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

Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-05-05	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 5, 1979.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh, Tripoli, Iowa	A grassey [sic] marsh area along edge of a pond. This area had an average water depth of four inches. The size of the grassey [sic] marsh is about half an acre and is located in and area of extensive cattail marsh and wet meadows.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-05-26	1979-05-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 26, 1979.	Myers, Robert K.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh		The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: We have similarly flushed many soras this spring and at first glance the very buffy (yellowish) undersides made me think of a immature sora. However, this rail was smaller than a sora and had a very dark (almost black) back. Along the trailing edge of each wing out from the body about 2" and about 1/2" wide (maybe wider) was a white bar. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-29	1978-04-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 29, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh, which is located one mile East of Tripoli, Bremer County, IA.	The area of Sweet Marsh where the bird was flushed had a water depth of about two feet. Many large and small clumps of grass covered mounds of earth, there was a shallow marshy spot that was heavily vegitated. Otherwise the area surrounding sighting was similar. This type of habitat covered several acres. The grasses were mostly remanent [sic] of last years growth, with new sprouts over a foot in height. The water was slightly stagnant, and water level was slightly higher than normal because of recent rains.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I can think of no species of bird of similar size with a white patch on hind wing. Other rails would be uniform dark and larger. Perching birds such as a Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza gerogiana) have long tails. Extreme comparisons could be made with Common Snipe (Capella gallinago) which is long billed, has pointed wings, and has a rapid zig-zag flying style. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Swan Lake, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-04-28	1980-05-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on April 28, 1980.	Glasson, Marilyn Smith	Yellow Rail	Swan Lake	Marshy area about 1/2 mi. NE Swan Lake. N of Swan Lake Road S of Pine Stand	marsh; noted no plant species First flushed from drier grassy area (I didn't see) 2nd time flushed from water edge to dry grass area	The documentation form by Marilyn Smith Glasson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: The Sora is the only other bird that is similar. It has no white on its wings. I've never noticed back striping to be so evident. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:30:00/08:00:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Swan Lake in 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-04-28	1980-05-05	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on April 28, 1980.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Yellow Rail	Swan Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Sugarbottom Recreation Area at Coralville Reservoir, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-09-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sugarbottom Recreation Area at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 22, 1991.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Yellow Rail	Sugar Bottom Recreation Area	Coralville Reservoir (Sugarbottom recreation area..see map on back), Johnson Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Large white wing patches are diagnostic. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Snake Creek Marsh, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-09-20	1991-09-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for one to two Yellow Rails at Snake Creek Marsh in Greene County, IA on September 20 and September 21, 1991.	Fuller, James L	Yellow Rail	Snake Creek State Game Management Area	Snake Creek Marsh (Greene County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Sinclair, Pam Allen, Reid Allen, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: [first sighting] The first bird appeared to be smaller than the second, and had white wing patches along the trailing edge, which I could not see on the second bird. I identified the first bird as a yellow rail, and the second as a sora. [...] [second sighting] This bird certainly was smaller than any of the six soras we flushed previously and later, and the white wing patches were very obvious \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:35:00 on September 20 and 08:30:00 on September 21.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Snake Creek Marsh, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-04-03	1986-04-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Snake Creek Marsh in Greene County, IA on April 3, 1986.	Myers, Robert K.	Yellow Rail	Snake Creek State Game Management Area	Snake Creek Marsh - Greene County	wet grassy area at edge of cattails	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White patches on wings separate from other rails. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:30:00/18:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Snake Creek Marsh, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-09-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Snake Creek Marsh in Greene County, IA on September 30, 1985.	Myers, Robert K.	Yellow Rail	Snake Creek State Game Management Area	Snake Creek Marsh - Greene County	marsh, bull rush + duck weed	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: White wing patches eliminates sora. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 14:30:00/14:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Otter Creek Marsh in 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-05-06	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on May 6, 1994.	Fuller, James L	Yellow Rail	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Muskrat Slough, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Muskrat Slough in Jones County, IA on May 1, 1982.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Yellow Rail	Muskrat Slough State Game Management Area	Muskrat S. Jones Co IA	Marsh	The documentation form by T.H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Bendorf, Tom Staudt, and James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora: white wing patches, smaller, lighter tan color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:10:00/07:10:10.