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

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
Rare bird documentation form for Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, 1983	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, IA on January 30, 1983. The documentation form was included with an undated letter from Dick Bierman to Thomas Kent regarding the bird sighting and documentation form.	Bierman, Dick	Carolina Wren	Cherokee County	Farm Grove 13 mi west, 1 mi north of Cherokee Iowa.	Farm grove. Box elder, mulberry, cottonwood, blue spruce, brushy under growth.	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Charles Krekow and Lois Krekow. \| Elimination of similar species: House Wren, Winter Wren, Brown Creeper, Fox Sparrow, Bewick's Wren \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	88
Rare bird documentation form for Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, IA on January 30, 1983.	Brewer, Marion M.	Carolina Wren	Cherokee County	13W, 1 N of cherokee	Farm yard grove with a few Evergreens	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Bierman and Charles Krekow. \| Elimination of similar species: None \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:05:00/15:08:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	88
Rare bird documentation form for Carolina Wren at Hickory Hill Park, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1975-11-01	1975-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Carolina Wrens at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on November 1, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Carolina Wren	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City IA	brushy ravines on gullies in Hickory Hill Park - park contains woods, open pastures, brushy grown-up old fields	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Nicholas Halmi and Marilyn Smith Glasson. \| Elimination of similar species: eye stripes, rusty color, large size, voice elim. House, winter wrens voice, lack of white in tail, short tail rule out Bewick's (v. rare if not extinct in Iowa City area)<-(fide FW Kent). \| The original documentation form event occurred in the morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	88
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Swallow at Otter Creek Marsh, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-03-05	1992-03-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Swallow at section seven of Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on March 5 ,1992. The documentation form was submitted with a Mike Stegmann letter to James Dinsmore about the bird sighting and documentation form on March 18, 1992.	Stegmann, Mike	Barn Swallow	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Section #7, Otter Creek Marsh, Tama County, Iowa	Cattail Marsh	The documentation form by Mike Stegmann is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Tree Swallows use this area to a great extent later in the spring and summer but the bird seen was blue-black with tan underside and long forked tail which tree swallows lack. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	87
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Swallow at Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1987-10-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for three Barn Swallows at Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant in Woodbury County, IA starting in the fall and ending on October 25, 1987.	Livermore, Bob	Barn Swallow	Sioux City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	87
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Swallow at Red Rock Reservoir, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-11-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Swallow at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 13, 1987.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Barn Swallow	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Res. #14 bridge, Marion Co. IA	Large Reservoir	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Behavior and landing place clearly made it a swallow. Red on throat and forked tail, eliminate all other species. Only tree swallow would be likely at this date. Actually, I knew what the bird was as soon as I got my binoculars on it. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:48:00/11:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	87
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Swallow at Red Rock Reservoir, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-11-21	1987-11-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Swallow at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 21, 1987.	Moore, Francis L.	Barn Swallow	Lake Red Rock	N.E. side of St. Hwy 14 bridge across Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co.	Partially frozen water near bridge, near weedy back waters	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent, Bob Cecil, and Bob Myers. \| Elimination of similar species: No other swallow has long swallow tail, forked, pointed on outer retrices, dark blue-black color on back and medium tan to cinnamon color below.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	87
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Rough-winged Swallow at Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1987-10-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Rough-winged Swallow at Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant in Woodbury County, IA starting in the fall and ending 10/25/1987.	Livermore, Bob	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Sioux City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	86
