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

James Peters letter to Philip DuMont regarding Sparrow specimens, October 8, 1934	Correspondence	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Study and teaching Birds--Classification Zoological specimens	1934-10-08	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from James Peters to Philip DuMont dated October 8, 1934. Peters tells DuMont that the Sparrow specimens will be returned to him in a few days and that they will all be identified with labels. This document is in response to a letter from DuMont: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/3555/view	Peters, James Lee, 1889-1952	Grasshopper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow	Iowa Herschel Island				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	5	19
Philip DuMont letter to James Peters regarding Sparrow specimens, October 1, 1934	Correspondence	Bird watching--Guidebooks Birds--Identification Ornithology--Study and teaching Birds--Classification Zoological specimens	1934-10-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Philip DuMont to James Peters dated October 1, 1934. DuMont asks Peters if he has finished reviewing the Sparrow specimens yet, and asks for the specimens back since he is preparing to publish the 2nd edition of the "Revised list of the birds of Iowa". This document is answered by a letter from Peters: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/3556/view	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996	Grasshopper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow	Iowa				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	5	19
Philip DuMont letter to James Peters regarding Savannah Sparrow specimens, May 16, 1934	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Identification Ornithology--Study and teaching Birds--Classification Zoological specimens	1934-05-16	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Philip DuMont to James Peters dated May 16, 1934. DuMont sends more Savannah Sparrow specimens to Peters for review, and discusses some birds he has recently sighted in Iowa. This document is in response to a letter from Peters: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/3553/view	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996	Marbled Godwit Grasshopper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Hudsonian Godwit Red-necked Phalarope Dark-eyed Junco Common Starling	Iowa				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	5	19
Philip DuMont letter to James Peters regarding Sparrow identification, November 23, 1933	Correspondence	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Study and teaching Birds--Classification Zoological specimens	1933-11-23	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Philip DuMont to James Peters dated November 23, 1933. DuMont asks for assistance in correctly identifying Savannah Sparrow specimens and verifying Grasshopper Sparrow specimens. This document is answered by a letter from Peters: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/3553/view	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996	Grasshopper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow	Iowa Nebraska North Dakota Herschel Island Alberta Manitoba Utah California				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	5	19
James Peters letter to Philip DuMont regarding Sparrow identification, January 2, 1934	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Identification Ornithology--Study and teaching Birds--Classification Zoological specimens Families	1934-01-02	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from James Peters to Philip DuMont dated January 2, 1934. Peters informs Philip DuMont that he has not finished reviewing the Sparrow specimens sent to him, but gives a preliminary assessment. Included with this letter is a letter from Janetta DuMont, who is forwarding Philip DuMont's mail, discussing the DuMont family's activities around Christmas. This document is in response to a letter from DuMont: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/3552/view This document is answered by a letter from DuMont: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/3554/view	DuMont, Janetta A. Peters, James Lee, 1889-1952	Grasshopper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow	Iowa Herschel Island				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	5	19
Des Moines Audubon Society letter to its members regarding Iowa Ornithologists' Union annual meeting, April 28, 1932	Correspondence	Congresses and conventions Ornithology--Societies, etc	1932-04-28	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from the Des Moines Audubon Society to its members dated April 28, 1932. This letter gives a general schedule for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union annual meeting and includes a personal note to Philip DuMont asking him for the title and run-time of his presentation.	Des Moines Audubon Society		Des Moines Iowa				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	6	23
Frederick Lincoln letter to Mrs. J. E. Stewart regarding "Birds of Polk County, Iowa", December 8, 1931	Correspondence	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithological literature English language--Homonyms	1931-12-08	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Frederick Lincoln to Mrs. J.E. Stewart dated December 8, 1931. Lincoln praises Philip DuMont's work in general but points out a word that is repeatedly used incorrectly.	Lincoln, Frederick Charles, 1892-1960		Iowa Polk County				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	6	23
Arthur Bent letter to Mrs. J. E. Stewart regarding "Birds of Polk County, Iowa", November 30, 1931	Correspondence	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithological literature English language--Homonyms	1931-11-30	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Arthur Bent to Mrs. J.E. Stewart dated November 30, 1931. Bent discusses a couple of questionable birds included in Philip DuMont's book and points out an incorrectly used word.	Bent, Arthur Cleveland, 1866-1954	Purple Gallinule Brant	Iowa Polk County				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	6	23
Walter Rosene letter to Philip DuMont regarding birds not included in his book, December 4, 1931	Correspondence	Tyrannidae \| Flycatchers Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1931-12-04	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Walter Rosene to Philip DuMont dated December 4, 1931. Rosene discusses "Birds of Polk County, Iowa," mentions four species he has sighted that DuMont did not list, and discusses Wilson Ornithological Club business, including his desire to attend the group's 18th annual meeting in New Orleans.	Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	Great Horned Owl Snow Goose Burrowing Owl	Dallas County Greene County Boone County				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	6	23
