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-13	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two to five Thayer's Gulls at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 13, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Thayer's Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Res., Marion Co.-below dam and near the Hwy 14 bridge	resting on sand bar below dam and feeding near open water on main lake	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Proescholdt, Tom Kent, and Tom Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: The dark tail band and fairly dark body coloration should eliminate Iceland Gull. The smaller bill, rounder head, smaller size, more even body coloration, and pale undersides of the wings eliminates first-winter Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Buffalo Creek Conservation Area in 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1978-02-28	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two to five Hoary Redpolls at Buffalo Creek Conservation Area in Kossuth County, IA on February 12, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the field notes submitted by Ray Cummins, and referenced in the publication Field Reports in Iowa Bird Life 48(1):47-52 by Nicholas S. Halmi.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Hoary Redpoll	Buffalo Creek State Game Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-12-07	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Thayer's Gulls at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on December 7, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, a photocopy of a photograph on the cover page of Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Thayer's Gull	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.	large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The size, uniform body and wing color, pale underside of the flight feathers, and tail band eliminates Herring and Glaucous/Iceland gulls, the most likely candidates for confusion. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:04:00/16:42:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-12-30	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Thayer's Gulls at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on December 30, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Thayer's Gull	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Lake, Polk Co., IA	dam on Des Moines River forming reservoir	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The primary identification was done through the size and shape of the head. Other similar gulls do not share this "dove head." The adult was confirmed by the silvery underwings, not shared by similarly gray-mantled gulls, and the first year bird was confirmed by the uniformity of its body color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:40:00/15:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-03-14	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Thayer's Gulls at Red Rock Reservoir Dam in Marion County, IA on March 14, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Thayer's Gull	Red Rock Dam	Below dam, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Gravel bar and open river	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Diane Porter was submitted. Other observers include Beth Brown and Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull was eliminated by the light and uniform body color, brown as opposed to blackish primaries and tail band, bill and head structure, and lack of any color to the underside of the primaries. Iceland Gull was eliminated based on the darker secondaries and wide, brown tail band. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:20:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 19 at Keokuk, 1989	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-24	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Thayer's Gulls at Lock and Dam 19 at Keokuk in Lee County, IA on November 24, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, four photographs, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Thayer's Gull	Lock Number 19	Behind Lock and Dam 19 at Keokuk in Lee County, Iowa (Iowa side)	River (Mississippi)	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Cecil, Tom Kent, and Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Only probable similar species is Herring, which has contrasty wings - dark trailing edge and darker wingtips. The Thayer's were obviously a lighter shade of brown than any Herrings present. I judged these birds to be somewhat smaller than any Herring. I could not totally rule out first year Glaucous-winged. According to NGS, Glaucous-wing has less mottling or scalloping. The Keokuk birds were obviously mottled. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 13, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-12-28	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Thayer's Gulls at Lock and Dam 13 in Clinton County, IA on December 28, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Blevins, Brian L.	Thayer's Gull	Lock and Dam 13	Lock + Dam 13 on Mississippi River	Mississippi River Flyway just Below the Dam	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Corey Blevins, Lewis Blevins, and Jennifer Anderson. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull -> eliminated by the light brown color continuous all the way throughout the wingtips, thus there was not a darkening towards the wing tips. The mantle was also lighter than those of the nearby Herring Gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Lake Manawa, 1981	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-03-19	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Thayer's Gulls at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on March 19, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence and comments about the sighting, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Thayer's Gull	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa.		The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Peter C. Petersen, and Robert K. Myers were submitted later. Other observers include Tom Shires, James Kovanda, Sandra Kovanda, Tanya Bray, Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, B.J. Rose, and four unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The above description separates by direct comparison first-year Thayer's and Herring Gulls, the most similar species present. Thayer's may be confused in first year plumage with Kumlien's form of Iceland Gull, but the Thayer's had primaries slightly darker than the mantle (from above), whereas the opposite occurs in Iceland Gull (Lehman). Lehman also notes that some first-year Western Gulls may show translucent primaries from below in certain light, but these observations took place in excellent light at fairly close range. