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

Tom Nigus letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding bird sightings, November 30, 1977	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification	1977-11-30	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes contributed by Tom Nigus in a letter to Nicholas S. Halmi with observers Darwin Koenig, Lynn Braband, Tom Pray and others. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of fall 1977.	Nigus, Thomas A.	Rough-legged Hawk American Bittern Pied-billed Grebe American White Pelican Greater Yellowlegs Black-crowned Night Heron Osprey Lesser Yellowlegs American Coot Northern Harrier	Ames Big Wall Lake Wildlife Management Area Elk Lake Hendrickson Marsh Lake Ruthven Saylorville Lake Mud Lake Manson				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Carolina Chickadee at Iowa in 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird banding Birds--Identification Rare birds	1977-12-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for six Carolina Chickadees at Iowa in 1975. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Annotated List of Foray Birds in Iowa Bird Life 47:123-132 by W.Ross Silcock.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Carolina Chickadee	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	48
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Carolina Chickadee at Iowa in 1976	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird banding Birds--Identification Rare birds	1977-12-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for five Carolina Chickadees at Iowa in 1976. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Annotated List of Foray Birds in Iowa Bird Life 47:123-132 by W. Ross Silcock.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Carolina Chickadee	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	48
Possible Immature Trumpeter Swan in Fremont County,1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1977-12-29	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Documentation of a rare bird sighting by Ross Silcock and Clifford Moles for a Trumpeter Swan at Riverton Game Management Area in Fremont County, IA on December 18, 1977.	Silcock, W. Ross	Trumpeter Swan	Riverton Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	30
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Larrabee, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-02	1978-01-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Pine Grosbeaks at Larrabee in Cherokee County, IA on January 2, 1978.	Brewer, Marion M.	Pine Grosbeak	Larrabee	4 E, 1 S of Larrabee, Ia	In large forest, ash, oak + Etc, Snow on Ground + very cold	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include one unidentified non-birder observer. \| Elimination of similar species: Larger the purple Finch. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Varied Thrush at Long Grove, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-02	1978-02-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Varied Thrush at the Laglin addition of Long Grove in Scott County, IA on approximately January 2, 1978.	Ferleman, Paul	Varied Thrush	Long Grove	Laglin Addition - Long Grove Iowa	undetermined (his yard - grass + scattered oaks)	The documentation form by Paul Ferleman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jo Ann Ferleman and Marge Hansen. \| Elimination of similar species: Similar to thrushes but with dark breast band and lines over eyes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:15:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Pine Grosbeaks at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 12, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Pine Grosbeak	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City, Johnson Co Iowa	General: on edge of small forested areas, mostly deciduous with some pine plantings. Specific: Hickory Hill is about 100 acres of undeveloped park land with a creek + several branches running through it. Forested and grassy area are interspersed.	The documentation form by Richard J. DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing else looks much like the female plumaged pine grosbreaks. Evening grosbeaks have larger beaks + shorter tails. Crossbills have crossed bills. Female purple finches lack wingband and the olive coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:12:00 and 09:40:00/09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Pine Grosbeaks at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 13, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Pine Grosbeak	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City	[illegible] open and tree edge with small stand of pine trees	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Staudt and Richard DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: none \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:40:00/08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bohemian Waxwing at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 13, 1978.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Bohemian Waxwing	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City, Iowa	General: City park Specific: shallow ravine with deciduous and coniferous plantings	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cedar Waxwing close, good comparison of a) size; b) whitish undertail coverts in C.W.; C) lack of white on wing in C.W. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:18:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16
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
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
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
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 Buffalo Creek Conservation Area in 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1978-02-28	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two to five Hoary Redpolls at Buffalo Creek Conservation Area in Kossuth County, IA on February 12, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the field notes submitted by Ray Cummins, and referenced in the publication Field Reports in Iowa Bird Life 48(1):47-52 by Nicholas S. Halmi.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Hoary Redpoll	Buffalo Creek State Game Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll north of Graettinger in 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1978-02-28	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll north of Graettinger in Palo Alto County, IA on February 5, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the field notes submitted by Ray Cummins, and referenced in the publication Field Reports in Iowa Bird Life 48(1):47-52 by Nicholas S. Halmi.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Hoary Redpoll	Graettinger				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-backed Woodpecker at Mason City in 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1978-03-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Black-backed Woodpecker at Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on January 7, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication 1977 Ia. Christmas Bird Count Summary in Iowa Bird Life 48:30-43 by Ross Silcock.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Black-backed Woodpecker	Mason City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	30
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Trumpeter Swan at Riverton Area in 1977	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1978-03-01	1994-02-03	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Trumpeter Swan at Riverton in Fremont County, IA on December 18, 1977. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Possible immature Trumpeter Swan in Fremont County in Iowa Bird Life 48:52-53 by W.R. Silcock seen by Clifford Miles as well.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Trumpeter Swan	Riverton Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
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
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