Documents • Iowa State University • Avian Archives of Iowa Online

Title	Genres	Topics	Date (Start)	Date (End)	Type	Description	Creator/Author	Birds	Locations	Locality	Habitat	Remarks

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Semipalmated Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Area, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-03-27	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Area in Fremont County, IA on March 27, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the sighting, entries in an unidentified field guide, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Semipalmated Sandpiper	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton W.A., Fremont Co.	feeding with other shorebirds on large mudflat area	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Anotther documentation form by Ross Silcock was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: similar species eliminated above [...] This bird was slightly bigger than a Least and was much chunkier. The bird had dark legs, seen in direct comparison with the dark legs of Baird's Sandpipers and the yellowish legs of the Least Sandpipers. This bird was also still in basic plumage, making it much paler in color than the other peeps. [...] The bill was straight, dark, and much thicker at the base and the tip than the bill of a Baird's or Least sandpiper [sic]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:20:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	2
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sharp-shinned Hawk at Jackson Township, 1989	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-07-19	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Sharp-shinned Hawk at Jackson Township in Hardin County on July 19, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting by David Conrads to Carl Bendorf, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Conrads, David J.	Sharp-shinned Hawk	Jackson Township	NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 SEC 13 T-88N R-20W Jackson Twp Hardin Co.	Upland forest, steep ravine	The documentation form by David J. Conrads is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Keith Franzen and Nixon Wilson. \| Elimination of similar species: Due to its significantly smaller size than a Cooper's Hawk, we concluded that it was a HY male Sharp-shinned Hawk. We also listened to "A Field Guide to Bird Songs" and although the Sharp-shinned recording was that of 175 "kek-kek-kek" warning/alarm call, the Cooper's Hawk recording was that of a food begging call which was very similar but of a significantly lower pitch than that of the bird we observed. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	27
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, 1994	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-15	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on May 15, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, seven photographs and photocopies of them, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton GMA, Fremont County		The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include B.J. Rose, Roger Rose, and Doug Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It resembled a Pectoral Sandpiper, but differed in the following ways: the crown was streaked, and showed noticeable rufous coloration in the feathering; the off-white superciliary stripe was lengthy and broadened towards the rear; the breast markings were dense as in a Pectoral but did not show a clearcut ending at the whitish belly, but instead ended indeterminately by gradually fading out. [...] Once ready to record, we flushed the bird and it gave a soft series of notes, somewhat like a Lesser Yellowlegs, but rather flat and unmelodious. This call was most unlike the harsh, grating call of a Pectoral Sandpiper. [...] Plumage, time of year, call upon flushing, and key plumage differences from Pectoral Sandpiper, cited above, led us to identify this bird as an adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	4
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 rare bird sighting of Tufted Duck at Lake Manawa, 1980	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-03-15	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Tufted Duck at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on March 15, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes, internal correspondence about the sighting, and a documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Joranson, Eric G.	Tufted Duck	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Council Bluffs, Iowa 150-200 yds from S. Shore		The documentation form by Eric G. Joranson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Robert Caughey. \| Elimination of similar species: Shot R-n Ducks before. Never seen a Tufted before. R-n duck head "lobey" in contrast with Tufted's crest.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Tufted Duck at Sweet Marsh, 1980	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-06-30	1994-01-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Tufted Duck at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on June 30, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, correspondence about the sighting, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Tufted Duck	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh (Tom Stone, Jr. & I first found bird)	marshy area near cattails	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis L. Moore were submitted . Other observers include Russell Hays, Tom Stone, and Tom Stone, Jr. \| Elimination of similar species: May be a ring-neck female or scaup but doesn't look right- probably a hybrid. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:45:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Western Sandpiper at Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-10-08	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Western Sandpiper at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 8, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Western Sandpiper	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-north end of reservoir	feeding in shallow water adjacent to mudflat with other shorebirds	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Andy Fix. \| Elimination of similar species: see above [...] The bird was roughly 25% smaller than a Pectoral Sandpiper. [...] Note that we saw a single Semipalmated Sandpiper in the same flock of shorebirds. The Semipalmated Sandpiper had a shorter, thicker bill, more of a brown wash on the breast, and frequented the edge of the mudflat rather than wading in the water. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Whooping Crane east of Davenport, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-10	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Whooping Crane east of Davenport in Scott County, IA on April 10, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, correspondence about bird sightings from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Lorenzen, Frederick J. Lorenzen, Ted	Whooping Crane	Davenport	just E. of Davenport John Deere Plant. N. of IPO and W of Jersey Ridge Road	small lake	The documentation form by Bruce Peterjohn is relaying a report by Fred and Ted Lorenzen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: G. Egret - black wing tips, Am. White Pelican- long legs, Sandhill Crane - white plumage, Swan - long legs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:45:00/10:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Eurasian Wigeon at Spirit Lake, 1985	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-04-01	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of five Eurasian Wigeons at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on April 1, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary, correspondence about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Foote, LaVonne	Eurasian Wigeon	Spirit Lake	In a marsh about 7 miles west of Spirit Lake, Iowa on Highway No. 9 on the South side of the road.	marsh	The documentation form by LaVonne Foote is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mavis Wunder and Jan Ortmeier. \| Elimination of similar species: American wigeon - Easy to tell apart as male colors are so different. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/13:30:00 and 15:30:00/16:05:00 on April 1, 1985 as well as 11:21:00/12:15:00 on April 2, 1985.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Marbled Godwit at Cherokee, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-17	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of forty-six Marbled Godwits at Cherokee Airport in Cherokee, Cherokee County, IA on May 17 and 19, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting and others, summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Marbled Godwit	Cherokee Municipal Airport	Cherokee Airport	General: flooded corn field Specific: Waters Edge	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Bierman. \| Elimination of similar species: Hudsonian which was also in the field. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:45:00/20:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	25
