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 of Black Rail at McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-08	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area in Dickinson County, IA on October 8, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hansen, James L.	Black Rail	McBreen Marsh	South end of a restored wetland on the north side of the McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area, 4 mi. NW of Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co.	Was in 3 20-30' diam. clumps of river bulrush surrounded by mudflats	The documentation form by James L. Hansen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jeffrey K. Hansen. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora and Virginia Rail - was smaller and different color (black) than these. Yellow rail - wrong color, also \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Yellow-breasted Chat, 1958-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1958-09-28	1983-07-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Yellow-breasted Chat submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1958-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Yellow-breasted Chat	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black Rail at Cone Marsh in 1961	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Rare birds	1961-05-13	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Black Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on May 13, 1961. Includes a record review document with votes, the published sighting record found in the publication General notes reports in Iowa Bird Life 31:65-68 by Woodward H. Brown seen by Tom Kent, and two unpublished field notes about the sighting.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Black Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Nicholas S. Halmi letter to Vernon M. Kleen regarding birds sighted during winter 1972-1973, including rare birds, March 20, 1973	Correspondence Field notes	Bird populations Bird watchers Bird watching Birds--Habitat Birds--Migration Ornithology--Methodology Rare birds Country life	1973-03-20	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Nicholas S. Halmi to Vernon M. Kleen describing birds sighted during winter 1972-1973 in the Iowa City area and discussing other birdwatchers. Rare birds reported by Halmi were a Goshawk, Evening Grosbeaks, Red Crossbills, and Snow Buntings. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of winter 1972-1973 report.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Snow Bunting Evening Grosbeak Northern Goshawk Red Crossbill	Iowa City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	12
Nicholas S. Halmi letter to Vernon M. Kleen regarding birds sighted during May-July 1973	Correspondence Field notes	Bird populations Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Habitat Rare birds	1973-05-01	1973-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes from Nicholas S. Halmi describing birds sighted during May-July, 1973. This item was used as supporting documentation for American birds, spring 1973 report. This item was also used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of spring 1973.	Halmi, Nicholas S.		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	12
Woodward H. Brown letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding shorebirds and others seen after the Red Rock flood pool receded, May 25, 1973	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Charadriiformes \| Shore-birds, Gulls, and Auks Parulidae \| Warblers Emberizidae \| Sparrows	1973-05-25	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Woodward H. Brown to Nicholas S. Halmi reporting on shorebirds seen after the Red Rock flood pool receded. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of spring 1973.	Brown, Woodward H.	Marbled Godwit Whimbrel Red Knot Hudsonian Godwit White-rumped Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Red-necked Phalarope	Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	12
Red Rock Lake, Red Rock Refuge, Iowa, spring 1973	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Nests Birds--Research Environmental monitoring	1973-03-01	1973-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report from Gladys Black regarding birds sighted at Red Rock Lake and the Red Rock Refuge during the spring of 1973. Much of her report was about nesting failures of Great Blue Herons and investigation into whether this was caused by pesticides. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of spring 1973.	Black, Gladys	Great Blue Heron	Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	12
Gladys Black letter to Vernon M. Kleen regarding changes in habitat and birds sighted at the Red Rock Refuge and Pleasantville, Iowa area, August 15, 1973	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Habitat Habitat (Ecology)	1973-08-15	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter and notes from Gladys Black to Vernon M. Kleen regarding the impact of flooding on the habitat of birds and the birds sighted at Red Rock Refuge and the Pleasantville, Iowa area during the summer of 1973. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of summer 1973.	Black, Gladys		Lake Red Rock Pleasantville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	12
Melba Wigg letter and report to Vernon M. Kleen regarding bird sightings in Pottawattamie and Mills Counties, Iowa, fall 1973	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Rare birds	1973-12-07	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter and report from Melba Wigg to Vernon M. Kleen on bird sightings in Pottawattamie and Mills Counties, Iowa, during fall of 1973. Some unusual sightings in the DeSoto Bend Wildlife Refuge included: Whistling Swan, Common Goldeneye, Golden Eagle, and Caspian Tern. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of fall 1973.	Wigg, Melba	Goldeneye Golden Eagle Caspian Tern Tundra Swan	Mills County Pottawattamie County DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	12
