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 for Black-headed Grosbeak at Rush Lake, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-05-20	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Rush Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on May 20, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, a letter from Ann Sernett to Thomas Kent, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harms, Ronald	Black-headed Grosbeak	Rush Lake	South side Rush Lake, Palo Alto Co. and Mable [sic] Grous grove, Pocahontas Co.	Open woods	The documentation form by Ronald Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers were Ann Luther, Mabel Grous, Ken Sernett and Ann Sernett. \| Elimination of similar species: there were many [female symbol] Rose-brested [sic] around to compare.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Lake Red Rock, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-12-19	1983-01-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Long-tailed Duck at Lake Red Rock in Warren County, IA on December 19, 1982.	Gilbert, Bill H.	Long-tailed Duck	Lake Red Rock	South tailwater day-use area; just below dam; Lake Red Rock; Warren Co.	Marshy-Pond-Like Bay (Shallow), Interspersed w/ Rush/Sedge Clumps	The documentation form by Bill Gilbert is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dale Fye and Paul Regnier. \| Elimination of similar species: Long-tailed Duck is the only bird (duck!) with a white head. (It surely wasn't a Bufflehead). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Clark's Grebe at South Twin Lake, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-11-25	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Clark's Grebe at South Twin Lake in Calhoun County, IA on November 25, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Clark's Grebe	South Twin Lake	South Twin L., Calhoun Co., IA	shallow lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Susan B. Grove. \| Elimination of similar species: The short body, longer neck, and bright orange bill color eliminates all species of loons. The only other similar species is Western Grebe, which has a dulller yellowish bill and dark lores and dark color around the eyes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:25:00/08:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lazuli Bunting at Westfield, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-05-18	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lazuli Bunting at Westfield in Plymouth County, IA on May 18, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Lazuli Bunting	Westfield	south-west Plymouth County	bottomland row crop	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Jerry Probst. \| Elimination of similar species: Too small for a bluebird, wing bar and central pattern eliminates Indigo Bunting. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:40:00/07:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rock Wren near C Street Roller Dam in Cedar Rapids, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-10-30	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rock Wren near C Street Roller Dam in Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on October 30, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fye, Dale Fye, Helen	Rock Wren	C Street Roller Dam	Southeast Cedar Rapids, Near Roller Dam, near Rocky Rail Road right of way with some dried weeds and short brush		The documentation form by Dale and Helen Fye is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Carolina Wren is browner and has a sharper eyeline. House wren is smaller. Bewicks has unstreaked breast and specific tail movement, + is predominately brown, also has a more distinct eyeline. Canyon has unstreaked breast and dark belly \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Snowy Plover at Dunbar Slough, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-05-22	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Snowy Plover at Dunbar Slough in Greene County, IA on May 22, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fix, Andrew S.	Snowy Plover	Dunbar Slough	Southwest corner of Dunbar Slough		The documentation form by Andrew Fix is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Steve Dinsmore and Brian L. Blevins were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] 2) Semipalmated plover - completely banded; darker nape broken by band; dark mantle and wings; light legs; shorter bicolored bill 3) Wilson's plover - larger heavy bill; larger, heavy full band; larger size; no distinct auricular patch; pale legs 4) Killdeer - much larger size; two full bands; large, heavy bill; \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 14:45:00/15:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	18
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Marshalltown, 1992	Field notes	Bird feeders Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-12-19	1992-12-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Grosbeak at Marshalltown in Marshall County, IA on December 19, 1992.	Grimes, Orville	Pine Grosbeak	Marshalltown	Southwest Marshalltown	wooded yard	The documentation form by Orville Grimes is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: there was no house finches or purple finches in the area. Female Cardinal on feeder at same time. Observed bird seemed a little larger than female Cardinal. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Jaeger species at Spirit Lake, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-17	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Jaeger species bird at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on November 17, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Jaegers	Spirit Lake	Spirit L., Dickinson Co., IA	large lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James J. Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of size, dark coloration, and white in the primary shafts eliminated the possibility of a juvenile gull. Despite the great distance and lack of a good view of the wing pattern, I believe the bird was a Pomarine Jaeger. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:45:00/14:43:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Rare bird documentation form for Tundra Swan at Spirit Lake, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Tundra Swans at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on December 19, 1998.	Harr, Douglas C.	Tundra Swan	Little Spirit Lake Wildlife Management Area	Spirit Lake	On Ice at Grovers Lake W.M.A.	The documentation form by Douglas C. Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lee Schoenewe and Ed Thelen. \| Elimination of similar species: Differentiated from local Trumpeters by obvious yellow patch on bill of adult.