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 Gyrfalcon at Cheever Lake in 1946	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1949-03-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Gyrfalcon at Cheever Lake in Emmet County, IA on October 27, 1946. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication A 1946 record of the Gyrfalcon in Emmet County in Iowa Bird Life 19:22-23 by J.W. Musgrove also seen by Maynard Reece and Mary Musgrove.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Gyrfalcon	Cheever Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Groove-billed Ani near Iowa Lake in 1948	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Birds--Collection and preservation Zoological specimens	1948-12-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Groove-billed Ani near Iowa Lake in Osceola County, IA a few years before 1948. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication The Groove-billed Ani and Mountain Bluebird in Iowa Collection in Iowa Bird Life 18:70 by Jack W. Musgrove.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Groove-billed Ani	Iowa Lake Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for a Groove-billed Ani at Jacob Krumm Wildlife Area, 1987	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-10-19	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Groove-billed Ani at Jacob Krumm Wildlife Area in Jasper County, IA on October 19, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, an article and front page from Iowa Bird Life, excerpts from American Birds, and twelve documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Koenig, Darwin	Groove-billed Ani	Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve	[...] Jacob Krumm Wildlife Area, Jasper County, Iowa		The documentation form by Darwin Koenig is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Jim Dinsmore, Steve Dinsmore, Francis Moore, Thomas J. Staudt, Thomas H. Kent, Ray Cummins, Robert Cecil, Peter C. Petersen, Nicholas A. Kubik, Carl J. Bendorf, and Hank Zaletel were submitted later. Other observers include Chuck Fuller, Ann Barker, Phyllis Harris, Lewis Blevins, Dale Fye, Helen Fye, Corey Blevins, Brians Blevins, Ruth Green, Carl Hertz, Bob Myers, John Cecil, Tom Stone, Beth Brown, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Opal Uher, Jim Mairs, Pauline Mairs, Carol Thompson, Beth Proescholdt, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The ridge of the upper mandible was slightly lower than the crown of the head and did not curve sharply downward to meet the forehead (unlike the Smooth-billed Ani, C. ani, which has a high-ridged upper mandible, higher than the crown and curving sharply downward to meet the forehead). \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:30:00/17:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Groove-billed Ani at Cedar Rapids, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1966-10-22	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Groove-billed Ani at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on October 22, 1966. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for a reconsideration of the review, an excerpt from The Birds of Iowa, and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Vane, Bob	Groove-billed Ani	Cedar Rapids	[...] Bever Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids		The documentation letter by Bob Vane is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jean Vane, Myra Willis, and Lillian Serbousek. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I must say at that particular time, since the bird was new to us, we were not absolutely sure whether it was a Smooth-billed or Groove-billed ani. Upon returning home, however, we found in Bent, "The note of the Smooth-billed ani has been called a wailing or whining whistle - resembling the notes of the wood duck." Our bird's call note was not a whistle at all. And then we found in Pough's Eastern Land Birds under Smooth-billed ani, "The two anis are hard to tell apart except by note, the whining notes of this species being in sharp contrast to the soft double note of the Groove-billed." So for my part, that settled it that our bird was a Groove-billed ani. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	15
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 Green-tailed Towhee at Storm Lake, 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1975-05-05	2000-11-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Green-tailed Towhee at Storm Lake in Buena Vista County, IA on May 5, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes and an Iowa Bird Life article reviewed by the committee.	Crocker, Virginia R.	Green-tailed Towhee	Storm Lake	306 W. Ninth St., Storm Lake		The article by Virginia R. Crocker forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Edwin Crocker, Emily Ruth Campbell, Verne Campbell, Barney Campbell, and Georgia Campbell. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 12:00:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	30
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Greater Roadrunner north of Delta in 1970	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Geographical distribution Birds--Identification Rare birds	1970-05-07	1993-09-01	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Greater Roadrunner north of Delta in Keokuk County, IA on April 26, 1970. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in a letter from John D. Black regarding the sighting by Joseph Sens, and the published account in Audubon Field Notes 24(4): 614.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Greater Roadrunner	Delta				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Greater Prairie-Chicken in the Ocheyedan Township in Osceola County in 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1984-01-05	1993-09-01	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Greater Prairie-Chicken in the Ocheyedan Township in Osceola County, IA on January 2, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Ron Spengler to Doug Harr reporting the sighting on January 5, 1984, the published sighting record found in the publication Greater Prairie Chicken in Osceola County in Iowa Bird Life 54:21 by Ron Spengler, and a summary of the review.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Greater Prairie-Chicken	Ocheyedan Township				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Greater Prairie-Chicken at Larchwood in 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Rare birds Hunting Zoological specimens	1993-06-01	1994-10-18	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Greater Prairie-Chicken at Larchwood in Lyon County, IA on December 11, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo of the specimen, a letter from Jim Dinsmore to the Records Committee reporting the sighting and specimen, and the original sighting record found in the publication Greater Prairie-Chicken in Lyon County in Iowa Bird Life 63:55 by Marty Eby.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Greater Prairie-Chicken	Larchwood				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Gray Owl north of Sigourney in 1921	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Trapping	1933-12-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl north of Sigourney in Keokuk County, IA during February 1921. 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 E.D. Nauman, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Great Gray Owl	Sigourney				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Gray Owl near Quarry, 1959	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1959-05-12	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl near Quarry in Marshall County, IA on May 12, 1959. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Mitchem, Lucile	Great Gray Owl	Quarry	[...] gravel road that follows the Iowa River near the small town of Quarry.		The documentation article by Lucile E. Mitchem forms the basis of this record. Other observer includes her daughter. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I was well acquainted with the Barred Owl, the only other owl an amateur might confuse with the larger Great Gray Owl. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 05:30:00/05:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Gray Owl near Decorah in 1974	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1974-09-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl near Decorah in Winneshiek County, IA on February 15, 1974. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Great Gray Owl in N.E. Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 44:75 by Eric O. Berg.