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 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 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 Brewer's Blackbird near Mason City, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-04-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for eleven Brewer's Blackbirds near Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 23, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Brewer's Blackbird	Mason City	near Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Comparison made to Comm. Grackle above. Unlikely habitat and date for Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolingus). \| The original documentation form event occurred in the late afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-headed Blackbird at Council Bluffs, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-26	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-headed Blackbird at Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on February 26, 1978.	Greer, Janet	Yellow-headed Blackbird	Council Bluffs	Feeder at 341 Steven Circle, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501		The documentation form by Janet Greer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include the Greer family. \| Elimination of similar species: There are none. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	75
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Greater Prairie-Chicken at Little Spirit Lake, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-08-27	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of around six Greater Prairie-Chickens at Little Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on August 27, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Baker, Warren L.	Greater Prairie-Chicken	Little Spirit Lake Wildlife Management Area	South end - west side Little Spirit Lake, Iowa	- cut field, next to lake	The documentation form by Warren L. Baker is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Karen Baker were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Sharpe [sic] Tailed grouse \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	9
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing north of Redfield and north-northeast of Lamoni, 1984 and 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1984-12-24	1985-03-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for one or more Bohemian Waxwings north of Redfield in Dallas County, IA on December 24, 1984 and a Bohemian Waxwing north-northeast of Lamoni in Decatur County, IA on January 20, 1985.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Bohemian Waxwing	Lamoni Redfield	(1) Cedar Grove 1 1/2 mi N of Redfield, Iowa Dallas Co / (2) 4 mi NNE of Lamoni, Iowa Decatur Co.	(1) Dense Cedar Ravine (2) Large Cedar Grove around a farmstead.	The documentation form by Raymond Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Johnson for the sighting on January 20, 1985. \| Elimination of similar species: Cedar Waxwing smaller w/ yellowish wash to breast \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:30:00 for December 24, 1984 and 09:00:00/09:15:00 for January 20, 1985.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Le Conte's Sparrow at Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-02-25	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Le Conte's Sparrow at Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Jasper County, IA on February 25, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and field notes submitted to the committee.	Friedrick, Denise	Le Conte's Sparrow	Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge	[...] along Walnut Creek	[...] "Grass-riparian" area	The field notes by Denise Friedrick were the only ones submitted and form the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:52:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	37
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher at Sioux Center, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-06	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on May 6, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Vermilion Flycatcher	Sioux Center	In approximately the center of Harry Kuhl's farm, located at the east end of Sioux Center, Sioux Co., Iowa. The specific area in which we found the bird consists of wet bottomlands with creek and tall willows and many broken branches, snags, and stumps. The bird used snags and branches near and over the creek as perch. The lighting, provided by partly cloudy skies which gradually clouded over completely as the afternoon wore on, was excellent, as the sun was largely behind us. We observed the bird from distances varying between 20 feet and 60 yards.	[...] a section of tall trees, extensive shrub area, open fields, and in the center, surrounded by pasture land and agricultural fields, an area of wet bottomlands transversed by a creek (beaver occurs here) through a fairly open stand of tall black willows; broken limbs and snags are scattered throughout the area (see enclosed photographs).	The documentation form by John Van Dyk forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Gordon Brown was submitted. Other observers include Ken Venhuizen, Mike Van Dyk, Jan Van Dyk, and John Kevin Van Dyk. \| Elimination of similar species: This category hardly applies since a male Vermilion Flycatcher is quite unmistakable. If there is any bird with which it might possibly be confused -- perhaps at great distance -- it would be a Scarlet Tanager. However, our bird was much smaller, had no red on its back, had black patchy line through its eye, had a thin dark flycatcher bill instead of a light-colored tanager bill, and behaved like a flycatcher. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/17:00:00 on May 6, 1983 and 06:30:00/07:00:00 on May 7, 1983.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Sandpiper near New Albin, 1946	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1946-05-12	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Purple Sandpiper near New Albin in Allamakee County, IA on May 12, 1946. Includes a record review document with votes, an account of the sighting in An Annotated List of the Birds of Iowa by Woodward H. Brown, and the original sight record of the Purple Sandpiper in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 16:70 by A.C. Stewart.	Stewart, C.A.	Purple Sandpiper	New Albin	[...] vicinity of New Albin, Allamakee County, in the extreme northeast corner of the state.	[...] About one-half mile from where the north fork opens into the Mississippi there is a low, rocky waterfall, surrounded by a sand flat.	The documentation form by Charles A. Stewart is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	5
