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 Northern Hawk Owl at Cedar Rapids in 1903	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds Birds--Collection and preservation	1907-03-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Northern Hawk Owl near Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA during December 1903. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson reported by George H. Berry, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Northern Hawk Owl	Cedar Rapids				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Northern Hawk Owl at Waterloo, 1981	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-25	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Northern Hawk Owl at Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on December 25, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in American Birds, summary of the review, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Northern Hawk Owl	Waterloo	Waterloo, Iowa - Black Hawk County	River bottom Timber along Black Hawk Creek	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis Moore, Peter C. Petersen, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted. Other observers include Mary Lou Petersen, Lewis Blevins, Corey Blevins, Brian Blevins, and Fred Lesher. \| Elimination of similar species: The long tail, horizontal barring of breast, yellow eyes, facial pattern and behavior eliminated all other possible owls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:50:00 and around 17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rock Wren at Sioux City in 1898	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Birds--Nests Rare birds	1907-03-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a nest of Rock Wren eggs at Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on June 25, 1898. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson seen by Guy C. Rich, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Rock Wren	Sioux City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Neotropic Cormorant at Little River Recreation Area, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-04	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Neotropic Cormorant at Little River Recreation Area in Decatur County, IA on May 4, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Neotropic Cormorant	Little River Recreation Area	Little River Rec. Area	large reservoir with numerous dead snags	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: My only concern was to adequately eliminate Double-crested Cormorant, many of which were available for direct comparisons. The size, tail length, and throat patch pattern all eliminate this species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:25:00/15:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Nashville Warbler at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-19	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Nashville Warbler at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on December 19, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Nashville Warbler	Hancher Auditorium	Hancher Auditorium Parking Lot, University of Iowa Campus, Iowa City (Johnson City).		The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by James Scheib was submitted. Other observers include John McClure, Tom Kent, and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: The three warblers with which this species might be confused are Mourning, Connecticut, and MacGillivray's. All three have much more extensive gray on the head and upper breast, including the throat. All three also have light colored legs. No one disagreed with the identification. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mute Swan at Marshall County in 1981	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds	1981-09-11	1993-08-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Mute Swan at Marshall County, IA from September 11 to September 25, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the fall 1981 field notes by Beth Proescholdt with a number of other observers.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Mute Swan	Marshall County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mourning Dove at Des Moines in 1977	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Rare birds	1977-09-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Mourning Dove at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on July 15, 1977. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Ringed Turtle in Dove in Des Moines in Iowa Bird Life 47(3):112 by Helen M. Peasley, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Ringed Turtle-Dove	Des Moines				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mountain Plover at Credit Island in 1964	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Animal migration--Climatic factors Birds--Identification Ornithology Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1964-06-01	1993-08-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Mountain Plover at Credit Island in Scott County, IA on March 25, 1964. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Mountain Plover at Davenport in Iowa Bird Life 34:49 by Peter C. Petersen also seen by Elton Fawks.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Mountain Plover	Credit Island				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mountain Bluebird northeast of Lamoni, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-22	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird northeast of Lamoni in Decatur County, IA on December 22, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and ten documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Livingston, Jeffrey R.	Mountain Bluebird	Lamoni	1 mile east and 3 miles north of Lamoni Iowa	A small grove of cedar trees around a farmhouse and a mostly frozen pond in a pasture across the road. The cedar trees have many berries.	