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

Iowa RBA, February 9, 1998	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-02-09	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email for the Iowa RBA for February 9, 1998. Highlights include Common Raven, Snowy Owl, Common and Hoary Redpolls, California, Glaucous and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Eurasian Collared Dove. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Eurasian Collared Dove Common Redpoll Snowy Owl California Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Common Raven Hoary Redpoll Glaucous Gull Northern Saw-whet Owl	Clay County Grinnell Lake Red Rock Lake Manawa Muscatine Lock and Dam 16				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Raven at Lake Manawa State Park, 1998	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-02-05	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Raven at Lake Manawa State Park in Pottawattamie County, IA on February 5, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Bunnimit, Manit	Common Raven	Lake Manawa State Park	[...] Lake Manawa State Park, near Council Bluffs, IA. [...] was travelling south on the road that follows the west edge of Lake Manawa.		The documentation letter by Manit Bunnimit is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It flew for most of the time by soaring with its wings held very flat, only twice flapping its wings momentarily (shallow wingbeats) and once folding its wings rather tightly and gliding. All of the crows I have seen flap steadily, gliding only occasionally. [...] It could not have been mistaken even for the tails of the occasional American Crows that appear quite rounded. The sheer size of the bird and the wedge-shaped tail were enough to distinguish it from any of the crows, but what about the Chihuahuan Raven? Fortunately, as it flew by, the bird made two brief call notes that were very hoarse (sounding much more like grrrawgk than the gaw of the American Crow), and much deeper than the Chihuahuan Raven that I heard in northern Texas. However, because it has been a few years since I had seen or heard the Chihuahuan, I decided to double check the calls on a tape I had at home. The tape and I agree that the call was that of a Common Raven. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:10:00/11:11:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	47
Iowa RBA, February 2, 1998	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-02-02	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email for the Iowa RBA for February 2, 1998. Highlights include Prairie Falcon, Glaucous Gull, and Eurasian Collared Dove. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Prairie Falcon Carolina Wren Eurasian Collared Dove Mute Swan Trumpeter Swan Merlin Eurasian Tree Sparrow Glaucous Gull Winter Wren	Big Marsh Wildlife Area Burlington Cedar Falls Green Castle Recreation Area Grinnell Sioux City Lock and Dam 16 Dankwardt Memorial Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
Iowa RBA, January 26, 1998	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-01-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email for the Iowa RBA for January 26, 1998. Highlights include Snowy Owl, Varied Thrush, Glaucous Gull, Thayer's Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Eurasian Collared Dove. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Ferruginous Hawk Thayer's Gull Varied Thrush Eurasian Collared Dove White-winged Crossbill Snowy Owl Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Pileated Woodpecker	Cerro Gordo County Fort Defiance State Park Grinnell Lock and Dam 15 West Branch Fairmont Cemetery				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
1-25-98 Savannah Sparrow Warren Co.	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds	1998-01-25	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field report from Aaron Brees for a Savannah Sparrow in Warren County, IA on January 25, 1998.	Brees, Aaron	Savannah Sparrow	Warren County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	55
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie at Loess Hills in northwest Plymouth County, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-24	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for three Black-billed Magpies at Loess Hills in northwest Plymouth County, IA on January 24, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Smith, Brian L.	Black-billed Magpie	Plymouth County	Northwest Plymouth County	Loess Hills (prairie)	The documentation form by Brian L. Smith is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Mike Martin. \| Elimination of similar species: nothing similar w/ long tail + white wing patches.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Iowa RBA, January 19, 1998	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-01-19	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email for the Iowa RBA for January 19, 1998. Highlights include Varied Thrush, Dickcissel, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Carolina Wren and Winter Wren. Includes hand written notes in preparation for next week's update.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Varied Thrush Carolina Wren Eurasian Collared Dove White-winged Crossbill Dickcissel Eurasian Tree Sparrow Fox Sparrow Golden-crowned Kinglet Winter Wren	Burlington Dickinson County Grinnell Lake Darling State Park Lake Park Mason City Muscatine West Branch Clinton County Dankwardt Memorial Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Three-toed Woodpecker north of Iowa City, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-13	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Three-toed Woodpecker north of Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 13, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thompson, Joan	Three-toed Woodpecker	Iowa City	14 Woodland Heights North of Iowa City IA, off N Dubuque St, off Stewart Road	suet feeder in heavily wooded lot with much woodpecker activity of all common Iowa species.	The documentation form by Joan Thompson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I have not seen any similar species. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	29
