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

Darwin Koenig letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, December 1, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting	1978-12-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Darwin Koenig to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, December 1, 1978. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1978.	Koenig, Darwin	Rough-legged Hawk Snow Bunting Carolina Wren Evening Grosbeak Purple Finch Black-crowned Night Heron Golden Eagle Olive-sided Flycatcher Pine Siskin Red-breasted Nuthatch Greater White-fronted Goose Winter Wren American Black Duck Tundra Swan Northern Shrike	Decorah Lansing Marquette New Albin Yellow River State Forest Lake Odessa Highlandville Shimek State Forest				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	7
Ben Bereskin letter to Wilmer J. Miller and Lotus Miller regarding a birding field trip, September 22, 1969	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Migration Ornithology--Societies, etc Waterfowl	1969-09-22	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Ben Bereskin to Wilmer J. Miller, Lotus Miller and other Ames Audubon Society members regarding a birding field trip, September 22, 1969. The letter details a birding trip to Hendrickson Marsh to observe the fall waterfowl migration. The letter also includes an announcement of a special meeting of the executive board of the society and a possible sighting of Whooping Cranes in Ames.	Ames Audubon Society Bereskin, Ben	Whooping Crane	Ames Hendrickson Marsh Lake				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	1	7
Ellison Orr letter to Oscar Allert regarding Peregrine Falcon sightings, April 5, 1934	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Food Birds--Geographical distribution Birds--Nests Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Duck shooting	1934-04-05	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Ellison Orr to Oscar Allert dated April 5, 1934. Orr clarifies his earlier comments on Peregrine Falcon sightings, and mentions some other bird sightings. This letter was summarized in Allert's article "Notes on Certain Raptores in Allamakee, Clayton and Dubuque Counties, Iowa," published in Iowa Bird Life, vol. 9, no. 3.	Orr, Ellison	Turkey Vulture Peregrine Falcon	Waukon Junction				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	45	7
Ellison Orr letter to Oscar Allert regarding a Bald Eagle nest sight, May 17, 1939	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Food Birds--Nests	1939-05-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Ellison Orr to Oscar Allert dated May 17, 1939. Orr relates to Allert the location of a nest sight that had supposedly been used by Bald Eagles. This letter was summarized in Allert's article "Notes on Certain Raptores in Allamakee, Clayton and Dubuque Counties, Iowa," published in Iowa Bird Life, vol. 9, no. 3.	Orr, Ellison	Bald Eagle	Waukon Junction				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	45	7
George Kaufman letter to Oscar Allert regarding Bald Eagle and King Rail sightings, August 17, 1939	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Nests	1939-08-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from George Kaufman to Oscar Allert dated August 17, 1939. Kaufman details where and when he saw Bald Eagles and a King Rail nest. This letter was summarized in Allert's article "Notes on Certain Raptores in Allamakee, Clayton and Dubuque Counties, Iowa," published in Iowa Bird Life, vol. 9, no. 3.	Kaufman, George E.	Bald Eagle King Rail	Guttenberg New Albin Big Lake Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	45	7
Ellison Orr letter to Oscar Allert regarding Peregrine Falcon sightings, March 10, 1934	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Geographical distribution Birds--Nests	1934-03-10	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Ellison Orr to Oscar Allert dated March 10, 1934. Orr tells Allert that he has frequently seen Peregrine Falcons and that Philip DuMont is incorrect in claiming that the Peregrine Falcon is rare in Iowa and has not nested in Iowa since 1898. This letter was summarized in Allert's article "Notes on Certain Raptores in Allamakee, Clayton and Dubuque Counties, Iowa," published in Iowa Bird Life, vol. 9, no. 3.	Orr, Ellison	Peregrine Falcon	Waukon Junction				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	45	7
Margaret Kohlman letter to Oscar Allert regarding Peregrine Falcon sightings, May 29, 1939	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Stamp collecting	1939-05-29	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Margaret Kohlman to Oscar Allert dated May 29, 1939. Kohlman details her sightings of a Peregrine Falcon that she originally misidentified as a Merlin. This letter was summarized in Allert's article "Notes on Certain Raptores in Allamakee, Clayton and Dubuque Counties, Iowa," published in Iowa Bird Life, vol. 9, no. 3.	Kohlman, Margaret	Merlin Peregrine Falcon	Guttenberg				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	45	7
Jim Dinsmore letter to Thomas Kent regarding spring field reports, May 26, 1981	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Nests Ornithology--Study and teaching Parulidae \| Warblers	1981-05-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Included with the letter is a list of birds sighted by Jim Dinsmore and others in areas mainly around central Iowa. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of spring 1981.	Dinsmore, James J.	Smith's Longspur Eurasian Wigeon Brown Pelican	Little Wall Lake Ames Boone Deweys Pasture State Game Management Area Hendrickson Marsh Lake Nevada Ruthven				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	19	7
