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 Great Black-backed Gull near Bettendorf, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Charts (graphic documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-01-14	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of a Great Black-backed Gull near Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on January 14, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, appraisal and comparison of relevant bird sightings, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Great Black-backed Gull	Bettendorf	Mississippi River between Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois. The bird was at times in both states.	Ice floes and open water of Mississippi River.	The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Thomas H. Kent was submitted. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Peter Petersen, Ann Barker, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and Chuck Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Western gull is the same size as herring gull, as is slaty backed gull and lesser black backed gull is smaller than herring. The very large legs and bill would also speak against lesser black-backed and slaty-backed. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:40:00 on January 14, 1991 and 07:41:00/07:48:00 and 08:12:00/08:28:00 on January 17, 1991.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Yellow Grosbeak near Elkhart, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-12-02	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Yellow Grosbeak south of Elkhart in Polk County, IA on December 2, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Stephen Bailey to Tim Schantz, two notes from Tim Schantz to the Iowa Records Committee, e-mails between Jim Fuller, Paula Saba, John Saba, Chuck Williamson, and Paul DeBenedictis, an article in Bird Watcher's Digest, an article in Des Moines Register, a letter from Gary Rosenberg to Carl Bendorf, a letter from Kenn Kaufman to Carl Bendorf, a letter from Leo Galloway, Dave Eastrela, and Jack Hilsobeck to Dean Mosman, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Yellow Grosbeak	Elkhart	Backyard of Dean and Diane Mosman; Two and half miles southeast of Elkhart (Polk County Iowa)	Backyard and adjacent wooded ravine	The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms were submitted by Tim Schantz, Ken Lowder, Ann Johnson, Thomas Kent, Robert Cecil, Ross Silcock, Diane Porter, and Carl Bendorf. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Jim Scheib, Dean Mosman, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene Armstrong, Diane Mosman, Tom Schantz, Cecile Thompson, Dennis Thompson, and John Daniel. \| Elimination of similar species: Pine grosbeak is not lemon yellow in any plumage, and has a smaller bill with hooked upper mandible. Evening grosbeak has black wings and tail and light colored bill in all plumages. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Green-tailed Towhee at West Des Moines, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-05-22	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Green-tailed Towhee at West Des Moines in Polk County, IA around May 22, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an article and cover page from Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form with an attachment submitted to the committee.	Quinn, Christine A.	Green-tailed Towhee	West Des Moines	605-5th West Des Moines Iowa (residential city)	Open backyard wildlife habitat- under/around quince bushes	The documentation form by Christine A. Quinn is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Robert J. Naisbitt. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] This cap was quite noticeable & large (much larger than a catbird's cap). The bird seemed to be a little larger than a catbird (I have a pair nesting in my yard to [sic] I seem them a lot) and not as large as a robin. [...] He put me in mind very much of a catbird in size and contours. \| The original documentation form event lasted around "evenings and 1 morning" from around May 22 to the first week of June 1990.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	30
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rock Wren at Red Oak, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-09-17	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Rock Wrens at Red Oak in Montgomery County, IA on September 17, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Carlisle, David	Rock Wren	Red Oak	[...] my house in Red Oak, IA		The documentation form by Dave Carlisle is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] In my attempts to identify the birds, my first observations led me to believe they both were wrens; however, they were larger than the common house wren and lacked the definite light eye ring. [...] I took notice that the bird in hand lacked the definite eye stripe characteristic of the Bewick's, Carolina, and Marsh wrens. There were no white stripes on the back as in the Marsh Wren and it did not have the white outer tail feathers characteristic of Bewick's Wren. \| The original documentation form event occurred lasted from approximately 07:50:00/08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Least Flycatcher at Whitebreast Recreation Area in Red Rock Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-12-16	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Least Flycatcher at Whitebreast Recreation Area in Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 16, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Least Flycatcher	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Whitebreast Recreation Area, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Primarily open edge and grassy area with pine tree plantings	The documentation form by Ann Johnson forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Tim Schantz was submitted. Other observers include Roy Godwin and Jim Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: Body and bill shape and behavior identified this bird as a flycatcher. The size, eye-ring and wing bars eliminated all but Empidonax flycatchers. Because of the late date on this bird, it is difficult to get an understanding of molt sequences which may or may not be helpful. From what I can find on molts, however, the following is based on best available information. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:40:00/11:55:00 and approximately 13:30:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Ground-Dove near Mohawk Park at Cedar Rapids, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-10-24	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Ground-Dove near Mohawk Park at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on October 24, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, three photographs, and ten documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Common Ground-Dove	Mohawk Park	Cedar Rapids (Linn County) Just south of J Avenue near Mohawk Park. Weedy and brushy area with RR tracks.		The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Randall Pinkston, Peter C. Petersen, Gerald White, Carl J. Bendorf, Ann Johnson, Pam Allen, Babs Padelford and Loren Padelford, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted. Other observers include Sam Dunkel, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Beth Proescholdt, Reid Allen, Francis Moore, Jim Scheib, Roy Godwin, Ross Silcock, Chuck Fuller, Jane Fuller, Carol Thompson, Dick Tetrault, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong and other unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The ruddy ground dove, which is of comparable size does not have scaling anywhere on its body. The Inca dove does have scaling, but it has a longer tail, an entirely black bill, has a light belly with black stripes, and lacks the black spots on the folded wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:40:00/14:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Marbled Murrelet at Whitebreast Cove at Red Rock Reservoir, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-12-12	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Marbled Murrelet at Whitebreast Cove at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 12, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, field notes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Marbled Murrelet	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co.-off Whitebreast Cove	large patch of open water on reservoir	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Brian Warson. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was clearly an alcid. The small size rules out the murres, Razorbill, and guillemots (see earlier discussion). The long, thin bill eliminates Dovekie, Ancient Murrelet, and all of the auklets. The bill shape, dark cap that included the eye, and presence of two white patches on each side eliminates all other murrelets, especially Kittlitz's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/15:24:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull at Lock 19 in Keokuk, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-02-07	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lock 19 in Keokuk in Lee County, IA on February 7, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, comparison of different gull sightings, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock Number 19	Lock 19, Keokuk, Lee Co.		The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ann Johnson was submitted. Another observer was Beth Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: The black mantle really eliminates most other gulls. Western Gull, a remote possibility, is smaller and has a slightly paler mantle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:10:00/15:40:00 on February 7, 1991 and 13:32:00/14:20:00 on February 8, 1991.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Western Gull near Ben Butterworth Parkway, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Charts (graphic documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-01-15	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Gull near Ben Butterworth Parkway in Rock Island County, IL on January 15, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, comparisons of different gull observations, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Western Gull	Ben Butterworth Parkway	Butterworth Parkway, Moline, Rock Isl. Co, IL	Ice on Mississippi River	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ann Barker, Brian Blevins, and Eugene Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Black-backed Gull - this bird much too small Lesser Black-backed Gull - Too heavily built, tail band very broad, no yellowish colour on legs. Slaty-backed Gull - The biggest problem - I felt this bird was not dark mantled enough was too heavily bodied + too much of a domed forehead. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:35:00/09:45:00, 10:35:00/11:00:00, 12:40:00/12:52:00 on January 15, 1991 and 09:25:00/09:35:00 on January 16, 1991.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	7
Report of sighting at Lake Manawa on the south edge of Council Bluffs, Ia on apr 5, 1988	Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1988-04-05	1988-06-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes by Robert E. Starr for two Glaucous Gulls at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County on April 5, 1988 recorded on June 7, 1988. Included with the field notes is a "Notes from Nature" article by Ruth C. Green published in A Birds Eye View, volume 16, number 5, May 1988, that discusses Starr's sighting among others.	Green, Ruth Starr, Robert E.	Glaucous Gull	Lake Manawa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	37
Rare bird documentation form for Mute Swan at Mason City, 1982	Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-04-01	1983-03-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mute Swan at Lake Cona Toma in Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 1982. It also includes an article "Sign of spring" in the Mason City Globe Gazette on March 22, 1983 about the bird sighting.	Powell, John M., 1913-1995	Mute Swan	Lake Cona Toma	Mason City, Iowa - Lake Conatoma [sic]	Man made lake -13 acres-	The documentation form by John M. Powell is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include wife, daughter, grandson, and 47 residents. \| Elimination of similar species: Whistling Swan - Black straight bill - Pictures for proof. Orange bill with black knob at base is Mute Swan. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the morning and evening.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	29
