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 Brewer's Blackbird northwest of Mason City, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1998-10-13	1999-01-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for eight Brewer's Blackbirds northwest of Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on October 13, 1998.	Goranson, Rita	Brewer's Blackbird	Mason City	Wheelerwood Drive, north + west of Mason City, 1 mile before intersection with Killdeer Ave	River + trees on one side - farm land on other side	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Had been seeing grackles - a larger bird - larger tail. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for House Finch at Larchwood, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1988-05-13	1988-05-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a House Finch at Larchwood in Lyon County, IA on May 13, 1988.	Harr, Douglas C.	House Finch	Larchwood	Larchwood, Iowa (Lyon County)	In trees of neighborhood lawns	The documentation form by Douglas C. Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple Finch--has no streaked breast; color more pinkish-red and extends over entire head and neck. I have previously observed House Finches in the Seattle, WA., area. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:14:00/17:20:00 and occasionally throughout rest of evening.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	82
Rare bird documentation form for House Finch at Ames, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1985-07-08	1985-07-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a House Finch at Ames in Story County, IA on July 8, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	House Finch	Ames	Ames, Story County, Iowa	in town	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple Finch - male has a purplish or rosey [sic] red color & no streaking on breast; song is different \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:45:00/08:45:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	82
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at State Forest Nursery in Ames, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1986-08-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Grosbeak at State Forest Nursery in Ames in Story County, IA on August 24, 1986.	Munson, Erik	Pine Grosbeak	Iowa State Nursery	State Forest Nursery, Ames IA	extensive mixed conifer belts	The documentation form by Erik Munson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Crossbills, Evening Grosbeak by tail length, size. fem redwing by call, face, wingbars. Juv. towhee by bill, lack of white in wing, tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Ames, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1981-02-28	1981-03-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Grosbeak at Ames in Story County, IA on February 28, 1981.	Dinsmore, James J. Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pine Grosbeak	Ames	Story County, Ames, 4024 Arkansas Drive	General: Urban, sat in tree and then Specific: on wire, finally flew toward nearby wooded creek bottom area	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore and James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple Finch-too large and had distinct wing bars Redpoll- again too large, no distinct red cap Cardinal-no crest, body too chunky, bill not red, too much red on body for female for all three, the calls were not correct \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:10:00/07:20:00.	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 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 Great-tailed Grackle at MidAmerican Energy Ponds, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1993-06-20	1993-06-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for at least five Great-tailed Grackles at MidAmerican Energy Ponds at Pottawattamie County, IA on June 20, 1993. There are details of another sighting of another Great-tailed Grackle near Osceola in Clark County, IA on June 26, 1993 on the documentation form.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Great-tailed Grackle	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	South IPL pond, Pottawattamie County, Iowa (4+ males, 1 female); along Hwy. 2 in Nebraska City bridge area, Fremont County, Iowa (1 male)	[...] Observed in cattails at edge of IPL pond in Pottawattamie County [...]	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 23, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Great-tailed Grackle	Council Bluffs	Off I-29 at south Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa.		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) with more rounded crown, characteristic call notes, much less likely to occur in Iowa. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) much smaller, different call notes, female lacks rich brown foreparts and superciliary stripe. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00/09:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Wapello Township in Louisa County, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-04-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle at Wapello Township in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1992.	Ohde, Bill	Great-tailed Grackle	Wapello Township	SE 1/4 of section 19, T74N, R4W, Louisa County, Iowa	Rural farmstead on edge of large timber block. In tall (15') backyard shrubs.	The documentation form by Bill Ohde is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common grackle - this bird was nearly crow-sized, longer tailed, with the peculiar whistles and rattles. Boat-tailed grackle - song was wrong. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Otter Creek Marsh, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1990-04-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Great-tailed Grackles at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on April 27, 1990.	Fuller, James L	Great-tailed Grackle	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Otter Creek Marsh - Tama County	Cattails in marsh	The documentation form by James Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Grackle is smaller with different call Boat-tailed Grackle male has dark eye \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:45:00/15:47:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	67
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird at Snake Creek Marsh, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1996-05-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Brewer's Blackbird at Snake Creek Marsh in Greene County, IA on May 11, 1996.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Brewer's Blackbird	Snake Creek State Game Management Area	Snake Creek M., Greene Co., IA	small island in pond	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bert Engebretsen. \| Elimination of similar species: The dark eye and lack of any rust color eliminates Rusty Blackbird, which is similar in size and shape to this bird. Common Grackle has a longer tail, females show lots of brown color, and the call note is different. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:54:00/16:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Eastern Meadowlark west of McCausland, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1988-12-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an Eastern Meadowlark west of McCausland in Scott County, IA on December 22, 1988.	Blevins, Brian L.	Eastern Meadowlark	McCausland	Road just west of McCausland, Iowa.	Pasture with livestock and livestock feeders	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ann Barker. \| Elimination of similar species: Western meadowlark - eliminated by Song [sic]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:54:00/14:57:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	73
