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

Rare bird documentation form for Townsend's Solitaire near Highlandville, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Townsend's Solitaire near Highlandville in Winneshiek County, IA on January 15, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Townsend's Solitaire	Highlandville	Near Highlandville (Ten miles N.E. of Decorah) along Upper Iowa River.	General: A river bluff with a Southern exposure, covered by Prairie grass; Junipers. Specific: scattered Junipers (1 to 4 meters tall) on dry, rocky slope.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Paul Dietzenbach, Mark Dietzenbach, and Darwin Koenig. \| Elimination of similar species: Mockingbird: Had no large patches of white, eye color was dark not yellow. Shrike species: Had no mask or other dark facial pattern, bill different. Grey Catbird: Had white in tail and eye ring. Shape differed also. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Marion, 1981	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-01-22	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll at Marion in Linn County, IA on January 22, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, three articles in Iowa Bird Life, a photograph, a letter of Vernon Kleen to Nicholas Halmi, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Thompson, Fred K.	Hoary Redpoll	Marion	2830 McGowan Blvd., Marion, Iowa	My back yard at thistle feeder, near city park with flocks of common redpolls. 1/4 miles from large weedy field and farmland	The documentation form by Fred Thompson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Tom Shires and Nicholas Halmi were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Cardelis flammea - common redpoll - by color and beak size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:00:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Oxford, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-22	1978-02-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Oxford in Johnson County, IA on January 22, 1978.	Folk, G. Edgar	Northern Goshawk	Oxford	town of Oxford, Johnson County, Iowa	Extensive open pasture with groves of trees.	The documentation form by G. Edgar Folk, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include an unidentified person. \| Elimination of similar species: I stated above why it was not a Coopers Hawk. The only bird I could confuse it with would be the Coopers Hawk, and this specimen was far too large and too light-colored for that. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-24	1978-02-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Pine Grosbeaks at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines in Polk County, IA on January 24, 1978.	Mooney, Richard D., 1905-1997	Pine Grosbeak	Glendale Cemetery	Glendale Cemetary [sic]-50th St. & University Ave. Des Moines	Cemetary [sic] with numerous assorted evergreen trees and various other trees.	The documentation form by Richard D. Mooney is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pauline Mooney, Ruth Binsfeld, Woodward Brown, and Mary Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Evening Grosbeak eliminated by coloration. Purple Finch eliminated by size and coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing at River Heights in north Iowa City, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-27	1978-01-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bohemian Waxwing at River Heights in north Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 27, 1978.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Bohemian Waxwing	Iowa City	River Heights, 4 miles n. of Iowa City (my yard)	General: suburban yard Specific: in berry-bearing cranberry bushes	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cedar Waxwing \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike at the south edge of Spencer, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-05	1978-02-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike at the south edge of Spencer in Clay County, IA on February 5, 1978.	Bierman, Dick	Northern Shrike	Spencer	The south edge of Spencer Iowa along the Little Sioux River.	The subject was overlooking a weedy riverbottom area from the tree about 15 feet off the ground.	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include three unidentified individuals. \| Elimination of similar species: Subject was too brown and chunky for a mockingbird. I've seen many mockingbirds in Arizona. I've excluded the Loggerheaded Shrike because of the physical description above, and I have also seen many Loggerheaded Shrikes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation for Merlin at Calamus, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-02-06	1978-03-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for a Merlin at Calamus in Clinton County, IA on February 6, 1978.	Bryant, Robert R.	Merlin	Calamus	1/3 mi. north of Calamus, Ia.	open country-cornfields, grass ditches, one wooded ditch. Sitting on wire over fence line between snowcovered road ditch and cornfield.	The documentation form by Bob Bryant is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - eliminated because of size and lack of rufous coloring and black facial pattern. Sharp-shinned Hawk - eliminated because tail not long, not near any large wooded area. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Davenport, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-02-12	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll at Davenport in Scott County, IA on February 12, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, three articles in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Hoary Redpoll	Davenport	235 McClellen Blvd. Dav. 53803 - feeder	oak forest now established residential area wooded hill, much underbrush below thistle feeder	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: see number 6. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/07:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Johnson County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-19	1978-03-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Johnson County, IA on February 19, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Golden Eagle	Johnson County	4.9 mi west of jct. of F20 and W48 in Johnson Co. Iowa. The bird was in trees between F20 and the Iowa River bed.	The bird was perched on the north edge of a stand of trees bordering the Iowa River. Snow covered cornfields were n. of trees.	