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-12-23	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll at Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery in Dickinson County, IA on December 23, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Hoary Redpoll	Spirit Lake	Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery	Open area along spillway between Spirit Lake + E. Okoboji Lake	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Redpolls by close comparison. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Spirit Lake, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-06-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on June 28, 1999.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Red-throated Loon	Spirit Lake	Spirit Lake, Dickinson County	open water	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon + Pacific Loon - size, upturned bill & brownish, speckled neck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:35:00/16:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Mini-Wakan State Park, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-09-06	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Mini-Wakan State Park in Dickinson County, IA on September 6, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bangma, Jim Johnson, Ann	California Gull	Mini Wakan State Park	Spirit Lake, north end, Dickinson Co., IA	Lakeshore	The documentation form by Jim Bangma and Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring-billed is ruled out by the solid gray mantle combined with the extensive molt of the flight feathers. Ring-bills and similar 3 year gulls obtain the gray mantle during a post-juvenal molt. Flight feathers are not molted at this time. Flight feathers are molted after one year, at which time the body of a Ring-bill would be much whiter. Also, the mantle was a much darker shade of gray than any Ring-bill present. Additionally, Ring-billed Gull's bill is proportionally smaller and thinner, with more curve. Herring Gull would be larger. The mantle of a Herring Gull would be paler gray, nearly the same shade as that of the Ring-bills. The bill would be proportionally heavier with a more marked gonydeal angle. Herring Gulls may show a black tipped bill, but the black normally blends into the pink of the base or runs in along the cutting edges of the bill. The bill and legs would be brighter pink. Other similarly sized extralimitals can be ruled out by the mantle color as well as bill pattern and shape. A striking feature of this bird was its leg length. In an effort to better understand this, Bangma paid a visit to the American Museum of Natural History and examined specimens of Herring, Ring-billed and California Gulls. Measurements were made of a representative selection of specimens. The following chart shows the results. [Chart] While there is some overlap between these species, it is interesting to note that the breaking point between California Gull and the other two is very near the ratio of 1.5. While not diagnostic by itself, the length of this bird's tarsus relative to the culmen as estimated by us in the field is indicative of California Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-06-16	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at the southeastern corner of Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on June 16, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, sight record, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Huser, Bill F.	Laughing Gull	Black Hawk Lake	spoil area SE of Blackhawk Lake, Sac County, IA	shallow water and sandflats	The documentation form by Bill Huser forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Rob Thelen and Peter Ernzen were submitted. Other observers include Jerry Probst. \| Elimination of similar species: the black head eliminated most gulls. Size, and other features, eliminated Little and Bonaparte's Gulls. Size, bill size, leg color and lack of white on primaries eliminated Franklin's Gulls. Common Black-headed Gulls were eliminated by the black, not brown, hood, black legs and lack of white on dorsal wing. Sabine's was eliminated by the bill color, size and lack of white on dorsal wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 08:00:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Rare bird documentation form for Ross' Goose at Spring Lake Park in Cherokee, 1987	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-04-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Ross' Goose at Spring Lake Park in Cherokee in Cherokee County, IA on April 28, 1987.	Bierman, Dick	Ross' Goose	Spring Lake Park	Spring Lake Park Cherokee, Cherokee County	Large Gravel Pit Park with many Ducks & Geese	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Snow Goose. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	28
Rare bird documentation form for Hudsonian Godwit at Spring Run, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-10-19	1995-12-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hudsonian Godwit at Spring Run in Dickinson County, IA on October 19, 1995. Letter from Ed Thelen to Tom Kent about a video of the sighting on unknown date.	Thelen, Ed	Hudsonian Godwit	Spring Run Complex Wildlife Management Area	Spring Run - Dickinson County	Wetlands - mudflat	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White rump eliminated marbled godwit.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	13
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Spring Run Wetland Area - Lair Tract, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-11-08	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Spring Run Wetland Area - Lair Tract in Dickinson County, IA on November 8, 1998.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Spring Run Wetland Complex, Lair Tract	Spring Run area just east of landfill, Dickinson Co.	Open field - corn stubble	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ed Thelen. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull/California Gull by mantle color: Great-black-backed/Western/Slaty-backed by streaking on head + neck \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Camp Wesley Woods, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Camp Wesley Woods in Warren County, IA on January 30, 1983.	Sinclair, Jim	Northern Goshawk	Camp Wesley Woods	Squaw Creek Valley immediately west of Camp Wesley Woods in Warren County - White Oak Twp ca 5 mi ssw of Indianola	Brushy Cover across crop field to river bottom	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Paul Regnier. \| Elimination of similar species: Cooper's Hawk eliminated by the light breast. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:35:00/10:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned) in Sioux City, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-18	1998-01-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned) in Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on December 18, 1997.	Huser, Bill F.	Prairie Falcon	St. Joseph Hospital (historical)	St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned), Sioux City, Woodbury, IA	tall brick buildings with broken windows providing roosting sites for hundreds of Rock Doves. Numerous perches and open space for flight.	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jerry Probst and Bob Moritz. \| Elimination of similar species: The distinct tear marks eliminated all hawks but falcons and also eliminated the Merlin. Long wings, relative to the tail, and body size eliminated Gyrfalcon. Size and direct comparison eliminated Kestrel. Lack of dark "helmet" eliminated Peregrine Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:45:00/16:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rufous Hummingbird at St. Olaf, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-07-29	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rufous Hummingbird at St. Olaf in Clayton County, IA on July 29, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee in the form of a letter from Larry Stone to James Dinsmore.	Stone, Larry	Rufous Hummingbird	Saint Olaf	St. Olaf		The documentation form by Larry Stone is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The distinctive bird had rusty-bronze plumage on its back, tail and head. (The contrast with the emerald-green ruby-throats that had been using the feeder was obvious.) The gorget was bright, and more orange than on ruby-throats. The rufous also seemed plumper than a ruby-throat. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	24
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at State Center, 1981	Field notes	Bird feeders Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-03-08	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Grosbeak at State Center in Marshall County, IA on March 8, 1981.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Pine Grosbeak	State Center	State Center, Marshall Co., Iowa	General: residential Specific: Home of Jim and Dorothy Marsh, State Center	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Shires, Michael Newlon, Calvin Knight, Bernie Knight, Jim Marsh, Dorothy Marsh, and Carl Kurtz. \| Elimination of similar species: Thick, uncrossed bill and chunky shape eliminate White-winged Crossbill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:55:00/08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Semipalmated Sandpiper at Fairport State Fish Hatchery, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-10-21	1983-10-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Fairport State Fish Hatchery in Muscatine County, IA on October 21, 1983.	Robinson, John C., 1959-	Semipalmated Sandpiper	Fairport State Fish Hatchery	State Fish Hatchery, Fairport, Iowa, Muscatine County	Drained fish hatchery pond along the Mississippi River. Exposed mudflats and shallow water with algae present in a drained fish hatchery pond.	The documentation form by John C. Robinson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White-rumped Sandpiper has a white rump; Least Sandpiper usually has a distinct breast band, yellowish legs and browner body plumage; Western Sandpiper's bill length averages longer, with a droop at the end, and this species also tends to have rufous traces in the scapulars in the late fall. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:40:00/12:52:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	17
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at State Forest Nursery, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-03-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at State Forest Nursery in Ames in Story County, IA on March 2, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Merlin	Iowa State Nursery	State Forest Nursery in Ames, Story County, Iowa	Tree nursery	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore and Gordon Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - has rusty back. Tail more or less rusty. Has obvious dark markings on lite face. female has rusty wings - male bluish wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:10:00/17:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at State Forest Nursery, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-02-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at State Forest Nursey in Ames in Story County, IA on February 28, 1985.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Merlin	Iowa State Nursery	State Forest Nursery, Ames	flushed out of a row of Pine trees	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Sharp-shinned Hawk eliminated by lack of narrow pointed wings, heavily streaked underparts. Am. Kestrel eliminated because this bird had no red on back or tail. This bird also had a uniformly dark colored back unlike Am. Kestrel. Am. Kestrel also lacks the strongly barred tail this bird exhibited. This bird also lacked strong facial pattern of Am. Kestrel. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/16:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-rumped Warbler at State Forest Nursery in Ames, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1987-08-23	1987-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-rumped Warbler at State Forest Nursey in Ames in Story County, IA on August 23, 1987.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Iowa State Nursery	State Forest Nursery, Ames	area with many pine plantings	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Paul Martsching. \| Elimination of similar species: The yellow rump, yellow patch under each wing, brownish color, large size, and distinctive chip note eliminates all other warblers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	26
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at State Forest Nursery in Ames, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-15	1986-10-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at State Forest Nursery in Ames in Story County, IA on September 15, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pine Warbler	Iowa State Nursery	State Forest Nursery, Ames	large pine planting	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Bay-breasted Warbler was eliminated by the unstreaked back, the pronounced eyering, the large bill, and very brown underparts. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29