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

Breeding Evidence Observations, Bob Cecil, 1985	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Breeding Birds--Identification Rare birds	1985-06-20	1985-07-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes about Worm-eating Warbler breeding habits at the Croton Unit in Shimek State Forest in Lee County, IA from June 20 to July 16, 1985. This document is related a letter and field notes by Bob Cecil: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/3902/view.	Cecil, Robert I.	Worm-eating Warbler	Shimek State Forest Wildlife Management Area - Croton Unit				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	36
A ten year calendar of three hundred and eighty-one wild birds of Iowa	Checklists Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology--Bibliography	1919-04-25	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A notebook containing a checklist of birds and distributed to the Boy Scouts of Iowa at cost. In this notebook Philip DuMont recorded his bird sightings from 1918 to 1927.	Cole, Gertrude Mansfield Boy Scouts of America		Iowa				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	1	36
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Say's Phoebe at L & S quarry buildings in Appanoose County, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-12-17	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Say's Phoebe at L & S quarry buildings in Appanoose County, IA on December 17, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Say's Phoebe	L & W Quarries Inc	L & S quarry buildings, Appanoose Co.	Open country with and scattered groups of trees.	The documentation form by Ray Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Kay Malmberg, Katherine White, and Charles White. \| Elimination of similar species: none \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	37
John Bath letter to Thomas Kent regarding an Ovenbird sighting and birding in general, unknown date	Correspondence Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching Birds--Identification Rare birds	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from John Bath to Thomas Kent about seeing an Ovenbird in Ames from December 10 to January 10, unknown year. Bath also discusses other birds he'd recently seen.	Bath, John	Red-headed Woodpecker Northern Flicker Northern Cardinal Purple Finch House Finch Ovenbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Mourning Dove Downy Woodpecker	Ames				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	37
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Northern Goshawk, 1979-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1979-11-17	1983-12-18	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Northern Goshawk submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1979-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Northern Goshawk	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	37
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Le Conte's Sparrow at Brenton Slough, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-21	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Le Conte's Sparrow at Brenton Slough in Polk County, IA on December 21, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Trieff, Richard	Le Conte's Sparrow	Brenton Slough	Brenton Slough - west of Granger Iowa	rolling short grass field adjacent to pothole depression	The documentation form by Richard Trieff forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Sinclair was submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: Grasshopper sparrow - The bird I observed did not give the flat head appearance of a Grasshopper sparrow, had more distinctly striped appearance on its crown than a Grasshopper sparrow, and did not display the shy, secretive behavior of a Grasshopper sparrow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:30:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	37
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Le Conte's Sparrow at Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-02-25	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Le Conte's Sparrow at Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Jasper County, IA on February 25, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and field notes submitted to the committee.	Friedrick, Denise	Le Conte's Sparrow	Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge	[...] along Walnut Creek	[...] "Grass-riparian" area	The field notes by Denise Friedrick were the only ones submitted and form the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:52:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	37
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Say's Phoebe at Cone Marsh, 1992	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-16	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Say's Phoebes at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on May 16, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Durbin, James O.	Say's Phoebe	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh		The documentation form by James Durbin is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Cal Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: Other flycatchers \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	37
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher near Holstein, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-05-24	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher near Holstein in Ida County, IA on May 24, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Rector, Curtis L.	Vermilion Flycatcher	Holstein	1531 Harvest Avenue Holstein, Iowa 51025-8117		The documentation letter by Curtis L. Rector is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include his parents and nephew. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] But I could see right away that it wasn't a cardinal, as it lacked a crest, and it had dark feathers. [...] At this point, I thought it could be a Scarlet Tanager. [...] As I watched it, the bird was taking off from the grass, flying into the air to snatch an insect, then landing on a nearby fence. From this, I could tell it had to be a species of Flycatcher. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher at Sioux Center, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-06	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on May 6, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Vermilion Flycatcher	Sioux Center	In approximately the center of Harry Kuhl's farm, located at the east end of Sioux Center, Sioux Co., Iowa. The specific area in which we found the bird consists of wet bottomlands with creek and tall willows and many broken branches, snags, and stumps. The bird used snags and branches near and over the creek as perch. The lighting, provided by partly cloudy skies which gradually clouded over completely as the afternoon wore on, was excellent, as the sun was largely behind us. We observed the bird from distances varying between 20 feet and 60 yards.	[...] a section of tall trees, extensive shrub area, open fields, and in the center, surrounded by pasture land and agricultural fields, an area of wet bottomlands transversed by a creek (beaver occurs here) through a fairly open stand of tall black willows; broken limbs and snags are scattered throughout the area (see enclosed photographs).	The documentation form by John Van Dyk forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Gordon Brown was submitted. Other observers include Ken Venhuizen, Mike Van Dyk, Jan Van Dyk, and John Kevin Van Dyk. \| Elimination of similar species: This category hardly applies since a male Vermilion Flycatcher is quite unmistakable. If there is any bird with which it might possibly be confused -- perhaps at great distance -- it would be a Scarlet Tanager. However, our bird was much smaller, had no red on its back, had black patchy line through its eye, had a thin dark flycatcher bill instead of a light-colored tanager bill, and behaved like a flycatcher. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/17:00:00 on May 6, 1983 and 06:30:00/07:00:00 on May 7, 1983.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Common Grackle, 1979-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1979-11-17	1983-02-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Common Grackle submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1979-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Common Grackle	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher at Rice Lake, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-05-13	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher at Rice Lake in Worth County, IA on May 13, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Anderson, Gerald	Vermilion Flycatcher	Rice Lake	Worth County North Shore Rice Lake	Edge of Timber and marsh	The documentation form by Gerald Anderson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Curt Rector. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Smaller than cardinal \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher at Island View Park at Rathbun Lake, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-10-25	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher at Island View Park at Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County, IA on October 25, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, excerpts from Iowa Bird Life, an article in American Birds, two photographs, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Vermilion Flycatcher	Island View Park	Island View Park, Rathbun Resevoir, [sic] Appanoose Co.	open parkland, scattered trees along beach front	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Tom Johnson, Ray Cummins, Thomas H. Kent, and Jim Fuller were submitted. Other observers include Dot Cornett, Tim Schantz, Mary Montgomery, and many unidentified other observers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sharp-tailed Sparrow near Lost Lake, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-05-23	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sharp-tailed Sparrow near Lost Lake in Boone County, IA on May 23, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence regarding the review and sighting, a request for reconsideration of record, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brown, Gordon	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Lost Lake	Upper ledges at Lost Lake		The documentation form by Gordon Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was George Brown.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for White-crowned Sparrow at Cedar Rapids, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-06-23	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a White-crowned Sparrow at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on June 23, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bradley, Rob	White-crowned Sparrow	Cedar Rapids	S.W. Side Cedar Rapids - Residence	Back yard with Cedar and Maple trees	The documentation form by Rob Bradley is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Greg Plotz and Dawn Zimpfer. \| Elimination of similar species: White throated Sparrow Had no white throat and no yellow spot between eye + bill. On the white throats that don't show much, if any yellow, and a very dull white throat, the head is not as distincty [sic] marked with the black + white stripes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 20:00:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	39
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Pied-billed Grebe, 1979-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1979-06-01	1983-06-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Pied-billed Grebe submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1979-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Pied-billed Grebe	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	39
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Horned Grebe, 1928-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1928-06-11	1983-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Horned Grebe submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1928-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Horned Grebe	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	39
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Eared Grebe, 1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1983-04-13	1983-06-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Eared Grebe submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members in 1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Eared Grebe	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	39
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Western Grebe, 1938-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1938-03-29	1983-05-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Western Grebe submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1938-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location. Document titled "The blue list."	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Western Grebe	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	39
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Northern Shrike near Battle Creek, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-07-15	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Northern Shrike near Battle Creek in Ida County, IA on July 15, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	DeVore, Dawn L.	Northern Shrike	Battle Creek	Block 376 Ida County, 2.3 miles South on county pavement, South of Battle Creek, turn 1/2 mile East, turn North into field-lane, Ida County, Iowa.	Open farm land, a hay field on one side, and a corn field on the other side. The bird was along a fence row.	The documentation form by Dawn L. De Vore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Don Poggensee and Pam Poggensee. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerhead Shrike: On the bird that was seen the top of the bill was dark black and the bottom was a lighter in color. A Loggerhead has a completely black bill. The bird that was seen was a light gray, much lighter than a Loggerhead adult. The bird was not a juv. Loggerhead because the black patch on the head is very different than that of a Loggerhead. On a Loggerhead the black area or patch is very wide and runs along both over and under the eye, it also continues back toward the back of the head meeting up with the gray on the back of the birds head. On the bird that was seen the black area or patch did not run both over and under the eye, it only ran under the eye. Also the patch did not meet up with the gray on the back of the birds head, the black area was surrounded on three sides by white, never letting the black meet up with the gray. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/15:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	39
Philip DuMont telegram to Burt Gresham regarding Goose migration, March 18, 1938	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Migration	1938-03-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Telegram from Philip DuMont to Burt Gresham dated March 18, 1938. Philip DuMont reports on Snow and Blue Goose migration at Sand Lake Refuge and relays migration information from Omaha.	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996	Snow Goose Northern Pintail Mallard	Omaha Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	2	4
Philip DuMont telegram to Burt Gresham regarding Goose migration	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Migration	1936-03-01	1936-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Undated telegram from Philip DuMont to Burt Gresham. DuMont relays that Northbound geese where sighted at Mondamin Iowa and reports on Snow and Blue Goose migration at Sand Lake Refuge for Spring 1936.	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996	Snow Goose	Mondamin Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	2	4
Bird checklist, part 2 of 3, Woodward Hart Brown	Field notes	Bird watching Gruiformes \| Cranes, Rails, and Coots Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Pelecaniformes \| Pelicans, Cormorants, Darters, and Frigate-birds Podicipediformes \| Grebes Accipitridae \| Hawks and Eagles Falconiformes \| Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, Osprey, and Vultures Ciconiiformes \| Herons, Bitterns, Egrets, Ibises, and Storks Gaviiformes \| Loons Rallidae \| Rails Scolopacidae \| Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and allies Galliformes \| Quails, Pheasants, Turkeys, and Grouse	1946-01-01	1979-12-13	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Sighting notes for bird species compiled by Woodward Hart Brown with date of sightings. This document is part two of three and begins with the tabbed section labeled Divers and ends with the tabbed section labeled Rails/Sandpipers. This document continues: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/7966/view This document is continued by: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/8608/view	Brown, Woodward H.		Iowa				Woodward Hart Brown Papers \| MS 502	1	4
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Eastern Bluebird, 1977-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Nests Birds--Research	1977-09-01	1983-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Eastern Bluebird submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1977-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date and location. Document titled "The blue list."	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Eastern Bluebird	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	4
Philip DuMont telegram to Burt Gresham regarding Goose migration, Spring 1933	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Migration	1933-03-01	1933-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Telegram from Philip DuMont to Burt Gresham sent Spring 1933. DuMont responds to a request for information about Snow and Blue Goose migration by providing reports from the years 1933, 1932, and 1928. This document is in response to a letter from Gresham: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/3513/view	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996	Snow Goose Canada Goose	Sioux City Waubay National Wildlife Refuge Whiting				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	2	4