Wood Duck nesting records, volume three, 1967-1978	Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Printed ephemera Field notes	Birds--Eggs Birds--Nests Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Birdhouses Eggs--Incubation Ducks--Counting Ducklings Wood duck--Behavior	1967-01-01	1978-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Wood Duck nesting records covering the years 1967-1978 compiled by Frederic Leopold. The mostly handwritten volume contains Leopold's detailed notes on the nesting habits of Wood Ducks, including the following: nest site selection, egg laying, incubation, hatching, and departure from the nest. Also included in this volume are newspaper clippings, a few hand-drawn illustrations, correspondence, and the program for the 50th Annual Convention of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union where Leopold gave a presentation titled "Nesting Habits of the Wood Duck".	Leopold, Frederic, 1895-1989	Wood Duck	Burlington				Frederic Leopold Papers \| MS 113	10	1
Winter of 1974-75, Red Rock area and Pleasantville, Iowa field notes, and Snowy Owl reports	Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Maps (documents)	Bird kills Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Weather	1974-12-01	1975-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Winter of 1974-75, Red Rock area and Pleasantville, Iowa field notes were submitted by Gladys Black along with a cover letter to Vernon M. Kleen dated March 19, 1975, a newspaper article and a map. The article was one she wrote for the Des Moines Register called "Reports two Snowy Owls seen in central Iowa," and the map showed the number of Snowy Owl observations in Iowa counties, November 1974-March 1975. The letter summarized the findings on Snowy Owls from responses to the newspaper article, and the impact of a blizzard January 10-11 in northwest Iowa that killed many birds and livestock. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of winter 1974-1975.	Black, Gladys	Snowy Owl	Des Moines Iowa Lake Red Rock Pleasantville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	14
Wood Duck nesting records, volume two, 1954-1966	Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Nests Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Birdhouses Eggs--Incubation Ducks--Counting Ducklings Wood duck--Behavior	1954-01-01	1966-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Wood Duck nesting records covering the years 1954-1966 compiled by Frederic Leopold. The mostly handwritten volume contains Leopold's detailed notes on the nesting habits of Wood Ducks, including the following: nest site selection, egg laying, incubation, hatching, and departure from the nest. Also included in this volume are newspaper clippings, correspondence, Clemson Agricultural College Leaflet No. 20 on the Wood Duck written by Robert E. Ware, instructions on how to build a Wood Duck nesting box, and an article from National Wildlife titled "Of spring and an egg" written by Jean George.	Leopold, Frederic, 1895-1989	Wood Duck	Burlington				Frederic Leopold Papers \| MS 113	9	2
Wood Duck nesting records, volume one, 1939-1953	Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Nests Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Birdhouses Eggs--Incubation Ducks--Counting Ducklings Wood duck--Behavior	1939-01-01	1953-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Wood Duck nesting records covering the years 1939-1953 compiled by Frederic Leopold. The mostly handwritten volume contains Leopold's detailed notes on the nesting habits of Wood Ducks, including the following: nest site selection, egg laying, incubation, hatching, and departure from the nest. Also included in this volume are a few hand-drawn illustrations, newspaper clippings and a twelve page photocopied article from volume 53 of The Condor titled "A study of nesting Wood Ducks in Iowa" written by Leopold.	Leopold, Frederic, 1895-1989	Wood Duck	Burlington				Frederic Leopold Papers \| MS 113	9	1
The Secretary's Report of the Fairfield Bird Club of Fairfield, Iowa, 1933-1943	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Printed ephemera	Ornithology--Societies, etc Meetings	1933-03-02	1943-03-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Handwritten minutes for the Fairfield Bird Club from its founding at the Fairfield Public Library on March 2, 1933, through March 1943. The minutes were recorded by the person who held the office of secretary for the club for that year and provide an overview of what happened when the club met, including the locations of the meetings, guests who attended the meetings and subjects of the programs presented. Also includes programs as well as signatures and addresses of attendees of the annual Iowa Ornithologists' Union meetings that were held in Fairfield in 1933 and 1936. Also of note are several newspaper clippings highlighting the activities of the club.	Fairfield Bird Club Calvert, Grace A. Lawson, Lulu Faye Junkin, Paul Sheridan Gilly, Charles McCleary, Ila May Glotfelty Walker, Ruth Wilson, Flora		Fairfield				Fairfield (Iowa) Bird Club Records \| MS 386	1	4
Record Book of the Iowa Ornithologists' Association	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence	Ornithology--Societies, etc Meetings Societies--History, organization, etc	1894-06-15	1898-01-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Record book for the Iowa Ornithological Association. The book covers the period from the group's founding as the Iowa Ornithologist's Association on June 15, 1894 to January 16, 1898. The record book includes meeting minutes, copies of the organization's constitution, financial reports, officer and membership lists, and letters regarding the Iowa Ornithological Association.	Iowa Ornithological Association		Iowa City Iowa Mount Vernon Salem Manchester				Iowa Ornithological Association Records \| MS 581	1	1