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 of Laughing Gull at Lock 19 in Keokuk, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-07-08	1997-10-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Lock 19 in Keokuk in Lee County, IA on July 8, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Lock Number 19	above Lock 19, Keokuk, Lee Co., IA	resting on a log in river	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's Gull is the only species this bird was likely to be confused with. The larger size, longer, more pointed wings, lack of white color in the primaries, longer, larger bill, dark legs and bill, and gray wash on nape (rather than a more distinct half-hood) are sufficient to eliminate Franklin's Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:05:00/16:30:00 on July 8, 1994 and 06:15:00/06:28:00 on July 9, 1994.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Lake Rathbun, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-06-04	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Lake Rathbun in Appanoose County, IA on June 4, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Laughing Gull	Rathbun Lake	Lake Rathbun Appanoose Co.	Lake and shore.	The documentation form by Raymond Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Of the medium sized Gulls only Ring-billed, Franklin's, and Mew Gulls have similar juvenile plumages. The direct size comparison, seen gull being smaller, bill shape and dark color, and lack of white in head eliminates Ring-billed Gull. Mew Gull is eliminated by long dark bill, Ring-billed like jist of bird in flight, and uniform overall color. The long down turned bill and the total improbability of a juvenile Franklin's being in southern Iowa on this date. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:19:00/10:30:30 on June 4, 1991 and 09:30:00/09:35:00 on June 5, 1991.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Laughing Gull at Lake Manawa in 1941	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1941-06-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on March 25, 1941. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication The Laughing Gull in Pottawattamie County in Iowa Bird Life 11:36 by B.F. Stiles.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Laughing Gull	Lake Manawa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at IPL Ponds, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-07	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 7, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, an article in the Illinois Audubon Bulletin, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Laughing Gull	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa Power + Light Settling Pond		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tanya Bray, Babs Padelford, and Loren Padelford. \| Elimination of similar species: Differs from Franklin's Gull only in lack of white line between black primaries + gray mantle. I saw one Franklin's this spring with a very narrow white band in the primaries. If this isn't a Laughing Gull, it's an aberrant Franklin's. It seemed to be in a very neat breeding plumage, not a young bird. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon for around two minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Laughing Gull at Blencoe in 1894	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1907-03-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Blencoe in Monona County, IA on October 10, 1894. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson seen by H.W. Kerr as reported by J.A. Dickinson and Isadore Trostler, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Laughing Gull	Blencoe				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lark Sparrow south of Riverton, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-01-04	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lark Sparrow south of Riverton in Fremont County, IA on January 4, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harms, Jacqueline M.	Lark Sparrow	Riverton	1 mile south of Riverton, IA	deciduous edge woods adjacent to corn field	The documentation form by Jacqueline M. Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jarrett Harms, Joe Worthington, Marla Worthington, Larry Falk, and Derry Wolford. \| Elimination of similar species: Vesper Sparrow - no face pattern Juncos - wrong color Amer. tree Sparrow - no white outer tail feathers \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lark Sparrow north of Newell, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-12-20	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lark Sparrow north of Newell in Buena Vista County, IA on December 20, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, field notes, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thelen, Ed	Lark Sparrow	Newell	1 mile N. of Newell along black top road	Roadside - open fields - only cover in ditch	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Linda Thelen and the Thelen children. \| Elimination of similar species: unmistakable - clear breast, dark spot - white tipped tail - strong facial pattern \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/15:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lark Bunting southeast of Scranton, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-06-06	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lark Bunting southeast of Scranton in Greene County, IA on June 6, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, e-mail correspondence about the documentation, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thelen, Rob	Lark Bunting	Scranton	Greene County,1 mile south of Scranton on Highway 25 ,then 3/4 mile east.	Pasture with cows on South side, Row crops on North side	The documentation form by Rob Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Marty Thelen. \| Elimination of similar species: I don't know of any other bird of this size that has white wing patches. I couldn't find any other info in any of my bird guides. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:00:06.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lark Bunting north of Burlington, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-30	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lark Bunting north of Burlington in Des Moines County, IA on April 30, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, Charles R.	