Margaret Brooke letter to Thomas Kent regarding a Worm-eating Warbler sighting, May 20, 1981	Correspondence Field notes	Recurvirostridae \| Avocets and Stilts Bird watching Birdsongs	1981-05-20	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Margaret Brooke letter documents the sighting of a Worm-eating Warbler and mentions other bird sightings from the Des Moines area. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of spring 1981.	Brooke, Margaret	American Avocet Cerulean Warbler Worm-eating Warbler	Big Creek Lake Jester Park Saylorville Lake Waterworks Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	19	7
Tanya Bray letter to Thomas Kent regarding spring migration, May 30, 1981	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification	1981-05-30	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Tanya Bray letter contains an annotated list of birds sighted by herself and others, mostly around western Iowa. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of spring 1981.	Bray, Tanya	Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Fremont County Lake Manawa Mills County Riverton Wildlife Management Area Willow Slough State Game Management Area Keg Lake Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	19	7
Conrad F. Schlemmer letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, December 4, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching	1978-12-04	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Conrad F. Schlemmer to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, December 4, 1978. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1978.	Schlemmer, Conrad F.	Northern Cardinal Harris' Sparrow House Sparrow Western Kingbird Northern Bobwhite	Spencer				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	7
Peter C. Petersen letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, December 2, 1978.	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting	1978-12-02	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Peter C. Petersen to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, December 2, 1978. A note mentions a shorebird influx at Credit Island. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1978.	Petersen, Peter C.	Broad-winged Hawk Cooper's Hawk Goldeneye American Woodcock Ruddy Duck Veery Northern Mockingbird	Clinton Credit Island Davenport Lock and Dam 13 Wildcat Den State Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	7
Weir Nelson letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, November 4, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Parulidae \| Warblers	1978-11-04	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Weir Nelson to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, November 4, 1978. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1978.	Nelson, Weir	Ringed Turtle-Dove Purple Finch Wood Duck Wild Turkey Sharp-shinned Hawk	Cedar Rapids Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	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
Douglas H. Pratt letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, November 21, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching	1978-11-21	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Douglas H. Pratt to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, November 21, 1978. Some of the sightings were made by Gary Wee. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Field Report of fall 1978.	Pratt, H. Douglas (Harold Douglas), 1944-	Rough-legged Hawk Cattle Egret Merlin Long-eared Owl Swainson's Thrush Tundra Swan Sharp-shinned Hawk	Iowa Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area Lake Park Larchwood				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	7
Donald J. Gillaspey letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, December 1, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird populations Bird watching Ciconiiformes \| Herons, Bitterns, Egrets, Ibises, and Storks	1978-12-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Donald J. Gillaspey to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, December 1, 1978. Sightings were made in Lamoni. An annotation is made regarding the local population of Loggerhead Shrikes. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Field Report of fall 1978.	Gillaspey, J. Donald	Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Turkey Vulture Loggerhead Shrike American White Pelican Cattle Egret Osprey King Rail	Lamoni				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	7
James J. Dinsmore letter to Vernon M. Kleen regarding bird sightings, December 1, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching	1978-12-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	James J. Dinsmore letter to Vernon M. Kleen regarding bird sightings, December 1, 1978. Sightings mentioned in the letter are a Cerulean Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park and a Short-Billed Dowitcher and Stilt Sandpiper at Credit Island. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Field Report of fall 1978.	Dinsmore, James J.	Stilt Sandpiper Cerulean Warbler Short-billed Dowitcher	Credit Island Wildcat Den State Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	7
Woodward H. Brown letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, November 16, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching	1978-11-16	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Woodward H. Brown to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, November 16, 1978. The Item includes a field report titled "Fall 1978, Des Moines." This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1978.	Brown, Woodward H.	Snow Bunting Western Grebe Black-crowned Night Heron Golden Eagle Pine Siskin Red-breasted Nuthatch Blackburnian Warbler	Polk County Saylorville Lake Greenfield Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	7