Nicholas S. Halmi letters to Vernon M. Kleen regarding birds observed during summer and fall 1973.	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Feathers Habitat (Ecology) Rare birds	1973-06-01	1973-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letters from Nicholas S. Halmi to Vernon M. Kleen regarding birds he observed in the fall and summer of 1973. One letter was about birds observed during summer 1973 near Iowa City. The other letter, dated November 20, 1973, was about birds observed during the fall of 1973 at Coralville Reservoir. This letter noted the following birds that the author regarded as rare: Willets, Stilt Sandpipers, Sanderlings, and Western Sandpipers. These items were used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of fall 1973.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Western Sandpiper Willet Sanderling Stilt Sandpiper	Coralville Lake Iowa City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	12
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, Quarterly field report, fall 1973	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Migration Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1973-08-01	1973-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Quarterly field report for the fall of 1973 compiled by Woodward H. Brown and titled "Fall migration season." The report is a draft with manual annotations, and a note at the top indicates is was sent by Peter C. Petersen to Vernon M. Kleen to help provide information for American birds.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Brown, Woodward H.		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	12
Lake Red Rock and Red Rock Refuge, fall migration, 1973	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Migration Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1973-08-01	1973-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Gladys Black listed birds observed at Lake Red Rock and Red Rock Refuge during the fall migration, 1973. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of fall 1973.	Black, Gladys		Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Cone Marsh, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-15	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on September 15, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Lowder, Ken	Black Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Dike moving East/West across Cone Marsh, Louisa County	Six inch high grass variable to knee high vegetation	The documentation form by Ken Lowder is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora; eliminated by size and color. Yellow rail: absolute lack of white wing patches; My bird was black - with no suggestion of lighter color anywhere. Virginia rail: eliminated by size and color of bird Could possibly have been a rail chick of another species - ruled out because of presence of chicks at this late date + would have been extremely extraordinary; and because chicks would be incapable of flight. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Neotropic Cormorant at Little River Recreation Area, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-04	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Neotropic Cormorant at Little River Recreation Area in Decatur County, IA on May 4, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Neotropic Cormorant	Little River Recreation Area	Little River Rec. Area	large reservoir with numerous dead snags	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: My only concern was to adequately eliminate Double-crested Cormorant, many of which were available for direct comparisons. The size, tail length, and throat patch pattern all eliminate this species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:25:00/15:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Zirbel Slough, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-05-15	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Zirbel Slough in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 15, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walter, Janice L.	Black Rail	Zirbel Slough	East-west dike n. side of Zirbel Slough, Cerro Gordo Co., Ia	Open pool of water between dike and dense marsh	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim B. Walter and Edna E. Peters. \| Elimination of similar species: Size; Rail shape, flight, and behavior eliminated near-by Blackbirds. It was too early in the year for a downy Rail chick in North Iowa. Also downy chicks would not be able to fly. Very small size and all black color eliminated other Rail species. Even though we did not see the reddish wash on the back, white speckling on the wings, or barring on the flanks; the black, not reddish, underparts eliminated the possibility of a small Virginia Rail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:13:00/19:13:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail near Dixon, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-05-11	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail near Dixon in Scott County, IA on May 11, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Black Rail	Dixon	1/2 mi. S. High Rock Bridge near Dixon, Scott Co.	grassy ditch along county road	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Don Moeller and Walter Zuurdeeg. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow Rail-no white wing patch. Sora & Virginia Rail-bird much too small, flight weaker than either. I had seen Soras several times in the preceeding [sic] two days. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 20:40:00/20:41:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Hendrickson Marsh, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-04-24	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on April 24, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Martsching, Paul	Black Rail	Hendrickson Marsh Lake	Hendrickson's Marsh, Story County, Iowa	General: marsh along shore of large shallow lake Specific: area with much old grass more or less bent down with new growth less than six inches. Was a little water under the grass where it flew up	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Paul Martsching (later time, but same bird) were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora - bigger,lighter, yellow beak. Virginia - bigger, lighter, long thin beak. Rail chick - too early in year - and was flying \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Cone Marsh, 1981	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-08-29	1993-08-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on August 29, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co., Iowa	General: Marsh Specific: 50 paces from the W end of the dike and the same distance s. along a small water area	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: By shape and behavior the bird was a rail. The date is wrong for downy young of other species and the bird did not appear downy. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Blue Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-10	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Trumpeter Swan at Blue Lake in Monona County, Iowa on April 10, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Huser, Bill F.	Trumpeter Swan	Blue Lake	Blue Lake, Monona County, Iowa	marshy oxbow with open, but shallow, water	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Peter Ernzen was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Mute swans usually have a curved neck posture with the bill held below horizontal. Their springtime bill color is expected to be pink. Tundra Swans are expected to have a concave bill, a slight forehead and a smaller proportioned bill. The facial skin extending to the eye is less substantial. The neck posture is usually vertical without the 'kink' at the base. The feathered edge between the eyes forms a straight line. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Lake Manawa, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-13	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Trumpeter Swan at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 13, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Trumpeter Swan	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Babs Padelford and Loren Padelford. \| Elimination of similar species: Black bill without knob and neck posture eliminates Mute Swan. Tundra Swan eliminated by neck posture and lack of yellow on bill: darker plumage of juvenile. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Charles City, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents) Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-02-26	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Trumpeter Swan at Charles City in Floyd County, IA on February 26, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, three photocopied photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walter, Janice L.	Trumpeter Swan	Charles City	Cedar River at end of Maple St., Charles City, IA	Narrow stretch of open water along bank of frozen river	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim B. Walter and James L. Hansen. \| Elimination of similar species: Mute Swan by all black bill without knob at base; neck held straight not in S curve Tundra Swan by forehead slanting down to straight bill, black facial skin ending in broad point at eye, not sharp point in front of eye, and dipping down into a V on forehead, not extending straight across \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:10:00/17:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of a Trumpeter Swan at Le Claire, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Rare birds	1989-01-09	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Trumpeter Swan at Le Claire in Scott County, IA on January 9, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, three photocopied photographs, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Trumpeter Swan	Le Claire	Channel of Miss. River 1 mi. N. Le Claire IA & Pt Byron IL, Scott & Rock Isl Co	Open pool in main channel of Missippi River	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Diane Porter was submitted from February 25, 1989. Other observers include Mary Lou Petersen, Don Moeller, and Ann Barker. \| Elimination of similar species: Tundra swan- Bill very dark near base in this bird, would be light in Tundra, slope of top of head to bill tip wrong for Tundra, brownish tinge to plumage wrong for Tundra, also long bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:40:00/09:45:00 and 10:00:00/10:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Ingham Lake, 1988	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-11-21	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Trumpeter Swan at Ingham Lake in Emmet County, IA on November 21, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Trumpeter Swan	Ingham Lake	Ingham L., Emmet Co., IA	Frozen glacial lake	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: About two hours later we found a Tundra Swan at Union Slough at closer range. The neck was straight at the base and the black did not come as sharply to the edge. It was seen head on and the black came across the forehead without a pronounced V and the upper mandible was not straight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Otter Creek Marsh, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of three Trumpeter Swans at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County on December 23, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence over the sighting, photos from Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Trumpeter Swan	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Otter Creek M., Tama Co., IA	large riverbottom marsh, central drainage open, ponds partly free of ice. Birds were in pond near east end of south dike.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Gladys Black. \| Elimination of similar species: Bill shape and voice exclude Tundra Swan. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:40:00/16:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Neotropic Cormorant at Otter Creek Marsh, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-05-04	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Neotropic Cormorant at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on May 4, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Neotropic Cormorant	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Otter Creek Marsh - Tama County	Big pond area	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Hank Zaletel. \| Elimination of similar species: D-cr. cormorant is much larger. I saw one fly as I drove out and it looked huge in flight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	12