Althea Sherman letter to Philip DuMont regarding the "Birds of Polk County, Iowa", January 5, 1932	Correspondence	Bird surveys Ornithology--Methodology Ornithological literature	1932-01-05	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Althea Sherman to Philip DuMont dated January 5, 1932. Sherman tells DuMont that she has written the Des Moines Audubon Society to praise his book that they published.	Sherman, Althea R. (Althea Rosina), 1853-1943		Polk County				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	6	23
A Proposed revision of the "Revised list of the Birds of Iowa"	Correspondence	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Study and teaching Zoological specimens	1934-02-01	1934-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Open letter dated February 1934. As Philip DuMont prepares for a revision to the "Revised list of the Birds of Iowa" he notes that 35 of the species listed had not been verified with specimens collected in Iowa. He is still looking for Iowa specimens for 25 of the species listed.	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996		Iowa				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	7	37
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red-throated Loon at Lake Manawa, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-04-27	1993-07-21	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Red-throated Loons at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on April 27, 1989. Includes a record review document and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Red-throated Loon	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya E. Bray is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, Marc Lund, and Bob Myers were submitted later. Other observers include B.J. Rose, Doug Rose, Roger Rose, Dave Starr, and Jerry Toll. \| Elimination of similar species: Pacific Loon, eliminated by red color of throat patch and shape of bill. This bird's bill was more like that of a Eared Grebe; that is, very slender and not as loon-like as that of Pacific Loon. Pacific Loon's bill looks like a small Common Loon. Pacific Loon's bill looks like a small Common Loon. Common Loon: eliminated by size of bird, shape of bill, and red throated patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Roseate Spoonbill at Union Slough National Wildlife Slough in 1960	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1960-08-16	1993-08-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Roseate Spoonbill at Union Slough National Wildlife Slough in Kossuth County, IA on August 16, 1960. Includes a record review document with votes, letters from Thomas Kent to Harold Burgess, two letters from Harold Burgess to Thomas Kent, a letter from John Guthrie to Harold Burgess, a memo from Roswell D. Van Duesen to Harold Burgess, and the original sighting record found in the publication Roseate Spoonbill Observed at Union Slough by Harold Burgess in Iowa Bird Life 30(3):67-68. Roseate Spoonbill seen by Harold Burgess, Roswell D. Van Deusen, and Charles Van Kirk.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Roseate Spoonbill	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Glossy Ibis at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Photography of birds Rare birds Ornithological illustration	1992-05-04	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two Glossy Ibises at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Kossuth County, IA on May 4, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from J.V. Remsen to Tom Kent, letters between Tom Kent and Bob Janssen, a letter from Matt Kenne to Tom Kent, a letter from Bruce Fall to Tom Kent, five photographs, a page with two ibis head sketches, the original sighting record found in the publication Iowa Bird Life 53:68 by Matthew Kenne, and the article Field identification of White-faced and Glossy Ibises by H. Douglas Pratt, published in Birding 8(1):1-5. The Glossy Ibises were seen by Bobbi Webber and photographed by Dave Bunkofske.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Glossy Ibis	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis species at Otter Creek Marsh, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-09-27	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of two birds (Ibis species) at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on September 27, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the records review, a hand-written description of the birds, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Glossy Ibises	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Otter Creek Marsh near Chelsea, Tama Co., N.E. side of marsh	Marshy, low water amoung cattails between two Northern dikes.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers and Ed Weiner. \| Elimination of similar species: White ibis is not this dark even in immature plumage. All dark colored heron do not have long decurved bill like these birds. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:15:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Tricolored Heron at Cone Marsh, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Maps (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc Wildlife conservation	1989-04-29	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Tricolored Heron at Cone Marsh, Louisa County, IA on April 29, 1989. Includes record review documents with votes, articles in Iowa Bird Life and the Loon, maps of Tri-Colored Heron sightings and breeding areas, correspondence about the sighting from Ross Silcock to Carl Bendorf, from to Dick Shaffer to Thomas H. Kent, from Bruce Peterjohn to Thomas H. Kent and committee votes, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Tricolored Heron	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone M., Louise Co., IA	marsh	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Shaffer. \| Elimination of similar species: Size and white belly eliminate other herons. Apparently an immature or non-breeding plumaged adult. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:50:00/10:59:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	18