Gladys Black's 1978 Red Rock Fall Migration and letter to Nicholas S. Halmi, October 7, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Rare birds	1978-10-07	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Gladys Black's field report titled "1978 Red Rock Fall Migration" and letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding the reporting of rare bird sightings by volunteers, October 7, 1978. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1978.	Black, Gladys	Double-crested Cormorant American White Pelican Western Grebe Merlin Golden Eagle	Lake Red Rock Red Rock Dam Greenfield Carlisle				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	7
Fred Lesher letter to Vernon M. Kleen regarding bird sightings, February 8, 1979	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification	1979-02-08	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Fred Lesher to Vernon M. Kleen regarding bird sightings, February 8, 1979. The sightings were made at Yellow River State Forest and Effigy Mounds National Monument. A note mentions that the Cooper's Hawk seen at Yellow River State Forest may have been a Sharp-shinned Hawk. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of fall, 1978.	Lesher, Fred	Broad-winged Hawk Cooper's Hawk Yellow-breasted Chat Acadian Flycatcher Blue-winged Warbler Cerulean Warbler Hooded Warbler Kentucky Warbler Sharp-shinned Hawk	Yellow River State Forest Effigy Mounds National Monument				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	7
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, Quarterly field report, winter 1967-1968	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1967-12-01	1968-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Quarterly field report for the winter of 1967-1968 titled "AFN notes Iowa." It was published in Iowa bird life 38:16-18, 1968. The report is a draft with manual annotations. It Included Robert W. Guth letter to Peter C. Peterson regarding winter 1967-1968 bird sightings near Eureka and Peoria, Illinois, sent on March 11, 1968.	Guth, Robert Wayne, 1950- Iowa Ornithologists' Union Brown, Woodward H.		Iowa Eureka Peoria				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Gray-cheeked Thrush at Waubonsie State Park, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-24	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Gray-cheeked Thrush at Waubonsie State Park in Fremont County, IA on April 24, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about bird sightings and documentations, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Scott, Charlotte	Gray-cheeked Thrush	Waubonsie State Park	Waubonsie State Park	Near a trail through a high wooded section	The documentation form by Charlotte Scott is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Dick Scott. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I had time to observe a smaller than robin-sized, plump-looking bird--evenly brown-gray. I had my glasses on him long enough to check that there was not a distinct eye ring and that the splotches on his breast were distinct and separate--not blurry--and fairly bold. [...] There was no question in my mind but that he was a thrush, but I thought this bird more brown on his back than I remembered Gray-cheeked to be. I considered Veery, but stayed with my original call. \| The original documentation form event occurred from approximately 09:45:00/09:45:15.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Band-tailed Pigeon west of Fort Dodge, 1970	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1970-09-05	1995-02-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Band-tailed Pigeon west of Fort Dodge in Webster County, IA on September 5, 1970. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Crawford, John	Band-tailed Pigeon	Fort Dodge	[...] seven miles West of Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa on the farm of Joseph R. Crawford.		The documentation article by John A. Crawford is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joseph R. Crawford. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] This bird first caught my attention by the fact that it lacked the typical white rump of a Rock Dove.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Western Gull east of Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport, 1989	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-12-11	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Gull east of Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 11, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Western Gull	Lock and Dam 15	On Miss. River chanel [sic] ice between Davenport, Scott Co. IA &+ Rock Isl. Arsenal, RI Co. IL.	On ice covered chanel [sic] of Mississippi - 1/4 - 1/2 mi. upstream (East) of Lock + Dam 15.	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Brian Blevins and Gerald White were submitted. Another observers includes Lewis Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Slaty-backed Gull - Gray mantle merged directly to black tips, trailing white wing edge too narrow, mantle color too dark for g.b. Lesser-Black-bkd Gull - leg color pink, bird too large + heavy Greater Black-bkd. Gull - Bird too small, back not black enough, legs too bright + pink. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:35:00 on December 11, 1986, 08:20:00/08:25:00 and 09:00:00/09:15:00 on December 12, 1986.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	7
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