Rare bird documentation form for Chestnut-collared Longspur at Lake Manawa State Park, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-04-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for at least four Chestnut-collared Longspurs at Lake Manawa State Park in Pottawattamie County, IA on April 16, 1986.	Padelford, Babs	Chestnut-collared Longspur	Lake Manawa State Park	Lake Manawa Rec. Area	[...] grassy-weedy area along the road to the s.e. boat dock.	The documentation form by Babs Padelford is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It was mixed because when they flew it seemed that about half had the large white patches in the tail, and about half had narrow white edging on the sides of the tail. I was never able to get any more details on the other longspurs. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:30:00 for less than half an hour and approximately 13:00:00/13:04:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	68
Rare bird documentation for Smith's Longspur north northwest of Lone Tree, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1990-04-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for around a few hundred Smith's Longspurs north northwest of Lone Tree in Johnson County, IA on April 6, 1990.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Smith's Longspur	Lone Tree	2 mi. NNW of Lone Tree, Johnson Co., Iowa	[...] In large hay stubble field with scattered bales, [...]	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Non-descript really, eye-ringed, suggestive of a Vesper Sparrow but for entirely buff underparts. [...] Also seen were a Red Fox and an alternate-plumaged male Lapland Longspur. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:30:00/19:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	67
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 memo for Blackheaded Grosbeak and Rose-breasted Grosbeak hybrid at Ingham Township in Franklin County, 1979	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-07-10	1979-07-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation memo for a Blackheaded Grosbeak and Rose-breasted Grosbeak hybrid at Ingham Township in Franklin County, IA on July 10, 1979.	Priebe, Carl	Cardinal-Grosbeaks	Ingham Township	The bird was sighted in the NW 1/4 Sec. 12 T-92N R-19W in Franklin County.	[...] The bird was sighting in a timbered area of approximately 20 acres on a hill overlooking the West Fork of the Cedar River.	The documentation form by Carl Priebe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Curt Nelson, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The bird was definately [sic] a grosbeak as it had the thick, heavy bill. [...] What makes me think it is a hybrid is that the orange-yellow of ghe [sic] breast was only in the upper part, identical to the rose bib of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	69
Rare bird documentation form for Say's Phoebe near Rock Sioux Access, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-05-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Say's Phoebe near Rock Sioux Access in Sioux County, IA on May 7, 1979.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Say's Phoebe	Rock Sioux Access	[...] near bridge across Rock River, about 12 miles due west of Sioux Center, in Sioux Co., Iowa.	[...] The general habitat is a mixture of open fields, rolling hills, and woods along the Rock River. The bird was observed in an open area.	The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The bird was obviously not a Robin, with which it could possibly be confused. The brick-red of the Robin is quite different. The Robin is also larger. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 07:30:00/07:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	70
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 Lawrence's Warbler near Cedar Bluff, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-05-13	1995-05-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lawrence's Warbler near Cedar Bluff in Cedar County, IA on May 13, 1995.	Thompson, Carol A.	Vermivoras	Cedar Bluff	woods near Cedar Bluff, Ia	160 acre wooded-wetland above Cedar River	The documentation form by Carol Thompson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bud Gode. \| Elimination of similar species: Golden-winged - too yellow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:45:00/08:46:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	17