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Muskrat Slough in 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-01	1982-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Muskrat Slough in Jones County, IA on May 1, 1982.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Yellow Rail	Muskrat Slough State Game Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at McIntosh Wildlife Area, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-14	1984-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at McIntosh Wildlife Area in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 14, 1984.	Hansen, James L.	Yellow Rail	McIntosh Woods State Park	McIntosh Wildlife Area, 1 mi. E of Ventura, Cerro Gordo County	brome uplands	The documentation form by James L. Hansen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ronald D. Andrews. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora, Virginia rail - Both too dark and lack white wing patches. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Larson's Marsh, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Larson's Marsh in Story County, IA on September 23, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Yellow Rail	Larson Marsh	Larson's Marsh, Story Co.	wet, grassy area along edge of marsh	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: All other rails eliminated by the white wing patches. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Dugout Creek Waterfowl Production Area, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-10-05	1994-10-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Dugout Creek Waterfowl Production Area in Dickinson County, IA on October 5, 1994.	Harr, Douglas C.	Yellow Rail	Dugout Creek Wildlife Management Area	Dugout Creek Waterfowl Production ARea [sic], 3 mi. SE of Lake Park, Dickinson Co.	sedge mat zone of a glacial fen, near banks of Dugout Creek	The documentation form by Douglas C. Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Station Evaluation Team. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora--larger, darker, commonly seen in area wetlands. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:10:00/14:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-05-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on May 7, 1986.	Martsching, Paul	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie, Story County	wet prairie	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John E. Mayfield. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora does not have white patches on top side of wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:20:00/15:20:20.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-04-28	1985-04-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Yellow Rails in two separate sightings at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on April 28, 1985.	Dinsmore, James J.	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie, Story County	both flushed from along edge of small pothole, prairie areas around both potholes had been burned, one recently, other several weeks ago	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore, George Brown, Gordon Brown, Paul Martsching, and John Mayfield. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora-overall coloration and the wing patches \| The original documentation form event occurred at 10:30:00 for the first sighting and 11:30:00 for the second sighting.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-04-28	1985-04-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Yellow Rails at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on April 28, 1985.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	DooLittle Prairie, Story County		The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Dinsmore, George Brown, Gordon Brown, Paul Martsching. \| Elimination of similar species: other rails by white wing patches and yellowish color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie State Preserve, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-08	1983-05-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie State Preserve in Story County, IA on May 8, 1983.	Armstrong, Eugene	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie north of Ames, Iowa	prairie marsh	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong and Dennis Thompson. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora. smaller, yellow, white wing patches. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie in 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-04-28	1985-05-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for two Yellow Rails at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on April 28, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie in 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-06	1984-05-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on May 6, 1984.	Mayfield, John E.	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Conesville Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two or three Yellow Rails at Conesville Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Yellow Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Conesville Marsh Louisa County IA	hay field with scattered marshy areas in it	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Newlon, Rich DeCoster and Tom Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-04	1983-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on May 4, 1983.	White, Gerald	Yellow Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Field on East and end of North dike at Cone Marsh	Wet, grassy field (10" grass)	The documentation form by Gerald White is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tim Dwyer. \| Elimination of similar species: No other rail has white on the wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:00:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-30	1978-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Yellow Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co., Iowa	alfalfa field bordered to w. and s. by ledges + more fields; to n, second-growth woods; to e., extensive area of woods and marsh.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent, Thomas Staudt, Rich DeCoster, Nicholas Halmi, Carol Newlon, and Thomas Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora-like build, yellow-ochre underparts, white patch on wings, eliminate all other rails. Imm. sora would lack yellow beneath + white wing patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Cherokee Fair Grounds in 1987	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Zoological specimens	1987-10-20	1994-08-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Cherokee Fair Grounds in Cherokee County, IA on October 20, 1987. It is accompanied by a letter from Dick Beirman to Tom Kent about the sighting and bird specimen, August 31, 1994.	Bierman, Dick	Yellow Rail	Cherokee County Fairground				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39