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 Whooping Crane north of Essex, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-04-11	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of three Whooping Cranes north of Essex in Page County, IA on April 11, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, e-mail about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Edwards, Chris	Whooping Crane	Essex	North of Essex in northwestern Page County Iowa	Flooded agricultural field	The documentation form by Chris Edwards is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mary Edwards. \| Elimination of similar species: Sandhill Cranes are smaller, gray, and lack a moustachial stripe and black primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/12:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	17
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
Richard Jule Hollis letter to Hank Zaletel regarding the Iowa Birdline, December 17, 1981	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Counting Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Richard Jule Hollis letter to Hank Zaletel announcing that the Iowa Birdline is now in operation. The letter includes directions on how to use the Iowa Birdline. This letter was sent to Hank Zaletel in advance of sending a letter to all members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Hollis, Richard Jule		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Richard Jule Hollis letter to Hank Zaletel regarding setting up a Bird Hotline, May 27, 1981	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-05-27	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Richard Jule Hollis letter to Hank Zaletel regarding progress made in setting up a Bird Hotline in Iowa. The letter includes a short paragraph on his recent bird sightings such as seeing a Bewick's Wren at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, Iowa. The hotline is later known as the Iowa Birdline.	Hollis, Richard Jule	Bewick's Wren	Hickory Hill Park Iowa City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Robert I. Cecil letter to James J. Dinsmore regarding a report on the Purple Gallinule, September 9, 1988	Correspondence	Birds--Research Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-09-09	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Robert I. Cecil letter to James J. Dinsmore responding to a request to write a short field note on the Purple Gallinule. This item was submitted past the deadline for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly Report of summer 1988.	Cecil, Robert I.	Purple Gallinule	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	23	6
Two letters sent between Rushton G. Cortelyou and Thomas H. Kent, regarding a Piping Plover sighting, July 1986	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Birds--Nests Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1986-05-28	1986-07-12	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rushton G. Cortelyou letter to Thomas Kent, July 10, 1986, regarding a Piping Plover nest at the MidAmerican Energy Settling Ponds near Council Bluffs, IA on May 28, 1986. There is a response from Kent about Piping Plover sightings as well as how Nebraska ornithologists should report Iowa bird sightings dated July 12, 1986.	Green, Ruth Cortelyou, Rushton G.	Piping Plover	MidAmerican Energy Ponds				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	5
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding Snowy Owl sightings and Iowa Ornithologists' Union membership, January 24, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watchers Bird watching Ornithology--Societies, etc	1977-01-24	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Snowy Owl sightings contributed by Gladys Black in a letter to Nicholas S. Halmi. Gladys is also commenting on a recent increase in Iowa Ornithologists' Union memberships. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of winter, 1976-1977.	Black, Gladys	Snowy Owl	Iowa Warren County Wright County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	19
Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinators Newsletter	Correspondence	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Ornithology--Study and teaching	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinators Newsletter gives an update on the project. The project has been in progress for three years and is ongoing. The newsletter includes a list of atlas committee members.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Breeding Bird Atlas Committee		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	20
Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinators Newsletter	Correspondence	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Ornithology--Study and teaching	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas coordinators newsletter gives an update on the project. The project has been in progress for three years and is ongoing. The newsletter includes a request for more "birders" to help with the project.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Breeding Bird Atlas Committee		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	20
Southwest Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas Newsletter (SWIBBAN)	Correspondence	Birds--Counting Birds--Habitat Birds--Identification Birds--Research Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-01-01	1988-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The southwest Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas Newsletter (SWIBBAN) is compiled by Barbara L. Wilson of Hastings, Iowa and outlines the scope of the Breeding Bird Atlas project. The newsletter includes meeting minutes, a map of southwest Iowa atlas block work in progress, and the Department of Natural Resources block priority list.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Warbling Vireo	Wilson Island State Park Hastings				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	20
Oscar Allert letter to Mary Lou Petersen regarding honorary membership in the Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Correspondence	Ornithology--Societies, etc	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Undated letter from Oscar Allert to Mary Lou Petersen. Allert thanks Petersen and the Iowa Ornithologists' Union for granting him honorary membership during the Union's most recent annual meeting. This document is in response to a letter from Petersen: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/10089/view	Allert, Oscar P.		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	45	7
Walter Rosene, Jr. letter to Pam Allen regarding the nomination of the Goldfinch as the Iowa State bird, March 24, 1993	Correspondence	Ornithology--Societies, etc State birds Birds in art	1993-03-24	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Walter Rosene, Jr. letter to Pam Allen regarding the origin of how the Goldfinch became nominated for the Iowa State bird. The letter highlights a visit Walter Rosene, Jr. and his father made to Althea R. Sherman's house and how after seeing a very artistic painting of a Goldfinch by Althea's sister, his father said that the Goldfinch should be the state bird.	Rosene, Walter, 1912-	American Goldfinch	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	46	11