Iowa RBA, January 12, 1998	Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-01-12	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa RBA for January 12, 1998. Highlights include Lesser Black-backed Gull, Glaucous Gull, and Thayer's Gull.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull Mute Swan White-winged Crossbill Trumpeter Swan Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Hermit Thrush Gray Catbird Yellow-rumped Warbler	Decorah Lake Red Rock Mason City White Wildlife Area Fraser Carroll City Cemetery Springfield Church				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Summer Tanager at Iowa City, 1998	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-11	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Summer Tanager at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 11, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo, an article in Field Notes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an e-mail from Mary E. Noble to Jim Fuller, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Summer Tanager	Iowa City	315 S. 7th Ave. Iowa City, Iowa	Urban area, small back yard with several feeders and brush cover.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted later. Other observers include Mary Noble and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: The overall coloration and plainness indicate a female or immature bird. The lack of prominent gray in the auriculars and light bill color argue against Hepatic Tanager. The bill length, head shape, and relative paleness of the wings favor Summer Tanager over Scarlet Tanager. The lack of prominent wing bars appears to exclude Western Tanager. The apparent lack of orange tint suggest a bird from the West or perhaps an immature. The Summer Tanager photographed at Pleasant Valley in Scott County on 2 December 1990 was more orange-yellow than the Iowa City bird. The latest Midwest record for Scarlet Tanager in books of these states was 26 Nov in Minnesota. There are a few winter records of Summer Tanager: in Tennessee (4) 5, 18, 21 Dec and 2 Feb-15 Mar; in Michigan 1 Dec; in Missouri 3-10 Jan 1987. There are also winter records from Florida and the Texas Coast. This does not constitute an exhaustive search for winter records. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/08:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	28
Iowa RBA, January 5, 1998	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-01-05	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email for the Iowa RBA for January 5, 1998. Highlights include Prairie Falcon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Glaucous Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Thayer's Gull.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Prairie Falcon Thayer's Gull Carolina Wren Eurasian Collared Dove White-winged Crossbill Merlin Lesser Black-backed Gull Eurasian Tree Sparrow Black-crowned Night Heron Glaucous Gull	Cedar Lake Grinnell Iowa City Marshalltown Red Rock Dam Saylorville Lake Wanata State Park Aspen Grove Cemetery Graceland Park Cemetery				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
Iowa RBA, January 4, 1998	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1998-01-04	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email for the Iowa RBA for January 4, 1998. Highlights include Spotted Towhee, Thayer's Gull and Long-tailed Duck. Includes updates for January 6, 1998 and January 7, 1998.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull Rusty Blackbird Brown Thrasher Long-tailed Duck Trumpeter Swan Merlin Spotted Towhee Tundra Swan	Clive Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area Iowa City Polk County Red Rock Dam Sioux Center Boone County Fairfield Swan Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	44	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-crowned Night-Heron at Cedar Lake, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-02	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-crowned Night-Heron at Cedar Lake in Linn County, IA on January 2, 1998. Includes one record review document with votes and a documentation form.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black-crowned Night Heron	Cedar Lake	Cedar Lake, Cedar Rapis, Linn Co., IA	Large round backwater lake kept open by output from Quaker Oats Plant. The lake was half frozen two days ago, but two warm days made it ice free.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The short legs and large rounded head with thick neck are the main features that distinguish immature Black-crowned from Yellow-crowned Night-Herons. The round white dots on the upper wing are supposed to be more prominent on the Black-crowned, but this is difficult for me to judge. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:05:00/13:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Virginia Rail at Brown's Lake in Woodbury County, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-01	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Virginia Rail at Brown's Lake in Woodbury County, IA on January 1, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Virginia Rail	Browns Lake	Brown's L., Woodbury Co., IA	marsh with open water	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was much too small to be a King Rail. Bill shape and pattern on the underparts eliminated Sora, the only other likely species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:23:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	13
Rare bird documentation form for Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Merritt County Park, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-01-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Merritt County Park in Carroll County, IA on January 1, 1998.	Thelen, Rob	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Merritt County Park	Merritt Access Racoon [sic] River Carroll Co.	River bottom scattered dead tree + underbrush	The documentation form by Rob Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ed Thelen and Marty Thelen. \| Elimination of similar species: Golden Crowned Kinglet. This Kinglet had no Golden Crown [sic]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/11:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	4
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at YMCA Camp northwest of Boone, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-01-01	1998-01-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at YMCA Camp northwest of Boone in Boone County, IA on January 1, 1998.	Healy, Kevin	Golden Eagle	Y Camp	YMCA Camp northwest of Boone IA	Soaring above Des Moines River	The documentation form by Kevin Healy is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Turkey Vulture: similar in size, but flight different (i.e., this bird did not rock back and forth despite fairly stiff winds during time of observation). Also, wings were held flatter than what I expect for a Turkey Vulture. Harlan's Hawk: Breast and belly solid in color, no barring on tail, wing shape unlike that of Red-tailed Hawk. Size difference. Dark phase Rough-legged Hawk: No speckling on breast or belly, tail longer with thinner terminal band. Size difference. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/11:48:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Marsh Wren at Brown's Lake in Woodbury County, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-01	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Marsh Wrens at Brown's Lake in Woodbury County, IA on January 1, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Marsh Wren	Browns Lake	Brown's L., Woodbury Co., IA	marsh with open water	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Both birds were clearly wrens. I would have been very surprised if they had been any wren species other than Marsh or Sedge in this habitat. The combination of a white eyeline, dark mantle with thin white stripes, white throat and breast, and dark crown eliminated other wrens, especially Sedge Wren. I also recognized the chip note as that of a Marsh Wren. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/08:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	2