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Great Gray Owl	Decorah				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Gray Owl at Van Buren County around 1894	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting	1907-03-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl at Van Buren County, IA around 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 David L. Savage, and referenced by three other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Great Gray Owl	Van Buren County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Gray Owl at Oskaloosa before 1872	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting	1873-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl at Oskaloosa in Mahaska County, IA before 1872. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Notes on the Birds of Southern Iowa in the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History 15:229-243 by T. Martin Trippe, and referenced by three other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Great Gray Owl	Oskaloosa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Gray Owl at Hillsboro in 1860	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Birds--Collection and preservation	1907-03-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl at Hillsboro in Henry County, IA in 1860. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson seen by Walter G. Savage, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Great Gray Owl	Hillsboro				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Gray Owl at Des Moines in 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Rare birds Birds--Collection and preservation Wildlife rehabilitation	1996-03-01	2000-11-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on March 1, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs of the specimen at Iowa State University by Thomas Kent, a note from Jim Dinsmore to Tom Kent, and an article in Iowa Bird Life.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Great Gray Owl	Des Moines				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Gray Owl at Colfax Township in Grundy County, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-02-17	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl at Colfax Township in Grundy County, IA on February 17, 1996. Includes two record review documents with votes, an article from the Grundy Register, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, James J.	Great Gray Owl	Colfax Township	section 17, Colfax Township, Grundy Co. (ca 3 miles east of Wellsburg)	roadside, open farmland	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Barred Owl-size, relative length of tail, gray rather than brownish gray as predominant color.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Gray Owl at Big Marsh, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-02-11	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl at Big Marsh in Butler County, IA on February 11, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Field Notes, and seven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Great Gray Owl	Big Marsh Wildlife Area	Big Marsh, Butler Co., Iowa	At north edge of large man-made marshy area near the Cedar River.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Stephen J. Dinsmore, Jim Dinsmore, Mary Lou and Peter Petersen, Chris Edwards, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted. Other observers include Francis Moore, Beth Proescholdt, Carl Kurtz, Linda Kurtz, Carolyn Fischer, Pat Hansen, Alan Martin, Rita Pedelty, Rita Goranson, Jan Walter, Tim Gedler, Dennis Henrickson, Bruce DeLong, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Tom Stone, James Scheib, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Only Barred Owl is remotely similar. The most impressive marks were the yellow eyes, bow tie mark, and large gray facial disks. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:59:00/17:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull at Triboji Beach at West Okoboji Lake, 1982	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-07-14	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Triboji Beach at West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County, IA on July 14, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of review, an article of Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Hinshaw, Linda	Great Black-backed Gull	Triboji Beach	N. end of West Okoboji Lake in an area called Triboji Beach on the end of the dock of Earl Rose 1/2 block east of Lee's Resort. Saw same bird fly out into the water.	Large fresh water "blue lake" with sandy shore. Shoreline all developed in housing + resorts.	The documentation form by Linda Hinshaw forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Douglas Harr was submitted. Other observers include Earl Rose, Fleta Rose, Robert Hinshaw, Gwen Hedin, Curt Hedin, Loraine Wallace, Pearle Osher, LaVonne Foote, and Nina Loehr. \| Elimination of similar species: It was too large to be a lesser Black Backed Gull + legs were flesh colored, not yellow. Also much too large to be the Western Gull listed in the Golden Field Guide - 'Birds of North America." \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:30:00/18:50:00 and 19:30:00/20:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-03-07	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on March 7, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Great Black-backed Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Sandpiper Beach ,Saylorville Lake	Beach	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The only gull which approaches the Gr. Bl-backed in size is the Glaucous Gull - this species would not have a dark tail band or dark secondaries or an all dark bill \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
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 Great Black-backed Gull at Lake Manawa, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-12-06	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 6, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, articles in Nebraska Bird Review, Iowa Bird Life, and American Birds, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Green, Ruth	Great Black-backed Gull	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Council Bluffs, Iowa	Most of Lake Manawa was frozen over at this time but there were small patches of open water. The bird was standing on the ice at the edge of one of these patches.	The documentation form by Ruth Green forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Sandra S. Kovanda and James Kovanda, Jr. was submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: There were only two gulls at this time there--this bird and the glaucous. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 16:30:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Gray Jay east of Decorah in 1976	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird feeders Birds--Geographical distribution Birds--Habitat Birds--Identification Rare birds	1977-01-15	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Gray Jay east of Decorah in Winneshiek County, IA on October 30, 1976. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, two articles in Iowa Bird Life, and an article in the Des Moines Register.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Gray Jay	Decorah				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	41
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Gray Jay at Mason City, 1976	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1976-11-01	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Gray Jay at Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA in early November 1976. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life as well as a letter and documentation form submitted to the committee.	Tanner, Fern L.	Gray Jay	Mason City	415 N. Jeff Mason City Iowa	spotted in Spruce tree several times - also once on small bush.	The documentation form by Fern L. Tanner is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marvin Tanner, Luella Olsen, and Albert Ewers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Looked larger than Blue Jay that was 18 in. away at time. Little shorter beak than Blue Jay. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	41
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Gray Jay at Linn County in 1918	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Birds--Collection and preservation Zoological specimens	1977-06-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Gray Jay at Linn County, IA on December 2, 1918. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication More Gray Jays in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 47:65 by Nicholas Halmi and seen by George Berry.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Gray Jay	Linn County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	41