The documentation form by Jeffrey R. Livingston forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis L. Moore, Thomas H. Kent, Eugene Armstrong, Robert K. Myers, Peter C. Petersen, Jim Fuller, Carl J. Bendorf, Raymond Cummins, and Barbara L. Wilson were submitted. Other observers include Tom Johnson, Don Gillaspey, Eloise Armstrong, Betsy Myers, Dennis Thompson, Jim Gillaspey, Dan Long, Mary Lou Petersen, Corey Blevins, Brian Blevins, Lewis Blevins, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird at one glance was definitely a bluebird. The Eastern and Western Bluebirds both have rust markings on their breast and neck. The Eastern Bluebird has a more stocky shape than the Mountain Bluebird. I had a chance to compare as I had just seen a flock of Easterns about 5 min. before. The immature Eastern has a soeckled breast, this bird had none. The long thin bill eliminates the Shrikes as does the bright blue and the small size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mountain Bluebird near Lake Park in 1945	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Birds--Collection and preservation	1948-12-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird near Lake Park in Osceola County, IA around 1945. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication The Groove-billed Ani and Mountain Bluebird, Specimens in Iowa Collection in Iowa Bird Life 18(4):70 by Jack W. Musgrove seen by Floyd Arens.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Mountain Bluebird	Lake Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mountain Bluebird at Black Hawk Park, 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1975-04-10	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird at Black Hawk Park in Black Hawk County, IA on April 10, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Dowell, Virgil Eugene	Mountain Bluebird	Black Hawk Park	[...] we observed a Mountain Bluebird just after crossing Snag Creek near the entrance to Black Hawk Park. This is a county park located at the northwest edge of Cedar Falls adjoining the Cedar River and is in the Cedar River floodplain.		The documentation article by Virgil E. Dowell forms the basis of this record. Other observers include fourteen students in the Field Zoology of Vertebrates class at University of Northern Iowa. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 14:20:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mountain Bluebird at Big Sioux River in Western Sioux County, 1979	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1979-04-07	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird at Big Sioux River in Western Sioux County in Sioux County, IA on April 7, 1979. Includes a record review document with votes, two articles in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Mountain Bluebird	Garfield Township	Along dirt road through dry hilly fields bordering the Big Sioux River in extreme western Sioux Co., appoximately 1 1/2 miles south-east of Hudson, S.D., and approximately 2 1/2 miles north of junction of Big Sioux and Rock Rivers.	Area of open dry rolling hills between Big Sioux and Rock Rivers.	The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Mike Van Dyk. \| Elimination of similar species: The blue of Eastern and Western Bluebird is much deeper than of this bird. Both these species show reddish or rusty on breast, and both exhibit a distinctive hunched position. There is no possibility of confusion with Blue Grosbeak (which occurs in our area in summer): its large conical beak and blue underparts exclude it. The Indigo Bunting is dark blue all over and has a sparrow-like bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mountain Bluebird at Ames, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-03-17	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird at Ames in Story County, IA on March 17, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Patterson, Matthew	Mountain Bluebird	Ames	South Ames- one quarter mile south of highway 30	Riparian woodland with frequent openings	The documentation form by Matthew Patterson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Breast color and body posture easily differentiated the Mountain from the Eastern Bluebird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Monk Parakeet at Davenport in 1973	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1974-03-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Monk Parakeet at Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 22, 1973. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication First Monk Parakeet Record for Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 44(1):22-23 by Peter C. Petersen seen by Karen McDonald.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Monk Parakeet	Davenport				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mississippi Kite at Grinnell in 1886	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds	1895-10-01	1993-08-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Mississippi Kite at Grinnell in Powesheik County, IA on October 4, 1886. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Histories of North American Birds of Prey (Part I) in Bulletin 167 by A.C. Bent, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Mississippi Kite	Grinnell				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mississippi Kite at Ford Dodge before 1907	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting	1907-01-01	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Mississippi Kite at Fort Dodge in Webster County, IA before 1907. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Mississippi Kite	Fort Dodge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Cardinal Marsh, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-05-29	1993-08-27	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mississippi Kite at Cardinal Marsh in Winneshiek County, IA on May 29, 1978. Includes two record review documents with votes, two documentation forms, an Iowa Bird Life article, additional notes on the bird, and internal correspondence submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Mississippi Kite	Cardinal Marsh State Wildlife Area	Cardinal Marsh	Edge of woods near open cattail marsh	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Tom Stone, Jr. and Sr. were submitted later. Other observers include Russell Hays. \| Elimination of similar species: White-tailed Kite does not have as dark a back as this bird ha and is also too light below. This bird definately [sic] did not have a deeply forked tail as a Swallow-tailed Kite would have had. \| The original event lasted from 11:15:00 to 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mississippi Kite at Black Hawk County before 1907	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1907-01-01	1993-08-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Mississippi Kite at Black Hawk County, IA before 1907. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson seen by Charles K. Salisbury, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Mississippi Kite	Black Hawk County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Whitebreast Recreation Area at Red Rock Reservoir, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-19	1995-07-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mew Gull at Whitebreast Recreation Area at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 19, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentations submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Mew Gull	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Whitebreast Recreation Area, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Sandy area at edge of open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Russ Widner and Jim Fuller were submitted. Other observers include Dick Tetrault and Roy Godwin. \| Elimination of similar species: Size eliminated any gull larger than a Ring-billed. Although structurally the bird more closely represented one of the larger hooded gulls, they were eliminated by the lack of any hood or auricular spot. Furthermore, most hooded gulls with a tail band would also show a strong carpal bar. Laughing Gull could be eliminated by the more diminuative [sic] bill and leg color. Although some individuals seem to carry a vestige of their more motley juvenile plumage into first winter, Ring-billed Gull was eliminated by size, head and bill structure, and clear-cut as opposed to more diffuse tail band. I originally identified this bird as a Mew Gull based on my experience studying structural differences between Ring-billed and Mew gulls on the west coast. I have never seen a first-year Mew Gull, however. In researching the Mew on my return home, I concluded that the bird in question was not dark enough, nor brown enough, to be of the west coast sub-species. By virtue of its strong similarity to a Ring-billed Gull, this bird was most likely the European sub-species known as the Common Gull. Although according to Grant the bill description comes closer to L.c. brachyrhynchus, I assume that this bird's bill coloration was still changing from juvenile plumage. Apparently the Common Gull appears on occasion on the east coast and is therefore probably as likely a vagrant to Iowa as is the western form. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Masked Duck at Forney Lake in 1965	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds	1966-06-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Masked Duck at Forney Lake in Fremont County, IA on March 14, 1965. Includes a record review document with votes, letter from Woodward H. Brown to Fred, the original sighting record found in the publication Masked Duck in Iowa a sight record in Iowa Bird Life 36:55-56 by Harold and Gladys Whitmus, and referenced by another publication.		Masked Duck	Forneys Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Marsh Wren at Brenton Slough, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-21	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Marsh Wren at Brenton Slough in Dallas County, IA on December 21, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Marsh Wren	Brenton Slough	Brenton Slough, Dallas Co.	cattail marsh	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Rick Trieff. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	2
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 for Magnificent Frigatebird circa 1896	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens Taxidermy	1896-01-01	1993-08-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Magnificent Frigatebird at La Porte City in Black Hawk County, IA around 1896. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Note in Iowa Ornithologist 2:34 by Morton E. Peck, and referenced in two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Magnificent Frigatebird	La Porte City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Magnificent Frigatebird at Davenport in 1946	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds	1946-04-01	1993-09-01	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Magnificent Frigatebird at Davenport in Scott County, IA in 1946. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Notes on the Bird Life in the Mississippi Valley in Proceedings of the Iowa Academy Sciences 56:343-345 by James Hodges.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Magnificent Frigatebird	Davenport				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Magnificent Frigatebird at Burlington in 1904	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting Taxidermy	1904-03-01	1994-01-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Magnificent Frigatebird at Burlington in Des Moines County, IA in the spring of 1904. Includes a record review document with votes, request for reconsideration, the original sighting record found in the publication A new bird for Illinois in Auk 27:75 by Henry K. Coale, and referenced in two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Magnificent Frigatebird	Burlington				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	15