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

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great-tailed Grackle at Finn Pond, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-05-17	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Great-tailed Grackles at Finn Pond in Greene County, IA on May 17, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Brown, Mike	Great-tailed Grackle	Finn Pond Wildlife Area	Finn Pond; 1 1/2 mi west of Jefferson, Greene Co., IA T83N R31W Sec 2	Prairie Marsh; River Bulrush Dominate	The documentation form by Mike Brown is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Dinsmore was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Grackle - too small, tail shape & feather coloration. Boat-tailed Grackle - range. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 05:30:00/07:00:00 and around 16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great-tailed Grackle at Riverton Area, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-05-15	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great-tailed Grackle at Riverton Area in Fremont County, IA on May 15, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Great-tailed Grackle	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton A, near headquarters, Fremont Co., IA	open area with a few trees near water area	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Ross Silcock. \| Elimination of similar species: The large size, long tail and voice convince me it was not a Common Grackle. Unfortunately, we were not able to study the bird for more than a minute. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:30:00/06:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-06	1999-11-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 6, 1999.	Proescholdt, Mark	Pacific Loon	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Red Rock Reservoir - (Marion County) - Whitebreast Area	Large reservoir	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt and reported on the Birdline. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loons have massive bills, are much larger, and have a jagged look to their sides of the neck between dark and light colors. Red-throated Loons are paler in color and do not have that sharp dividing line on its neck but a more gradual merging of colors. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir Off Whitebreast Boat Ramp in Marion County, IA on November 3, 1999.	Fuller, James L	Pacific Loon	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Red Rock Reservoir (Marion County) Off Whitebreast Boat Ramp		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon is larger with a much larger bill, lacks a chin strap, has some flatness on the top of the head, and an uneven dark-white line on the side of the neck. The crown and hindneck are also darker than the back. The Red-throated Loon has a smaller bill that is usually keeps tipped up from the horizontal. It shows much more white than dark on the neck, lacks a chin strap, and normally shows light flecking on the back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-14	1999-05-16	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames in Story County, IA on May 14, 1999.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Pacific Loon	Ada Hayden Heritage Park	Hallett's Quarry, Story Co., Iowa	large quarry pond	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russ Widner and the Birdline. \| Elimination of similar species: see above. The bird was not small enough for a Red-throated and did not hold the bill pointing up. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-12	1999-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames in Story County, IA on May 12, 1999.	Proescholdt, Mark	Pacific Loon	Ada Hayden Heritage Park	Hallett's Quarry - north of Ames - (Story County)	Large gravel pit filled with water	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt, Hank Zaletel, Jim Dinsmore ,Tom Kent, Russ Widners, etc. \| Elimination of similar species: The chin strap, small size and small bill, and the sharp demarcation line on the side of the neck eliminate Common, Red-throated, and Yellow-billed Loons. No white flank marks eliminate Arctic Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:50:00/14:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry in Ames, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-08	1999-05-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry in Ames in Story County, IA on May 8, 1999.	Overton, Michael D.	Pacific Loon	Ada Hayden Heritage Park	Iowa, Story co., Ames, Hallett's Quarry	Lake in old quarry at edge of urban residential area	The documentation form by Michael D. Overton is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dixie Overton, Michael Freiberg, Kevin Healy, and Hank Zaletel. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-throated Loon by parallel sided bill, horizontal bill and head position, no white areas above or in front of the eye, distinct straight demarcation between light and dark areas on head and sides of neck, lack of white spots on back. Arctic Loon by presence of "chinstrap", lack of white flank patches, realistic attitude. Common Loon by smaller size, smaller parallel sided bill, rounded crown, no white areas in front of or above eye, nape lighter than back, white auricular area, distinct straight demarcation between light and dark areas on head and sides of neck. Yellow-billed Loon by smaller size, smaller parallel sided bill, rounded crown, no white areas in front of or above eye, white auricular area, distinct straight demarcation between light and dark areas on head and side of neck.\| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:30:00/17:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-08	1999-05-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames in Story County, IA on May 8, 1999.	Dinsmore, James J.	Pacific Loon	Ada Hayden Heritage Park	Hallett's Quarry, n. edge of Ames, Story County	gravel pit	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Kevin Healy, Roseanne Healy, Wolf Oesterreich, Hank Zaletel, Pam Allen, and Reid Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon seen next to it with side-by-side comparison. 1. No chin stripe on this bird. 2. Back of head and neck uniformly dark colored 3. White on side of head extended further forward and included the eye. Also there was a white 'bump' that extended back into dark color of side of neck. 4. Bill seemed darker than other bird and was all light colored. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:15:00/13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1998	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-10-31	1998-11-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on October 31, 1998.	Proescholdt, Mark	Pacific Loon	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Reservoir - Marion County	Big reservoir just above the dam on north side	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Chuck Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: A Common Loon is bigger with a big bill, has light areas above and in front of eye, and a jagged heavily patterned side of the neck. Red-throated Loon has upturned bill mandibles and the division between dark and light on the neck is not nearly as defined as in a Pacific Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/15:16:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great-tailed Grackle at Ames, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-12-19	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great-tailed Grackle at Ames in Story County, IA on December 19, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Niyo, Kayleen	Great-tailed Grackle	Ames	Max Bailey Farm on Dayton Rd. N.E. of Ames	Spruce Windbreak	The documentation form by Kay Niyo is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by John Richard was submitted later. Another observer was Judy Shearer. \| Elimination of similar species: Common grackle - this bird was much larger with a much longer tail. Common crow - this bird was not quite as large, had a much longer tail than a crow, bill was long & grackle shaped, not as a crow, & body stance was like a grackle not a crow. Ani - bill and body shape & carriage was grackle-like. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great-tailed Grackle at Mills County, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-22	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great-tailed Grackle in Mills County, IA on December 22, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Padelford, Loren	Great-tailed Grackle	Mills County	2.8 miles south of the intersection of Iowa 370 and U.S. 275. Mills Co., Iowa.	Deciduous trees near farmstead.	The documentation form by Loren J. Padelford is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ross Silcock was submitted later. Another observer was Jerry Toll. \| Elimination of similar species: The only other species similar in appearances the boat-tailed grackle. I was not close enough to observe eye color but the length of the tail in relation to body length rules out that species. The great-tailed grackle has been expanding its range into southern Iowa and Nebraska in recent years with documented nesting success in both states. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:00:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great-tailed Grackle at IPL Ponds, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-06-21	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Great-tailed Grackle at IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on June 21, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Great-tailed Grackle	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa Power & Light Cooling Ponds, just South of Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Ia.	Open water ponds, small areas of cattails near edge.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Ross Silcock. \| Elimination of similar species: Female Common Grackle is not as brown as the female Great-tailed that was seen Flat-headed male separates it from Boat-tailed. No other female blackbird has this brown a coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:35:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	9
Rare bird documentation form for Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, 1983	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, IA on January 30, 1983. The documentation form was included with an undated letter from Dick Bierman to Thomas Kent regarding the bird sighting and documentation form.	Bierman, Dick	Carolina Wren	Cherokee County	Farm Grove 13 mi west, 1 mi north of Cherokee Iowa.	Farm grove. Box elder, mulberry, cottonwood, blue spruce, brushy under growth.	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Charles Krekow and Lois Krekow. \| Elimination of similar species: House Wren, Winter Wren, Brown Creeper, Fox Sparrow, Bewick's Wren \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	88
Rare bird documentation form for Carolina Wren at Hickory Hill Park, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1975-11-01	1975-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Carolina Wrens at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on November 1, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Carolina Wren	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City IA	brushy ravines on gullies in Hickory Hill Park - park contains woods, open pastures, brushy grown-up old fields	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Nicholas Halmi and Marilyn Smith Glasson. \| Elimination of similar species: eye stripes, rusty color, large size, voice elim. House, winter wrens voice, lack of white in tail, short tail rule out Bewick's (v. rare if not extinct in Iowa City area)<-(fide FW Kent). \| The original documentation form event occurred in the morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	88
Rare bird documentation form for Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, IA on January 30, 1983.	Brewer, Marion M.	Carolina Wren	Cherokee County	13W, 1 N of cherokee	Farm yard grove with a few Evergreens	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Bierman and Charles Krekow. \| Elimination of similar species: None \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:05:00/15:08:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	88
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Swallow at Red Rock Reservoir, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-11-21	1987-11-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Swallow at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 21, 1987.	Moore, Francis L.	Barn Swallow	Lake Red Rock	N.E. side of St. Hwy 14 bridge across Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co.	Partially frozen water near bridge, near weedy back waters	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent, Bob Cecil, and Bob Myers. \| Elimination of similar species: No other swallow has long swallow tail, forked, pointed on outer retrices, dark blue-black color on back and medium tan to cinnamon color below.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	87
