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 Curve-billed Thrasher at Spirit Lake in 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1975-09-01	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Curve-billed Thrasher at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on June 25, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of the record, and the original sighting record found in the publication Curve-billed Thrasher at Spirit Lake in Iowa Bird Life 45(3):96 by Loraine Wallace.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Curve-billed Thrasher	Spirit Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sharp-tailed Sparrow near Lost Lake, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-05-23	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sharp-tailed Sparrow near Lost Lake in Boone County, IA on May 23, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence regarding the review and sighting, a request for reconsideration of record, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brown, Gordon	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Lost Lake	Upper ledges at Lost Lake		The documentation form by Gordon Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was George Brown.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur southeast of Hills, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-27	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for thirty-three Smith's Longspurs southeast of Hills in Johnson County, IA on April 27, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of record, a summary of the review, field notes, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Smith's Longspur	Hills	East Johnson Co. (I'll defer to you for exact location Tom)		The documentation form by Thomas Staudt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Field notes by Thomas Kent were also submitted. Other observers include James Huntington and John Cordell. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur near Pocahontas, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-12-17	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Smith's Longspur near Pocahontas in Pocahontas County, IA on December 17, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of record, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, a photograph, and three documentations submitted to the committee.	Jardine, Wallace E.	Smith's Longspur	Pocahontas	Pocahontas, IA.	General: Back yard opening to a 100 acre farm field. Evergreens, bushes, trees. Specific: Foot of tray feeder beside tree.	The documentation form by Wallace Jardine forms the basis of this record. Other documentations by Ronald Harms and Rita DeWall were submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: Lapland Longspur \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for House Finch at Perry, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-07-27	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a House Finch at Perry in Dallas County, IA on July 27, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes and seven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Armstrong, Eugene	House Finch	Perry	Perry, Iowa	urban dwelling, niger feeder	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, W. Ross Silcock, Raymond Cummins, Peter C. Petersen, Francis L. Moore, and Joe Schaufenbuel were submitted later. Other observers include Mary Lou Petersen, Larry Linder, Wallace Jardine, Eloise Armstrong, Dick Mooney, and Paley Mooney. \| Elimination of similar species: purple finch - smaller bodied, less coloring; house sparrow - no pinkish coloring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for House Finch at Iowa City, 1985	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-03-28	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a House Finch at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on March 28, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo, request for reconsideration, summary of review, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	House Finch	Iowa City	Home north of Iowa City	Sunflower feeder in suburban yard	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent and Thomas Staudt were submitted later. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Jim Sandrock, and Johanna Sandrock. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple finch - no ear patch. Back was only finely streaked, and breast and belly streaking much less prominent. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/17:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Red-throated Loon in Wapello County, 1973	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification	1873-04-28	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon on the Des Moines River near Ottumwa on April 28, 1873. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration, the original sighting record found in the publication Revised List of the Birds of Iowa by Philip A. DuMont seen by W. E. Praeger, and referenced by a later publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Red-throated Loon	Ottumwa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Magnificent Frigatebird at Burlington in 1903	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting Zoological specimens	1903-08-01	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Magnificent Frigatebird at Burlington in Des Moines County, IA in August 1903. Includes a record review document with votes, request for reconsideration of record, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson seen by Paul Bartsch, and referenced in three other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Magnificent Frigatebird	Burlington				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Snowy Egret at Elk Lake in 1934	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1934-07-24	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two Snowy Egrets at Elk Lake in Clay County, IA on July 24, 1934. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration, a letter from Jim Dinsmore to Department of Animal Ecology in Iowa State University, the original sighting record found in the publication Little Blue Herons in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 5:13 by Logan J. Bennett, and referenced in another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Snowy Egret	Elk Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Glossy Ibis at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Photography of birds Rare birds Ornithological illustration	1992-05-04	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for two Glossy Ibises at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Kossuth County, IA on May 4, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from J.V. Remsen to Tom Kent, letters between Tom Kent and Bob Janssen, a letter from Matt Kenne to Tom Kent, a letter from Bruce Fall to Tom Kent, five photographs, a page with two ibis head sketches, the original sighting record found in the publication Iowa Bird Life 53:68 by Matthew Kenne, and the article Field identification of White-faced and Glossy Ibises by H. Douglas Pratt, published in Birding 8(1):1-5. The Glossy Ibises were seen by Bobbi Webber and photographed by Dave Bunkofske.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Glossy Ibis	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mississippi Kite at Ford Dodge before 1907	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting	1907-01-01	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Mississippi Kite at Fort Dodge in Webster County, IA before 1907. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Mississippi Kite	Fort Dodge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Three-toed Woodpecker at Bettendorf in 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1976-03-01	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Three-toed Woodpecker at Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on May 28 to 31, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of the record, the original sighting record found in the publication Northern Three-toed Woodpecker in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 46:27-28 by Mark Fredericksen, and referenced by three additional publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Three-toed Woodpecker	Bettendorf				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	29
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sage Thrasher at West Des Moines in 1952	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1953-03-01	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Sage Thrasher at West Des Moines in Polk County, IA from December 20, 1952 to January 10, 1953. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of the record, and the original sighting record found in the publication Sage Thrasher in Iowa: A Sight Record in Iowa Bird Life 23(1):22-23 by Bruce F. Stiles also seen by Edward L. Kozicky.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Sage Thrasher	West Des Moines				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	10
Iowa RBA, March 11-24, 1996	Correspondence Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching Birds--Identification Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Waterfowl Dial-a-message telephone calls	1996-03-11	1996-03-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Iowa RBA update for March 11-24, 1996. Highlights of the update include sightings of a female White-winged Scoter, a first year Glaucous Gull, Thayer's Gulls and a female White-winged Crossbill.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull Mountain Bluebird White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Trumpeter Swan Greater Yellowlegs White-winged Scoter Glaucous Gull Tundra Swan Northern Shrike	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area Hidden Bridge Wildlife Area Lock and Dam 14 Squaw Creek Regional Park Green Island Heron Bend Conservation Area Cosgrove				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	43	3
Iowa RBA, March 11-14, 1996	Correspondence Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching Birds--Identification Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Dial-a-message telephone calls	1996-03-11	1996-03-14	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Iowa RBA update for March 11-14, 1996. Highlights of the update include sightings of a White-winged Scoter, Glaucous Gull, Thayer's Gull, White-winged Crossbill and a Saw-whet Owl.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Northern Flicker Prairie Falcon Thayer's Gull Turkey Vulture White-winged Crossbill Greater Yellowlegs White-winged Scoter Glaucous Gull Northern Saw-whet Owl Tundra Swan	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area Johnson County Lock and Dam 14 Squaw Creek Regional Park Shimek State Forest Wildlife Management Area - Farmington Unit Heron Bend Conservation Area Wall Lake Cemetery				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	43	3
White-winged Scoter - 2 Dec 1996 Cedar L - Linn Co	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1995-12-02	1996-03-02	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes contributed by David L. Dankert detailing the sighting of a White-winged Scoter at Cedar Lake in Linn County, IA on December 2, 1995.	Dankert, David L.	White-winged Scoter	Cedar Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-rumped Warbler at Union City Township in Allamakee County, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1996-01-27	1996-02-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-rumped Warbler at Union City Township in Allamakee County, IA on January 27, 1996.	Dankert, Jeffrey B.	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Union City Township	Allamakee Co.: Corner of A26 and English Bench Rd.	Cedar Grove on hillside	The documentation form by Jeff Dankert is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Fred Lesher. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] We clinched this bird on its call, the yellow rump, and habitat. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:35:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	26