The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Michael Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Dark phased rough-legged hawk lacks the white wing patches on upper wing surface and is not twice the length of common crow. Also usually has dark upper tail surface. Immature Bald Eagle lacks prominent white wing patches and base of bill not yellow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at the Dupont Bridge in Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at the Dupont Bridge in the Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in Johnson County, IA on February 19, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	1/2 mile south of Johnson Co. Rd. F-20, 4.9 mi. w. of the crossroad leading to the Dupont Bridge.	General: border between an extensive tract of riverbottom forest and a half-mile stretch of corn and soybean fields (with large patches of unharvested beans). At the north edge of the fields was a road, followed by a wooded ridge. Specific: Perched at the edge of a narrow screen of trees that extended out from the forest, between two fields. [drawing]	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: The three species with which confusion is most likely are the bald eagle (imm) and red-tailed and rough-legged hawks (dark-phase). Several points rule out these species. (1) Size: the body length of the bird was 2&1/2-3 times that of a crow that perched in the same tree; the two hawks are not nearly this large. (2) tail pattern: imm. bald eagles sometimes show tails that are darker at the tip than at the base, but all such individuals that I have seen have had a gradual transition from dark to light, rather than the sharp boundary that this bird showed. Adult melanistic redtails usually have red tails; imm birds should show dark tails crossed by darker bands. (3) Wing pattern: imm bald eagles have white in the wing, but this is usually in the wing-lining rather than the primaries and secondaries; dark-phase rough-legs usually have the primaries and secondaries entirely white. (4) build: bald eagle has longer neck, and more massive head and bill, than golden; this bird had the general proportions of a buteo. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Cherokee, 1978	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-02-22	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll at Cherokee in Cherokee County, IA on February 22, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Hoary Redpoll	Cherokee	635 Central Cherokee, IA		The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Tom Phipps. \| Elimination of similar species: Was with a group of Common Redpolls + Purple Finches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at De Soto Wildlife Refuge, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-24	1978-03-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at De Soto Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on February 24, 1978.	Duda, Dorothy Ruth	Peregrine Falcon	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	De Soto Wildlife Refuge	Seen in refuge in an area between a lake that has some open water and the Missouri River which was open and filled with Mallards (plus a few Mergansers)	The documentation form by Dorothy Duda is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jerry Runice and Julie Schroeder. \| Elimination of similar species: because of size could only be a prairie falcon, but observers were certain they saw no black axillars at base of wing nor was the wing white near the body. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-headed Blackbird at Council Bluffs, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-26	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-headed Blackbird at Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on February 26, 1978.	Greer, Janet	Yellow-headed Blackbird	Council Bluffs	Feeder at 341 Steven Circle, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501		The documentation form by Janet Greer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include the Greer family. \| Elimination of similar species: There are none. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	75
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Coralville Reservoir, 1978	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-03-10	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 10, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Hoary Redpoll	Coralville Lake	1/4 mile north of Dupont Bridge, Johnson County Road in 48	old flooded river bottom	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common redpoll. The white rump with out streaks was displayed very clearly as the bird preened. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:20:00/14:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Mississippi River, SW of Davenport, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for thirty-five Greater Scaups at Mississippi River (SW of Davenport) in Scott County, IA on March 11, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Greater Scaup	Davenport	Mississippi River (S.W. of Davenport)	Mississippi River - half open water, half ice covered	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser scaup. The head shape and wing stripe differences are noted above. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rosy Finch at Oelwein, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-03-12	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rosy Finch at Oelwein in Fayette County, IA on March 12, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in Des Moines Register, a letter from Richard Wilkinson to Thomas H. Kent, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Stone, Tom	Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch	Oelwein	Oelwein, IOWA	Feeds on feeder. Come to a Rocky Ravine like spot by house.	The documentation form by Tom Stone is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Nicholas Halmi was submitted later. Other observers include Russel Hays, Frank Moore, Joe Schaufenbuel, Tom Kent, Tom Shires, Peter Petersen, Bernie Knight, Robert Myers, and eight more birders from Cedar Rapids-Marion. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird doesn't have any black on back or breast like the Black Rosy Finch. This bird had gray on head to distuinguish [sic] it. From the Brown capped Rosy Finch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:28:00/12:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	12