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Swallow at Red Rock Reservoir, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-11-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Swallow at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 13, 1987.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Barn Swallow	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Res. #14 bridge, Marion Co. IA	Large Reservoir	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Behavior and landing place clearly made it a swallow. Red on throat and forked tail, eliminate all other species. Only tree swallow would be likely at this date. Actually, I knew what the bird was as soon as I got my binoculars on it. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:48:00/11:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	87
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Swallow at Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1987-10-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for three Barn Swallows at Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant in Woodbury County, IA starting in the fall and ending on October 25, 1987.	Livermore, Bob	Barn Swallow	Sioux City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	87
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Swallow at Otter Creek Marsh, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-03-05	1992-03-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Swallow at section seven of Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on March 5 ,1992. The documentation form was submitted with a Mike Stegmann letter to James Dinsmore about the bird sighting and documentation form on March 18, 1992.	Stegmann, Mike	Barn Swallow	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Section #7, Otter Creek Marsh, Tama County, Iowa	Cattail Marsh	The documentation form by Mike Stegmann is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Tree Swallows use this area to a great extent later in the spring and summer but the bird seen was blue-black with tan underside and long forked tail which tree swallows lack. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	87
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Rough-winged Swallow at Coralville Reservoir, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-10-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Northern Rough-winged Swallows at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 22, 1983.	Robinson, John C., 1959-	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Coralville Lake	"Refuge" section of Coralville Reservoir		The documentation form by John C. Robinson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Debaetes and Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The flight pattern of the three lead birds attracted my attention, as the wings were held differently (slightly farther out and broader) than the wings of the Tree Swallows which are often held at a more acute angle to the body. [...] All other swallows in the loose flock (20 - 25 birds) were obvious Tree Swallows. None of the swallows showed a deeply forked tail such as that seen in the Barn Swallow. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	86
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Rough-winged Swallow at Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1987-10-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Rough-winged Swallow at Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant in Woodbury County, IA starting in the fall and ending 10/25/1987.	Livermore, Bob	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Sioux City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	86
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Siskin at Anderson Township in Mills County, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Siskin at Anderson Township in Mills County, IA on May 15, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Pine Siskin	Anderson Township	Ben Wilson's farm: T-73N, R-40W, Sec. 30, Mills Co., Ia.		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Uniform brown streaks on face eliminate Purple Finch, as does the thin bill. Sparrows are similar, usually have stouter bill + are less uniformly streaked - they have dark streaks on light underparts, + this one is just streaked all over. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon for at most a minute.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	85
Rare bird documentation form for Tree Swallow at Island View Park in Lake Rathbun in 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1992-12-02	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation for a Tree Swallow at Island View Park in Lake Rathbun in Appanoose County, IA on November 5, 8, 9, and 24, 1992.	Johnson, Thomas N.	Tree Swallow	Island View Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	85
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Crossbill at Logan Park Cemetery in Woodbury County, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-13	1998-01-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for thirteen White-winged Crossbills at Logan Park Cemetery in Woodbury County, IA on December 13, 1997.	Huser, Bill F.	White-winged Crossbill	Logan Park Cemetery	Logan Park Cemetery, Woodbury County, IA	savannah [sic] of conifer and deciduous trees, including fruiting white (?) spruce	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jerry Probst, Bob Moritz, and Bob Livermore. \| Elimination of similar species: The bright colored plumages eliminate Pine Siskins and all female Carpodacus finches. The male birds' rosy coloration was more extensive and uniform than that of male Carpodacus Finches. The crossed mandibles eliminate all finches including Pine and Evening Grosbeaks. The bold wing bars eliminate Red Crossbills. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	84
John letter to Fred Kent regarding bird sightings and owl slides, March 1965	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Photography of birds Rare birds Strigiformes \| Owls	1965-03-20	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from John to Fred Kent regarding bird sightings and slides of owls. It features a sighting of twenty Purple Martins on the 20th of March near Oskaloosa in Mahaska County, IA.		Purple Martin	Iowa Oskaloosa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	84