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Rough-winged Swallow at Coralville Reservoir, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-10-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Northern Rough-winged Swallows at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 22, 1983.	Robinson, John C., 1959-	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Coralville Lake	"Refuge" section of Coralville Reservoir		The documentation form by John C. Robinson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Debaetes and Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The flight pattern of the three lead birds attracted my attention, as the wings were held differently (slightly farther out and broader) than the wings of the Tree Swallows which are often held at a more acute angle to the body. [...] All other swallows in the loose flock (20 - 25 birds) were obvious Tree Swallows. None of the swallows showed a deeply forked tail such as that seen in the Barn Swallow. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	86
Rare bird documentation form for Tree Swallow at Island View Park in Lake Rathbun in 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1992-12-02	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation for a Tree Swallow at Island View Park in Lake Rathbun in Appanoose County, IA on November 5, 8, 9, and 24, 1992.	Johnson, Thomas N.	Tree Swallow	Island View Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	85
John letter to Fred Kent regarding bird sightings and owl slides, March 1965	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Photography of birds Rare birds Strigiformes \| Owls	1965-03-20	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from John to Fred Kent regarding bird sightings and slides of owls. It features a sighting of twenty Purple Martins on the 20th of March near Oskaloosa in Mahaska County, IA.		Purple Martin	Iowa Oskaloosa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	84
Rare bird documentation form for Black-billed Magpie at Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-10-09	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-billed Magpie at Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve in Plymouth County, IA on October 9, 1999.	Fields, Will	Black-billed Magpie	Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve	Broken Kettle Grasslands (a Nature Conservancy Preserve, Plymouth Co., IA)		The documentation form by Will Fields is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include unidentified members of the Iowa State University Fisheries and Wildlife Biology Club. \| Elimination of similar species: The American Crow and the Common Raven lack do not have [sic] such a long tail and they usually do not have white in their plumage. I had seen American Crows flying around the preserve earlier that morning. This bird definitely had a longer tail than the American Crows. Ring-necked Pheasants also have a long tail, but they do not normally have a [sic] black and white plumage. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	83
Rare bird documentation form for Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area near Crescent, 1999	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-09-27	1999-10-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area near Crescent in Pottawattamie County, IA on September 27, 1999. It is accompanied by an e-mail from Sue Mattix to James Fuller dated September 28, 1999 regarding the bird sighting.	Mattix, Sue	Black-billed Magpie	Hitchcock Nature Area	Hitchcock Wildlife Area, Crescent, IA	forest	The documentation form by Sue Mattix is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Howard Mattix. \| Elimination of similar species: Only similar species would be yellow billed magpie - this one had a black bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	83
Rare bird documentation for American Magpie at Tyson Bend, 1974	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1974-10-14	1974-11-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for an American Magpie at Tyson Bend in Harrison County, IA on October 14, 1974.	Loth, Edward W.	Black-billed Magpie	Tyson Bend Wildlife Area	Tyson Bend, 4 mi. west of Modale, Harrison County, Iowa	General: Wooded area of Missouri River flood plain. Specific: A series of cattail marshes interspersed with willows and cottonwoods.	The documentation form by Edward W. Loth is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: None - the only bird I am familiar with that is black and white and has a long tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:30:00/17:31:00 and 18:20:00/18:21:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	83
Rare bird documentation form for Stellar's Jay at Des Moines, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-07-05	1978-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Stellar's Jays at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on July 5, 1978. It was included with a Woodward H. Brown letter to Nick Halmi dated July 8, 1978 regarding the documentation form and sighting.	Brown, Woodward H. Collins, Paul B., Mrs.	Stellar's Jay	Des Moines	close to house; 1017 - 26th Des Moines Iowa	in adjacent yard	The documentation form by Mrs. Paul Collins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Blue Jay \| The original documentation form event occurred briefly around 15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	82
Rare bird documentation form for Red-eyed Vireo at Washington Township in Ames, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-11-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-eyed Vireo at Washington Township in Ames in Story County, IA on November 4, 1981.	Robinson, John C., 1959-	Red-eyed Vireo	Washington Township	Ames, Iowa; Story Co.; Washington Twsp.; Sect. 9 (ISU Campus)	General: Short-cut lawn (ISU Campus) with many types of deciduous and coniferous trees occurring at randomly spaced intervals. Specific: A large thicket (30 ft. in diameter) next to a Russian olive tree.	The documentation form by John C. Robinson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Philadelphia Vireo: this species lacks contrast between head and back and has a yellowish breast. Tennessee Warbler: This species has a smaller bill, is smaller in size, and lacks a blackish border above the eyestripe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:58:00/08:12:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	81