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 14, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-01-02	1996-02-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on January 2, 1996.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 14	below Lock and Dam 14, Davenport, Scott Co., IA	resting on large river	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Dinsmore and Kelly McKay. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of large size, coal black mantle and upperwings, and massive bill eliminates all other larids. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:50:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-02-11	1996-02-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on February 11, 1996.	Thelen, Ed	Thayer's Gull	Black Hawk Lake	Black Hawk Lake Sac County	Natural Lake - near open water from aerator	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rob Thelen and Peter Ernzen. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull has dark lesser coverts and dark feathers under the wing tips. More distinct tail band + larger bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Iowa RBA, February 5-7, 1996	Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching Birds--Identification Dial-a-message telephone calls	1996-02-05	1996-02-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Iowa RBA update for February 5-7, 1996. Highlights of the update include sightings of a Hoary Redpoll, Snowy Owl, Varied Thrush and a Great Gray Owl.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Red-shouldered Hawk Varied Thrush Eastern Bluebird Snow Bunting Snowy Owl Great Gray Owl Hoary Redpoll Eurasian Tree Sparrow Northern Mockingbird Northern Shrike	Burlington Des Moines Johnson County Albion Badger Creek State Recreation Area Lake Ahquabi State Park Blairsburg Alexander				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	43	3
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Moorehead Park, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-01-27	1996-02-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Moorehead Park in Ida County, IA on January 27, 1996.	Thelen, Wes	Northern Goshawk	Moorehead Pioneer Park	Moorehead Park - Ida County	Oak - Cedar - Edge	The documentation form by Wes Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marty Thelen and Matt Thelen. \| Elimination of similar species: Cooper's Hawk - Has a more rusty chest and no rear eye stripe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Diamond Lake, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-12-30	1996-01-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Diamond Lake in Dickinson County, IA on December 30, 1995.	Thelen, Ed	Merlin	Diamond Lake	West side of Diamond Lake, Dickinson County	Cedar plantings in open field	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marty Thelen and Wally Jorgenson. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - dark back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Lakeview Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-20	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mew Gull at Lakeview Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 20, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Mew Gull	Lakeview Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA-on jetty at Lakeview Rec. Area	perched on jetty with other gulls	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Susan Grove, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: On the basis of size and general plumage characters, this species could only be confused with Ring-billed Gull, hundreds of which were available for direct comparison. The combination of slightly smaller size, distinct head shape, bill color and shape, dark eye, and slightly darker mantle and upperwings are sufficient to eliminate Ring-billed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:42:00/16:53:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Little Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-08	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Little Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 8, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the request for reevaluation of record, a photograph, photocopy of two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Little Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-seen off Sandpiper Beach Recreation Area	seen flying over large reservoir with several Ring-billed Gulls	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Pam Allen and Reid Allen were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was obviously too small to be one of the larger gulls, like a Ring-billed or a Herring gull. The very pale mantle, dark spot behind each eye, and lack of black on the top of the primaries eliminates Franklin's and Laughing gulls. The black underside of the flight feathers, pale gray mantle and wings, white wingtips, and rounded wings eliminates Bonaparte's and Sabine's gulls and kittiwakes. The square tail and wing pattern eliminates Ross' Gull. The smaller size, black underside of the flight feathers, lack of a white "wedge" on the upper surface of the outer primaries, rounder wings, and lack of black on the upper surface of the primaries eliminates Common Black-headed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:34:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Phalarope at Saylorville Reservoir Dam, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-08-04	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red Phalarope at Saylorville Reservoir Dam in Polk County, IA on August 4, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence from Stephen J. Dinsmore to the IOU committee, two photographs with two photocopies of them, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red Phalarope	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA-above dam	swimming on lake near rocky dam face	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The general body shape and swimming behavior identified the bird as a phalarope. The unstreaked, gray mantle, thicker, bicolored bill, and buffy wash on the underparts eliminates Red-necked and Wilson's phalaropes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:38:00/10:52:00 and 10:59:00/11:14:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	12