Rare bird documentation form for Little Tern south of Westfield, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-06-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Little Tern south of Westfield in Plymouth County, IA on June 24, 1982.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Little Tern	Westfield	2 1/2 mi. S. of Westfield, Plymouth Co., IA (NW quarter Sec. 12, Sioux Township)	2 acre farm pond surrounded by ungrazed brome.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Other white, fork-tailed, black-capped terns are larger with deeper fork in tail, orange or red billed and have orangish colored feet. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:17:00/07:27:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Cedar Hills Sand Prairie, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-29	1979-06-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Cedar Hills Sand Prairie in Black Hawk County, IA on April 29, 1979.	Stone, Tom, Jr. Stone, Tom	Yellow Rail	Cedar Hills Sand Prairie	Mark sandprairie near Cedar Falls	20 by 50 ft. marsh with alot of marshy grasses and broken down old cattails.	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. and Tom Stone is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: no other rail has a white bar along the edge of the wing. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at West Okoboji, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-04-15	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at West Okoboji in Dickinson County, IA on April 15, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, an article of Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Thelen, Ed	Pacific Loon	West Okoboji Lake	N. End of West Okoboji - Dickinson County	3800 Natural Lake with developed shoreline	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Lee Schonewe, and Douglas Harr were submitted later. Other observers included Tim Waltz. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loons were also nearby and were larger with a flatter head, no chin strap and also white above the eye. Saw Loon fly only once. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:45:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Welch Lake, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-11-01	1986-11-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three White-winged Scoters at Welch Lake in Dickinson County, IA on November 1, 1986.	Thelen, Ed	White-winged Scoter	Welch Lake	Welch Lake, Dickinson County 3 mi W, 2 mi N Spirit Lake	75 acre open water shallow lake	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Tigges. \| Elimination of similar species: Surf Scooter [sic] - large white wing patches when they flew identified them as White-wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Big Rock Park in Pella, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-11-26	1983-12-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Big Rock Park in Pella in Marion County, IA on November 26, 1983.	Brand, Gordon James	Northern Goshawk	Big Rock City Park	Big Rock Park, Pella, Iowa	80 acre timber tract but near Red Rock Reservoir.	The documentation form by Gordon Brand is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Raymond Brand. \| Elimination of similar species: Coopers Hawk. This Hawk had no horizontal barring on the belly. It was larger and had very pronounced dark eyepatch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Columbus Junction, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-04-25	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Columbus Junction in Louisa County, IA on April 25, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, an e-mail about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Columbus Junction	2 miles north of Columbus Junction, Louisa Co., Iowa	A backwater slough adjacent to highway 70 and close to the Iowa River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ted Allen, Bill Ohde, and Jim Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Fulvous Whistling-Duck lacks the gray face, orange bill, and white wing patch.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Mason City, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-11-27	1994-12-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on November 27, 1994.	Goranson, Rita	Northern Goshawk	Mason City	115 Lakeview Drive, Mason City Iowa	a backyard with trees in between a wooded park and a wooded private lot	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-tailed hawks live close here - I've had them in my backyard also - this one hunted different - acted different. Cooper hawks come through here quite often - This one was larger, thicker, tail was equal to wings not longer. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:16:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Marshalltown, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-12-21	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Marshalltown in Marshall County, IA on December 21, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Beth	Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Marshalltown	feeder at 1322 W. Linn, Marshalltown	a city backyard, feeder on clothesline	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ed Savage was submitted earlier, but was incomplete and not considered by the committee. Other observers include Don Maze, Carol McMillan, Pauline Mairs, and Jim Mairs \| Elimination of similar species: Other hummingbirds - but this was so distinctive. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:09:00/15:11:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	23
Rare bird documentation form for Louisiana Waterthrush at Ledges State Park, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1982-04-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Louisiana Waterthrush at Ledges State Park in Boone County, IA on April 2, 1982.	Robinson, John C., 1959-	Louisiana Waterthrush	Ledges State Park	Ledges State Park, Boone County, Iowa	A fast-moving, freshwater canyon stream, lined intermittently with trees.	The documentation form by John C. Robinson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Robbins and Mark Loeschke. \| Elimination of similar species: Ovenbirds have eye rings and an orange crown streak. Northern Waterthrush has a streaked throat, underparts conspicuously washed with yellow, a buffy-yellow eyestripe, a relatively smaller bill, + a different song. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:25:00/07:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	38