Rare bird documentation form for Eastern Meadowlark east of Muscatine, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1988-12-17	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an Eastern Meadowlark east of Muscatine in Muscatine County, IA on December 17, 1988.	Petersen, Peter C.	Eastern Meadowlark	Muscatine	2 mi. E. Muscatine along Hwy 22	grassy roadside	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Walter Zuurdeeg and Chris Reed. \| Elimination of similar species: Western has 6-7 note call, much less musical \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:01:00/08:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	73
Rare bird documentation form for Dickcissel at Hallet's Quarry at Ames, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1996-11-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Dickcissel at Hallet's Quarry at Ames in Story County, IA on November 28, 1996.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Dickcissel	Ada Hayden Heritage Park	Hallett's Quarry, Story Co., IA	weeds along gravel pit	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I immediately recognized the bird by the call note, which is very distinctive. Additionally, the black throat, yellow wash on the breast, and chestnut shoulder patch were diagnostic. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:55:00/09:22:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	72
Rare bird documentation form for Blue Grosbeak north of Liscomb, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1993-06-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Blue Grosbeak north of Liscomb in Marshall County, IA on June 11, 1993.	Proescholdt, Mark	Blue Grosbeak	Liscomb	North of Liscomb - (Marshall County)	Trees along a gravel road	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Indigo Bunting has a quite different song, is much smaller, and lacks the big bill and Chestnut wing bars. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:50:00/09:51:00 and 10:00:00/10:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	70
Rare bird documentation form for an unidentified Grosbeak at Anderson Township in Mills County, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1979-09-08	1979-11-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an unidentified Grosbeak at Anderson Township in Mills County, IA on September 8, 1979.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Cardinal-Grosbeaks	Anderson Township	Wilson farm: T73-N, R-41W, Sec 26, NE Mills County, Ia.		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: these are Rose-breasted Grosbeaks or Blackheaded Grosbeaks. Or hybrids. Unfortunately, the identification depends on things I do not know. Ruth Green informs me that some Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in early September are so orange on the breast one would think them Black-headeds. Are these young Rose-breasted? What about the call? Do Rose-breasted Grosbeaks make a lower-pitched call, more mellow than the distinctive high-pitched call that is the only one I know for them? If you know, please tell me. These were odd-looking grosbeaks but I can't really identify them. \| The original documentation form events occurred around 08:45:00 and in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	69
Rare bird documentation form for Smith's Longspurs at Maynard Reese Waterfowl Production Area, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1999-04-19	1999-04-22	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for eleven Smith's Longspurs at Maynard Reese Waterfowl Production Area in Kossuth County, IA on April 19, 1999.	Goranson, Rita	Smith's Longspur	Maynard Reese Area	Maynard Reece [sic] Wettlands [sic], Koss Co, Iowa near Union Slough	wettlands [sic] + old bean stubble	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jan Walter and Matthew Kenne. \| Elimination of similar species: No other birds in immediate area, other than ducks, I had seen two Savannah Sparrows at beginning of area and knew these were larger than Savannah's and different coloring and marks. I have seen Laplands but they don't have this rich buffy color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	67
Rare bird documentation form for Smith's Longspur at Maynard Reese Waterfowl Production Area, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1998-10-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two to three Smith's Longspurs at Maynard Reese Waterfowl Production Area in Kossuth County, IA on October 7, 1998.	Kenne, Matthew C.	Smith's Longspur	Maynard Reese Area	Maynard Reese WPA, Kossuth Co. SW of north side parking	Open area sparsely covered with grass (1 season restored prairie and mowed Pigweed) surrounding wetland potholes	The documentation form by Matthew Kenne is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: American Pipits were eliminated by their totally different voice, the pattern of the underparts, and bill & tail proportions. Lapland Longspurs have obvious white (not buff) underneath which would have been especially visible on several close flybys and passes overhead. Male Laplands should show some black streaking on the upper chest in sharp contrast with the white below. There wasn't any chestnut visible on the nape or upper wing. Although I don't have enough experience with Smith's to say I heard any difference in the sound of the "tics", I didn't hear any of the "tew" notes that Laplands (but not Smith's) mix in with their tic-tic-tics. Any regular sparrow that is not eliminated by white outer tail feathers is eliminated by the unique longspur calls. The buffy/tan color underneath and the calls also rule out Horned Lark. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 08:00:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	67
Rare bird documentation form for Smith's Longspur at Union Slough NWR, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1997-04-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for five Smith's Longspurs at Union Slough NWR in Kossuth County, IA on April 27, 1997.	Kenne, Matthew C.	Smith's Longspur	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge	Union Slough NWR, Kossuth Co. main crossdike between B pool + C pool	marsh with open farm fields on both sides	The documentation form by Matthew Kenne is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: These birds didn't have white on the belly or black spilling from the face onto the chest or "bib" like Lapland Longspurs. There were no "tew" notes thrown in with the rattle calls, a possible point of separation between Smith's + Laps. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:10:00 and 09:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	67