Records Committee review for Anhinga at Lake Darling State Park, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-09-17	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Anhinga at Lake Darling State Park in Washington County, IA on September 17, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in the Iowa Bird Life, an article from the Loon, correspondence by mail and e-mail, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Anhinga	Lake Darling State Park	Lake Darling S.P., Washington Co.	soaring high over lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cormorants are the only birds likely to be confused with an Anhinga. I have seen thousands of Double-crested Cormorants and I have never seen one soar in this manner. Also, a Double-created Cormorant has a neck which is always longer than the tail (in flight) and looks conspicuously large-headed and thick-necked when seen overhead. Neotropic Cormorant is much smaller and, although it is longer-tailed than a Double-crested, the tail is still shorter than the neck in flight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:42:00/16:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Clark's Grebe at Cone Marsh, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-05	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Clark's Grebe at Cone Marsh in Louise County, IA on May 5, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting from Bruce Peterjohn to Thomas H. Kent, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sandrock, James P., 1929-	Clark's Grebe	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh (Louisa County)	Marsh; open pond.	The documentation form by James P. Sandrock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer includes James G. Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was significantly larger than Pied-billed Grebe; Eared Grebe; and Horned Grebe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Resevoir, 1987	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-11-05	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 5, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence with the California Bird Records Committee between from Don Roberson and Ronald E. Goetz to Thomas H. Kent, and two documentation forms.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-off Jester Park	swimming on large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation forms by Mark Proescholdt was submitted later. Other observers were Beth Proescholdt, Dennis Thompson, and Berry Engebretson. \| Elimination of similar species: The slimmer, shorter bill, rounded head, and sharp contrast between the neck and the back eliminates Common and Yellow-billed loons. The shorter, straight bill and unmarked back eliminates Red-throated Loon. \| The original documentation event lasted from 11:45:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc Wildlife conservation	1986-11-01	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 1, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, revotes on sighting, correspondence regarding sighting from Ronald E. Goetz to Thomas H. Kent, article from Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Prairie Flower Recreation Area, Saylorville Reservoir	large body of water	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon eliminated by the more rounded forehead, the smaller, darker bill, the paler nape and crown, the gray necklace on the throat, and by the overall smaller size(a small Common Loon should still show the features of a normal Common Loon). Red-throated Loon was separated by the straight (not upturned) bill, the dark, unspeckled [sic] back, and the gray necklace. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Otter Creek Marsh, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of three Trumpeter Swans at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County on December 23, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence over the sighting, photos from Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Trumpeter Swan	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Otter Creek M., Tama Co., IA	large riverbottom marsh, central drainage open, ponds partly free of ice. Birds were in pond near east end of south dike.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Gladys Black. \| Elimination of similar species: Bill shape and voice exclude Tundra Swan. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:40:00/16:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mute Swan at South Clay County, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-04-08	1994-01-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a a Mute Swan at South Clay County, IA on April 8, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, a page of copied photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, internal correspondence, summary of review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Mute Swan	Clay County	5 East of 71 on 374	Large farm pond, rolling hills most of which were in cultavation [sic]	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vernon Beirman. \| Elimination of similar species: Was from the mute swan because of the straight neck and the Tundra swan because of the dark base of the bill. The wings were not held high like on the Mute swan. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Brant at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, IA, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-11-18	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Brant north of Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on November 18, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Wildlife Notes, internal correspondence, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Priebe, Don	Brant	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	6 mi. N of Riverton on No. 2	Corn field	The documentation form by Don Priebe is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Benson, Carl Priebe, and Jim Priebe.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Columbus Junction, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-04-25	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Columbus Junction in Louisa County, IA on April 25, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, an e-mail about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Columbus Junction	2 miles north of Columbus Junction, Louisa Co., Iowa	A backwater slough adjacent to highway 70 and close to the Iowa River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ted Allen, Bill Ohde, and Jim Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Fulvous Whistling-Duck lacks the gray face, orange bill, and white wing patch.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Big Marsh, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-11-01	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Big Marsh in Butler County, IA on November 1, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, two photographs, an article in The Southwestern Naturalist, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, James J.	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Big Marsh Wildlife Area	Big Marsh	freshwater marsh	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rodney Steere. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing it could be confused with	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3