Rare bird documentation form for Philadelphia Vireo at Moorehead Park in Ida County, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-10-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Philadelphia Vireo at Moorehead Park in Ida County, IA on October 18, 1994.	Ernzen, Peter	Philadelphia Vireo	Moorehead Pioneer Park	Moorehead Park	Riparian - shrubby	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Tennesse Warbler color to [sic] light thick vireo bill Red Eyed Vireo has white eye brow border above + below with black - not present on this vireo - should be darker in color throughout over -> warbling vireo is to [sic] pale in color, no yellow mark across throat. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	80
Beth Proescholdt letter to Michael C. Newlon regarding a Northern Shrike sighting, December 1, 1984	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1984-12-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Beth Proescholdt to Michael C. Newlon adding a Northern Shrike sighting to the fall report on December 1, 1984. The shrike was seen on November 30 in northern Marshall County, IA.	Proescholdt, Beth	Northern Shrike	Marshall County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Notes on Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, June 26, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1986-06-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes for a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Tomahawk Marsh in Sac County, IA on June 20, 1986 by Michael Mahn. The account was given to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union through a phone call transcribed by James Dinsmore on June 26, 1986.	Dinsmore, James J.	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Tomahawk Marsh Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	73
Robert K. Myers letter to Thomas H. Kent about bird sightings including Marbled Goldwit, June 6, 1980	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Rare birds	1980-06-06	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Robert K. Myers letter to Thomas H. Kent Rare about bird sightings for a Marbled Godwit in Iowa, June 6, 1980. Myers details how he and Russ Hayes identified the Godwit and mentions birds he saw on a trip to Waubonsie and Lacey-Keosauqua state parks.	Myers, Robert K.	Marbled Godwit Summer Tanager Yellow-throated Warbler Western Kingbird Hudsonian Godwit Northern Parula Cerulean Warbler Blue Grosbeak Kentucky Warbler	Lacey-Keosauqua State Park Waubonsie State Park Sweet Marsh				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Rathbun Christmas Count - December 19, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1988-12-19	1988-12-20	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Details for several rare species seen at the Christmas Bird Count including Black-bellied Plover at Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County, IA on December 19, 1998, documented by Bill Heusinkveld.	Heusinkveld, Bill	Blue-winged Teal Red-breasted Merganser Trumpeter Swan Black-bellied Plover Yellow-rumped Warbler Bonaparte's Gull	Rathbun Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	2
Rare bird documentation form for Bewick's Wren at Iowa City, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-04-17	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bewick's Wren at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on April 17, 1981.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Bewick's Wren	Iowa City	Iowa City IA	General: Brush, wooded draw with junk--between yards in city Specific: N. Summit St Iowa City N. of cemetery and w. of Hickory Hill Park, behind apartments	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: House wren brown, shorter tail, no eye-line Carolina Wren much redder \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:20:00/17:21:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	1
Rare bird documentation form for Bewick's Wren north of Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1981-05-02	1981-05-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for one to two Bewick's Wren north of Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on May 2, 1981.	Moore, Francis L.	Bewick's Wren	Hickory Hill Park	Just past North boundary of Hickory Hills [sic] Park, Iowa City, IA (Johnson County)	General: Junkyard and brush piles near Graveyard abutted by wooded ravine Specific: mostly seen in brush piles in ravine or at lip of ravine.	The documentation form by Francis Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Barb Wilson, Bob Myers, Ross Silcock, and many others. \| Elimination of similar species: House Wren has gray-brown color on breast and belly: Carolina Wren has white eye-stripe but is buffy color on the belly and lacks the white-fringing on the tail; Winter Wren is brown on the breast and belly. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	1
Rare bird documentation form for Bewick's Wren at Marshalltown, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1982-07-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bewick's Wren at Marshalltown in Marshall County, IA on July 4, 1982.	Moore, Francis L.	Bewick's Wren	Marshalltown	In city of Marshalltown, Marshall Co., Ia. Jct. of Forest Blvd + Pope Blvd.	Residential; nearby shrubby fence rows; tall pine and deciduous mix	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russell Hays, Joe Schaufenbuel, and Hank Zaletel. \| Elimination of similar species: House Wren is darker brown with brown throat and belly and lacks white fringing on outer tail feathers, song is also completely different. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:10:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	1