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Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Western Flycatcher at Lake Ahquabi State Park, 1992
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Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs
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Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc
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1992-11-14
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1999-10-15
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Rare birds documentation form
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Records Committee review for a Western Flycatcher at Lake Ahquabi State Park in Warren County, IA on November 14, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in American Birds, excerpts from Western Birds, articles in Pennsylvania birds, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, eight photographs, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.
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Johnson, Ann
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Empidonax Flycatchers
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Lake Ahquabi State Park
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Lake Ahquabi State Park, Warren County, IOWA
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Woodland edge consisting primarily of honeysuckle and junipers
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The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, and Brian Blevins were submitted later. Other observers include Ross Silcock, Peter Petersen, Kelly McKay, Corey Blevins, Jim Scheib, Jim Sinclair, John Daniel, Tim Schantz, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Chuck Fuller, David Youngblut, Beth Brown, Sherry Dragula, Bill Overland, Jane Overland, John Miller, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and unidentified other observers. | Elimination of similar species: The date of observation is historically good for a vagrant western flycatcher species, so this was in the back of my mind in assessing the characteristics observed. The presence of both eye ring and wing bars, in addition to size and shape, indicate that the bird fits the Empidonax complex. The combination of green back, yellow throat and pure orange lower mandible with no markings would eliminate Least, Hammond's, Dusky, Gray, Buff-breasted, Alder, and Willow Flycatchers. A juvenile Acadian can be eliminated by the short primary extension, color of the wings, size and shape of the eye ring, and active behavior. Only three species are indicated by the green upper parts and yellow under parts. Two are separable only by voice. The choices were between Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Western (Cordilleran and Pacific-slope) Flycatcher. Back color is greener in Yellow-bellied and more olive in Western. Although the back looked olive, this was rather subjective. According to the Audubon Master Guide, behavior would be more indicative of a Yellow-bellied in that the bird was not flicking both tail and wings. According to Kaufman, however, behavior is quite variable. Three characteristics made me lean more toward Western complex. They were peaked appearance to the head (usually smooth and rounded in Yellow-bellied); almond-shaped eye ring (round, narrow, and more even in Yellow-bellied); and browner wings than eastern Empidonax. The color of the wings is again subjective, but the contrast between wing color and wing bars was less than the black/white (or even black/buff in fall birds) of eastern birds. Even with the variability that may occur in any Empidonax, it is unlikely that these three characteristics, which are common to the Western Flycatcher, would appear simultaneously in a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Further support is found in the Audubon Master Guide to Birding where it states in the description of Western Flycatcher, "...olive wash on the breast, flanks, and especially the sides tends to highlight a midventral yellow stripe" - one of the more obvious characteristics when viewed at close range from the front. IF the call notes heard belonged to this bird, it would indicate a Cordilleran Flycatacher, the most likely vagrant. None of us were able, however, to get the bird to call as we were observing it. Cal Knight played a tape and the bird became very agitated but did not call. | The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/14:00:00 on November 14, 1992 and 11:30:00/13:45:00 on November 15, 1992.
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Iowa Ornithologists' Union | MS 166
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12
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35
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Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Hickory Hill Park, 1990
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Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)
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Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc
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1990-06-24
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1993-07-17
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Rare birds documentation form
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Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Hickory Hill Park in Johnson County, IA on June 24, 1990. Includes one record review document with votes and a documentation form.
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Schulein, Thomas M., 1945-
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Mississippi Kite
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Hickory Hill Park
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Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City
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Woodland edge, on a dead branch at the top of a tree next to a trail
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The documentation form by Thomas M. Schulein is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. | Elimination of similar species: 1. Cooper's Hawk, but this bird has a barred breast and no eye patches and a dark and light head pattern. 2. White-tailed Kite, but this bird has dark wing patches. 3. Osprey, but this bird is larger and is brown and white, even though it has dark eye patches. | The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/08:00:00.
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Iowa Ornithologists' Union | MS 166
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8
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26
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Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Broad-winged Hawk at Dubuque, 1988
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Administrative records Field notes
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Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc
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1988-01-02
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1993-09-07
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Rare birds documentation form
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Records Committee review of a Broad-winged Hawk at Dubuque in Dubuque County, IA on January 2, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.
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Miller, John Carl
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Broad-winged Hawk
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Dubuque
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Dubuque, IA along the Heritage Trail near Sundown Ski area
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Woodland with fields
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The documentation form by John Carl Miller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Leta Miller. | The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:07:00.
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Iowa Ornithologists' Union | MS 166
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8
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31
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Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Western Tanager at Lime Creek Nature Center, 1993
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Administrative records Field notes
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Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc
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1993-05-10
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1995-07-08
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Rare birds documentation form
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Records Committee review for a Western Tanager at Lime Creek Nature Center in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 10, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.
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Nelson, Curtis
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Western Tanager
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Lime Creek Nature Center
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Cerro Gordo Co. Lime Creek Nature Center Woods
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Woods; small clearing near a small stream
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The documentation form by Curt Nelson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Fred Heinz. | Elimination of similar species: Juvenile or Molting Scarlet Tanager - The yellow areas were very bright and clear without any suggestion of a greenish tint Red area was neatly confined to the head + face. 1st yr. Summer tanager - same as above | The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 17:30:00/17:35:00.
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Iowa Ornithologists' Union | MS 166
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13
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29
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Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for House Finch at Burlington, 1985
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Administrative records Field notes
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Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc
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1985-04-12
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1993-09-03
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Rare birds documentation form
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Records Committee review for a House Finch at Burlington in Des Moines County, IA on April 12, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.
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Fuller, James L
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House Finch
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Burlington
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Dr. Harvey Eastburn Home - 3 miles N. of Burlington
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Yard - but deep woods edge
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The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jane Fuller and Charles Fuller. | Elimination of similar species: Male Purple Finch - The bird in question had a different red color which was less extensive than the Purple Finch's. | The original documentation form event lasted from 09:20:00/09:21:00 and 11:50:00/11:52:00.
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Iowa Ornithologists' Union | MS 166
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14
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15
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