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Riverside Township in Fremont County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-03-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Riverside Township in Fremont County, IA on March 19, 1978.	Silcock, W. Ross	Merlin	Riverside Township	Riverside Twp Fremont Co, Iowa	Nishnabotna River Bottom, Corn stubble fields (frozen)	The documentation form by W. Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Accipiters- Wings were pointed, not rounded, and bird did not sail, but flew with rapid, continuous strokes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:30:10.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Brookside Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-03-20	1978-04-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on March 20, 1978.	Johnson, Ellen J.	Merlin	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Story County, Iowa	park near Iowa State University. Deciduous woods with many trails - flew over Squaw Creek	The documentation form by Ellen Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ornithology Class (Pam Keigley, Pam White, John Hemphill, and Robin Bruegman). \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - too large for a kestrel. Sharp-shinned hawk - it had more pointed wings. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at George Wyth State Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-25	1978-06-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for fifteen Greater Scaup at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on March 25, 1978.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Greater Scaup	George Wyth Memorial State Park	George Wyth State Park	open water in river with woodland bordering.	The documentation form by Tom Stone Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis L. Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup has short white wing line. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike north of Waukon, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike north of Waukon in Allamakee County, IA on March 25, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Northern Shrike	Waukon	Five miles North of Waukon, Allamakee County, Iowa	Hilly wooded areas, surrounded by cultivated lands. Some scattered brushy spots. Road was a loose crushed gravel type, with weed filled ditches.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Darwin Koenig. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerheaded Shrike; my bird seemed large and big billed. The small mask, light colored distal area. In flight the white rump(which is dark in the loggerhead), and the bird's lethargic behavior proves it was a Nortern [sic] Shrike. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle near Waukon, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-26	1978-03-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle near Waukon in Allamakee County, IA on March 26, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Golden Eagle	Waukon	Ten miles North of Waukon, on Highway 76, Allamakee County, Iowa	The general area under the soaring bird was a bluff, covered mostly with Oak, Maple, Birch and scattered Junipers. The bluff rises about 150 feet from the floodplain of the Upper Iowa River. There are many other bluffs similar to the one briefly described here, that surround the area of sighting.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Alan Branhagen. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle; my bird was not mottled as an immature Bald is, also my bird had totally dark under wing coverts. The distinct demarcation of light to dark on my bird also was rather un-Baldlike. Since an on the spot size comparison was made with a buteo, and the latter was found to be much smaller, I feel safe to say all others of this genus can be rolled out. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-08	1978-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Long-tailed Duck at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 8, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Long-tailed Duck	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co, Iowa	pond with marshy borders, surrounded by woods and cropland	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard Hollis. \| Elimination of similar species: No other N. Am. Duck, or duck-like bird, has a white head with a black face-patch, and a black chest. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit in Missouri Valley, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-10	1978-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Marbled Godwits in Missouri Valley in Harrison County, IA on April 10, 1978.	Gochenour, Ruth A.	Marbled Godwit	Missouri Valley	3 miles North of Missouri Valley, Iowa, Harrison County	Wet meadow	The documentation form by Ruth A. Gochenour is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Naomi Svenningsen and Justin Gochenour. \| Elimination of similar species: Hudsonian Godwit. Extremely large shore bird - this bird was lacking white rump-and black tail, chestnut under parts - The cinnamon wing linings were easily seen. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sprague's Pipit north of Missouri Valley, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-04-11	1994-01-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sprauge's Pipit north of Missouri Valley in Harrison County, IA on April 11, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of record, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Gochenour, Ruth A.	Sprague's Pipit	Missouri Valley	Two miles north of Missouri Valley, Iowa	Plowed field - corn stubble - Soil wet from rain - deep grassy ditches on both sides of rd.	The documentation form by Ruth Gochenour is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Naomi Svenningsen. \| Elimination of similar species: American Pipit, Vesper Sparrow - Legs-flesh colored - not clark - Lacked cinnamon shoulder patches - and streaking on back as described in #6. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	13
Rare bird documentation form for Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-15	1978-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 15, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Little Blue Heron	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co, Iowa	large marsh, bordered by wooded river bottoms, woods, cropland.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol S. Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Uniform dark-blue coloration rules out other herons: neck folded back on shoulders indicates that this bird was a tern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	20