Lark Bunting	Burlington	North of Burlington off Highway 99	Farm land--freshly plowed field, low hedge rows	The documentation form by Charles Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The Bird sighted on a dirt road feeding with a Vesper Sparrow--within 3 feet for comparison. The most conspicuous field mark were the large creamy white wing patches (Not bars). The bird was slightly larger than the Vesper Sparrow with heavy sparrow bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lark Bunting at De Soto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-04-28	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lark Bunting at De Soto Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on April 28, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Babcock, Mary Cook	Lark Bunting	De Soto Lake	De Soto Bend NWR	Bare tree by a pond in flock of mixed swallows	The documentation form by Mary Cock Babcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Smaller + different shape from red winged black bird. No yellow head as yellow headed black bird. Too small for mockingbird or shrike - also different color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Chestnut-collared Longspur at Estherville in winter of 1932-1933	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1933-12-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a large flock of Chestnut-collared Longspurs at Estherville in Emmet County, IA during the winter of 1932-1933. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Revised List of Birds of Iowa by Philip A. DuMont seen by B.O. Wolden, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Chestnut-collared Longspur	Estherville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	43
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Kirtland's Warbler at Linn County before 1907	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1907-03-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Kirtland's Warbler at Linn County, IA before 1907. 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 George H. Berry.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Kirtland's Warbler	Linn County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for King Eider at Lake Odesa in 1970	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1981-12-01	1993-09-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a King Eider at Lake Odesa in Louisa County, IA on November 8, 1970. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Fifth record of King Eider in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 51:126-129 by Mike Newlon and Thomas Kent seen by Steven Slack.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	King Eider	Lake Odessa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for King Eider at Keokuk in 1894	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting Zoological specimens	1925-01-01	1993-09-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a King Eider at Keokuk in Keokuk County on November 10, 1894. Includes a record review document with votes, photographs of the specimen, the original sighting record found in the publication Two records from Keokuk Iowa in Iowa Ornithologist 1:52 by William E. Praeger, and referenced by seven other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	King Eider	Keokuk				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for King Eider at Ingham Lake in 1971	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting Zoological specimens	1972-06-01	1993-09-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a King Eider at Ingham Lake in Emmet County, IA on November 8, 1971. Includes a record review document with votes, letter about the sighting from Kennet Formanek to Peter Petersen, the original sighting record found in the publication Another King Eider record for Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 42:50 by Peter C. Petersen shot by the Goecke brothers and identified by Kenneth Formanek, and referenced by three other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	King Eider	Ingham Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for King Eider at Bellevue in 1964	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Counting Birds--Identification Rare birds	1965-03-01	1993-09-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a King Eider at Bellevue in Jackson County, IA on December 20, 1964. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Christmas Bird Count in Iowa Bird Life 35:8 seen by Myrle Jones, and referenced by three other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	King Eider	Bellevue				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Jaeger species at Oak Grove Recreation Area at Saylorville Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-09-22	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Jaeger species bird at Oak Grove Recreation Area at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on September 22, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Armstrong, Eugene	Jaegers	Oak Grove Recreation Area	Saylorville Lake- off Oak Grove Beach	Beach and Lake	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Not a pomarine because it was not large enough Bill too long for a Longtail Bird much smaller and lighter bodied than a Pom. * Had a light weight body - small fairly long bill with a sharp hook on the end with little going angle. All brown - central tail feathers not visible. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Jaeger Species at Lake Manawa, 1976	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1976-09-04	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Jaeger species bird at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on September 4, 1976. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation account reviewed by the committee.	Hoffman, Thomas A.	Jaegers	Lake Manawa State Park	Lake Manawa		The documentation form by Thomas A. Hoffman is the only one reviewed and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I am relatively sure, from its actions, its size and shape (not heavy like a typical Pomarine, nor as small as a Long-tailed - it was close to the size of the Ring-billed Gull), and place (Parasitics are more common inland than the other two), that it was a Parasitic Jaeger. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Jaeger species at Jester Park at Saylorville Reservoir, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-10-27	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Jaeger species bird at Jester Park at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 27, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Jaegers	Jester Park	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-off Jester Park	landed with other gulls roosting on reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The body color and wing pattern eliminates all other larids. I was not able to identify the bird to species because of the poor light. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:56:00/17:21:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Jaeger species at Hitchcock Nature Area, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-11-24	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Jaeger species bird at Hitchcock Nature Area in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 24, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes and two copies of a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Orsag, Mark	Jaegers	Hitchcock Nature Area	Hitchcock Nature Area Hawkwatch	Missouri River Valley Floodplain	The documentation form by Mark Osrag is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Sue Mattix. \| Elimination of similar species: Dark immature gulls were eliminated by flight pattern, body-to-wing shape profile (as above), and the well seen identical translucent patches on the wings. Other jaeger species were eliminated by the bird's size. It thermalled above a wetland area beyond HNA's 'Westridge' with a group of Ring-billed Gulls. Size comparison was perfect-revealing a noticeably larger, heavier-bodied bird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/14:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Jaeger species at Rice Lake, 1966	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1966-09-04	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Jaeger species at Rice Lake in Winnebago County, IA on September 4, 1966. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation account reviewed by the committee.	Sutter, B.E.; Sutter, Barton	Jaegers	Rice Lake	[...] shore of Rice Lake [...]		The documentation form by Barton E. Sutter is the only account reviewed and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Mark Sutter. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] one characteristic had been very noticeable-the great amount of white color that flashed as the bird flew, both on the upper- and undersides of the wings. At the time I did not realize the importance of this detail, but I recorded it along with my other field notes as I knew from past reading that distinguishing between Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers could be tricky. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Jaeger species at Lock and Dam 14 in 1963	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1964-03-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Jaeger species at Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on December 6, 1963. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Parasitic Jaeger in eastern Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 34:26 by Peter Petersen, Jr. and also seen by Elton Fawks, Mr. and Mrs. Don Price, Bob Trial, and Ted Greer.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Jaegers	Lock and Dam 14				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull near Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Tables (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-12-22	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Iceland Gull near Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 22, 1985. Includes record review documents with votes, articles in Illinois Birds and Birding as well as American Birds, correspondence about the bird sighting, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Iceland Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Location: Davenport. County: Scott	General: Chanel [sic] of Miss. R., near middle of river when standing. Specific: 1/2 - 3/4 mi. above Lock + Dam 15.	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Barker, Mary Lou Petersen, and Bill Barker were submitted. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore, Paul Martsching, Pete Wickham, Mark Brogie, Lewis Blevins, Corey Blevins, Brett Ashford, and Dale Dickinson. \| Elimination of similar species: Glaucous Gull eliminated by size, wing extention [sic] well beyond tail. Flight, headshape, all emphasized by direct comparison with Glaucous Gulls. The next afternoon Bill Barker compared this bird to two different sized Glaucous Gulls and it was smaller than the smaller Glaucous Gull. Plumage lighter than Glaucous also. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:40:00/12:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull near Le Claire, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-12-27	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Iceland Gull near Le Claire in Scott County, IA on December 27, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentations submitted to the committee.	Brogie, Mark A. Wickham, Peter P.	Iceland Gull	Le Claire	[...] along the Mississippi River approximately one-half mile north of the Interstate 80 bridge in Scott County, Iowa.		The documentation form by Mark Brogie and Peter P. Wickham forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Paul Martsching was submitted. Another observer includes Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The bird was in the company of several Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) and three subadult Glaucous Gulls (Larus hyperboreus). Two of the Glaucous Gulls were light plumaged birds lacking a gray mantle and, since eye color was not noted, may have been either first or early second winter birds. The third Glaucous was quite buffy and was undoubtably [sic] a first winter bird. The Iceland Gull was first observed being chased by a light-phased Glaucous and was distinctly smaller and lighter colored. It also flew with a faster wingbeat and had a more buoyant flight than that of the larger bird. Glaucous Gulls were also observed chasing Herring Gulls but at no time was intraspecific chasing observed. During several instances two Glaucous Gulls were observed resting on the water or sitting on the ice together, but the Iceland always remained isolated from these birds. At one point the Iceland Gull circled overhead at a distance of approximately 40 yards in the company of a light-phased Glaucous and an immature Herring Gull, and characteristics between the species were well noted. The plumage of the Iceland was wholly white with a faint buffy tinge, yet distinctly whiter than the Glaucous Gull. The size difference between the Glaucous and the other two species was apparent as the Iceland and Herring were of approximately equal size. The head and bill of the Iceland Gull appeared less robust in shape than the Glaucous although both species had a bicolored bill with a flesh colored base and dark tip. [...] The brown barring of the undertail coverts of the Iceland appeared heavier and more noticable [sic] than in its white-winged congeneric counterpart, and contrasted particularly with the whitish tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted for approximately twenty minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for a Hummingbird species in Le Claire, 1998	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-03-31	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hummingbird species at Le Claire in Scott County, IA on March 31, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Don Moeller to Tom Kent and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schmitz, John A.	Hummingbirds	Le Claire	Le Claire, Iowa		The documentation form by John A. Schmitz is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred from 14:00:00/14:04:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	22