Iowa RBA, December 29, 1997	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1997-12-29	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Email of the Iowa RBA update for December 29, 1997. Highlights of the update include sightings of a Ross's Gull, a Prairie Falcon, Common Redpolls, White-winged Crossbills, and several additional species of Gulls. Also included are handwritten notes for the next week's update with sightings of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Snowy Owls, and Northern Saw-whet Owls.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, Charles R.	Prairie Falcon Thayer's Gull Ross's Gull Rusty Blackbird American White Pelican White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Snowy Owl Long-tailed Duck Trumpeter Swan Lesser Black-backed Gull Marsh Wren Glaucous Gull Northern Saw-whet Owl Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Northern Shrike	Bettendorf Boone Clive Colo Council Bluffs Dubuque Lake Manawa State Park Lock and Dam 11 Lock and Dam Number 18 Nevada Red Rock Dam Woodbury County Black Hawk Lake Wright County Fort Madison Jewell Carroll Aurelia Aspen Grove Cemetery Monroe Macbride Nature Recreation Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	43	6
Rare bird documentation form for Hermit Thrush at Muscatine County, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hermit Thrush at Muscatine County, IA on December 28, 1997.	Blevins, Corey T.	Hermit Thrush	Muscatine County	Muscatine County, IA		The documentation form by Corey T. Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian Blevins, Lewis Blevins, and Catherine Bland. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	9
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull south of Muscatine, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull south of Muscatine in Muscatine County, IA on December 28, 1997.	McKay, Kelly	Thayer's Gull	Muscatine	just south of Muscatine, IA., Muscatine county standing on ice shelves.		The documentation form by Kelly J. McKay is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Gerry White. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was about the size of a herring gull (slightly smaller), but much paler.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-27	1997-12-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on December 27, 1997.	Proescholdt, Mark	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Red Rock Dam	Below dam at Red Rock - (Marion County)	Gravel Bar below dam and churning water	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dale Fye, Helen Fye, Pat Miller, and many others. \| Elimination of similar species: The other black mantled gulls (Great Black-backed, Slaty-backed, Western, and Yellow-footed) are all much larger than this gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:20:00/11:10:00 and 13:30:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Andover, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-27	1998-01-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Andover in Clinton County, IA on December 27, 1997.	Blevins, Brian L.	Merlin	Andover	Andover, IA. Jackson Co. Iowa	Open country, the bird was in only tree at farm house were he was watching smaller birds at a pole birdfeeder.	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Corey Blevins and Ann Barker. \| Elimination of similar species: Eliminate Kestrel by size and coloring. Eliminate Peregrine by size and lack of dark head cap. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:23:00/09:24:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Tundra Swan at Thomson Causeway, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-27	1998-01-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for over two hundred Tundra Swans at Thomson Causeway in Carroll County, IL on December 27, 1997.	McKay, Kelly	Tundra Swan	Thomson	Mississippi River out from Thomson Causeway; Carroll County	open water in the middle of the river, surrounded by iced-over stump fields.	The documentation form by Kelly McKay is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pat Carlson, Fred Lesher, and Carol Rogers. \| Elimination of similar species: Mute Swan - has knobbed bill which is pinkish-orange. Trumpeter Swan - most have wing or neck bands, tend to occur in lesser numbers. Also, no curve from bill to forehead. Snow Goose - much smaller, with black primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Marsh Wren at New Lake, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-27	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for three Marsh Wrens at New Lake in Woodbury County, IA on December 27, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Huser, Bill F.	Marsh Wren	New Lake	New Lake, Woodbury County, IA	Cattail marsh with open water	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Shawn Pfautsch. \| Elimination of similar species: Call note and appearance indicated a wren. White supercilliary eliminated House Wren and Winter Wren. Black cap eliminated those two plus Carolina and Bewick's Wren. The lack of crown streaking eliminated Sedge Wren. Habitat was a strong indicator of Marsh Wren and a detraction from all others except, perhaps, a Sedge Wren. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	2
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Ross's Gull at Lake Manawa, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-27	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ross's Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 27, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Ross's Gull	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa		The documentation form by Babs and Loren Padelford forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ross Silcock, Duane E. Bright, Stephen J. Dinsmore, and Jerry Probst and Bill Huser were submitted. Other observers include Gordon Brown, Sandra Kovanda, Jim Kovanda, R. Craig Hensley, and other unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Since it was the only gull on the lake, the only birds to compare it with were Ruddy Ducks which appeared smaller and a drake Common Merganser which was larger than the gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00 and 15:15:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	11