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Coralville Dam, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-11-07	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Thayer's Gulls at Coralville Dam in Johnson County, IA on November 7, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence and commentary about the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Thayer's Gull	Coralville Dam	Coralville Res. Dam, west overlook, Johnson Co. Iowa	Reservoir, just above dam, in water and on swimming beach	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Bendorf, Mike Newlon, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Photographs taken at the first encounter with a Celestron 750 mm lens demonstrate the size difference, the bill and head shape difference, the lighter overall color, and the window in the wing. An adult Herring was in the photo with the Thayer's on 7 Nov and imm Herring were photographed on 10 Nov for comparison. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:25:00/09:50:00 and 11:00:00/11:20:00 on November 7, 1981 and 07:30:00/08:30:00 on November 8, 1981.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-12-15	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 15, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Blevins, Brian L.	Thayer's Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Lock + Dam 15 on Mississippi River	Mississippi River Flyway just below the Dam	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Corey Blevins, Lewis Blevins, and Peter C. Petersen. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull -> Immature - eliminated by the light brown color continuous all the way throughout the wingtips, thus there was not a darkening towards the wing tips. Adult - eliminated by the light mantle getting lighter towards the wingtips, with just a few grey spots on the primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sprague's Pipit north of La Porte City in 1962	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1962-09-01	1994-01-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two Sprague's Pipits north of La Porte City in Black Hawk County, IA on May 27, 1962. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of the record, the original sighting record found in the publication Both Pipits at Waterloo in Iowa Bird Life 32(3):58-59 by Myrle Burk seen by six members of the Waterloo Audubon Society, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Sprague's Pipit	La Porte City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sprague's Pipit in Northwest Iowa in 1949	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1949-06-01	1994-01-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two Sprague's Pipits in Northwest Iowa on April 23, 1949. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of the record, the original sighting record found in the publication Sprague's Pipit in Northwest Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 19(2):34 by F.L.R. Roberts, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Sprague's Pipit	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis species at Lake View, 1975	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1975-05-09	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two species of Ibis at Lake view in Sac County, IA on May 9, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Jones, Glenn E.	Glossy Ibises	Lake View	3 mi. S of west Ridge of Lake View, Sac. Co., Iowa	marshy - a grazed out pasture - wet at this time - usually grazed in June and July	The documentation form by Glenn E. Jones is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ed Weiner and Mark Bohemayer. \| Elimination of similar species: Little green heron. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Snowy Egret at Elk Lake in 1934	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1934-07-24	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two Snowy Egrets at Elk Lake in Clay County, IA on July 24, 1934. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration, a letter from Jim Dinsmore to Department of Animal Ecology in Iowa State University, the original sighting record found in the publication Little Blue Herons in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 5:13 by Logan J. Bennett, and referenced in another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Snowy Egret	Elk Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Say's Phoebe at Cone Marsh, 1992	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-16	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Say's Phoebes at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on May 16, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Durbin, James O.	Say's Phoebe	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh		The documentation form by James Durbin is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Cal Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: Other flycatchers \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	37
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sabine's Gull at the riverfront of Davenport, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-10-13	1994-02-27	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Sabine's Gull at the riverfront of Davenport in Scott County, IA on October 13, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Meadowlark, excerpts from American Birds, article and front page from Iowa Bird Life, seven photographs, and seven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Peiser, Richard H.	Sabine's Gull	Davenport	Riverfront, Davenport, IA	Stone embankment + river	The documentation form by Richard H. Peiser forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Reid Allen, Peter C. Petersen, James Fuller, Randall Pinkston, and Ann Johnson were submitted. Other observers include John King, Dick Tetrault, Tim Schantz, Brian Blevins, Ann Barker, Jim Scheib, Mary Lou Peterson, Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, Pam Allen, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The upperwing pattern is so striking as to eliminate other gull species, even in the Juvenile Black hood of adult, slight fork of tail + black band on imm. tail band helped. Yellow tip of bill on adult clincher \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	9