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 Red Knot at Fisher Lake, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-09-19	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red Knot at Fisher Lake in Polk County, IA on September 19, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red Knot	Fisher Lake	Fisher Lake, n. of Des Moines, Polk Co., IA		The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Robert K. Myers and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong, Cal Knight, and Jane Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Fall Dowitchers have longer bills and legs, a darker tail, longer neck, darker back, and darker underparts. Sanderling is smaller, much whiter, has bolder wing stripe and lacks a white eye stripe. (I saw several later in the day.) \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Knot at Blue Lake, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-12	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red Knot at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on May 12, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird life, field notes from the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee. The date is incorrectly recorded on the documentation form as April 12, 1994.	Ernzen, Peter	Red Knot	Blue Lake	South Blue Lake in Monona County	marshy shoreine [sic]	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Closest similar species would be Dunlin?, eliminated by Dunlins pronounced downcurved bill, blue gray color was dissimilar to the pronounced gray and white of the observed bird. See attached documents. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 19:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Pygmy Nuthatch at Des Moines, 1977	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1977-01-26	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pygmy Nuthatch at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on January 26, 1977. Includes a record review document with votes, multiple articles from Iowa Bird Life, correspondence related to bird sighting and review, and two documentations submitted to the committee.	Brown, Woodward H.	Pygmy Nuthatch	Des Moines	[...] 5400 Woodland Ave.		The documentation form by Woodward H. Brown is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Nicholas Halmi was submitted later. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Mary Brown, Dorothy Ely, Peter C. Petersen, Mary Lou Petersen, Margaret Brooke, Lillian Serbousek, Allen Mueller, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] According to plumage descriptions of the Pigmy and Brown-headed Nuthatches, the only noticeable difference between the two (short of having the bird in hand) is in the color of the crown and nape. The field guides are agreed that the crown of the Brown-headed is brown, but there is a lack of unanimity in their descriptions of the crown of the Pigmy. [...] Margaret Brooke, in writing up the observation for IBL, describes the cap as being "brownish" but has no doubt about this nuthatch being a Pigmy. Mary and I feel the grayish olive description comes closest and cinches the Pigmy identification. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	51
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Purple Sandpiper south of Laurens, 1979	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1979-04-30	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Purple Sandpiper south of Laurens in Pocahontas County, IA on April 30, 1979. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting from Claudia Wilds to Mike Newlon, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Purple Sandpiper	Laurens	7 miles south of Laurens, Iowa	large farm mud puddle with corn stubble.	The documentation form by Raymond L. Cummins forms the basis of this record. Another documentation forms by Dick Bierman was submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: Short bright yellow legs eliminates all similar species, except the Wander [sic] Tattler which has a barred belly \| The original documentation form event occurred from 09:00:00/19:00:00 at the times of 09:00:00, 13:00:00, and 18:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	5
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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Gallinule north of Cedar Falls in 1937	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1937-09-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Purple Gallinule north of Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County, IA on May 13, 1937. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Purple Gallinule in Black Hawk County in Iowa Bird Life 7:34 by Myrtle Dix.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Purple Gallinule	Cedar Falls				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Gallinule near Promise City in 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds	1975-09-01	1994-11-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Purple Gallinule near Promise City in Wayne County, IA on May 10, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Field reports in Iowa Bird Life 45:55-59 by Woodward H. Brown seen by Charlotte Scott, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Purple Gallinule	Promise City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Gallinule in Wapello County in 1974	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1974-12-01	1994-11-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Purple Gallinule in Wapello County, IA during the Summer of 1974. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Six county area including Ottumwa and Rathbun Lake in Iowa Bird Life 75:82-86 by B.C. Heusinkveld, C. Scott, Pearl Evans, C. Ayres, and D. Ayres, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Purple Gallinule	Ottumwa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Gallinule at Floyd County in 1891	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting Zoological specimens	1916-09-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Purple Gallinule at Floyd County, IA in 1891. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication A preliminary list of the birds of Floyd County Iowa in Wilson Bulletin 28:130-138 by C.L. Fenton, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Purple Gallinule	Floyd County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Gallinule at Des Moines in 1915	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1931-01-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Purple Gallinule at Des Moines in Polk County, IA during the Spring of 1915. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Polk County Iowa in Des Moines Audubon Society by P.A. DuMont seen by F.W. Rice and identified by Luther S. Ross and P.A. DuMont.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Purple Gallinule	Des Moines				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Gallinule at Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area in 1964	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Photography of birds Rare birds	1964-09-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Purple Gallinule at Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Louisa County, IA on May 7, 1964. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication A Purple Gallinule in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 34:50-51 by F.W. Kent, and a photograph of the sighting.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Purple Gallinule	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Gallinule at Charles City in 1915	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1916-12-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Purple Gallinule at Charles City in Floyd County, IA on September 9, 1915. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication A preliminary list of the birds of Floyd County Iowa in Wilson Bulletin 28:130-138 by C.L. Fenton seen by Mary A. Dalton and Sydney Wetherbee, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Purple Gallinule	Charles City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Gallinule at Ames in 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Rare birds Wildlife rescue Zoological specimens	1979-09-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Purple Gallinule at Ames in Story County, IA on May 22, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Purple Gallinule in Ames in Iowa Bird Life 49:87-88 by James Dinsmore and D.L. Graham seen by Lorna Volmer, a reference to the sighting in another publication, and two photographs of the specimen.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Purple Gallinule	Ames				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Finch at Iowa City, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-07-10	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Purple Finch at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on July 10, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Spieker, Susan J.	Purple Finch	Iowa City	830 Hudson, Iowa City, Iowa	Back yard, with fruit trees, walnut trees, shrubs and bushes and garden.	The documentation form by Sue Spieker is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Female House Finch has more overall brown coloring and the streaks on breast and belly are wider and bolder. Also House Finch does not have the light area, eyebrow stripe, above and below eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:05:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Yellow River State Forest, 1978	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-07-01	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at Yellow River State Forest in Allamakee County, IA on July 1, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of record, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Prairie Warbler	Yellow River State Forest	Yellow River State Forest	The bird was at the edge of a pine plant with blackberry bushes very thick, deciduous Saplings and fellow trees at edge of Pine plant.	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers were Russ Hayes and Tom Stone, Sr. \| Elimination of similar species: Male Cape May Warbler has rusty cheek patch. The Pine Warbler does not have a distinct cheek patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Yellow River Forest in 1962	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1974-06-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at Yellow River Forest in Allamakee County, IA during June 1962. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birding Areas of Iowa: Northeast Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 44(2):45-49 by Darwin Koenig, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Prairie Warbler	Yellow River State Forest				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park, 1978	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-05-28	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at Wildcat Den State park in Muscatine County, IA on May 28, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Prairie Warbler	Wildcat Den State Park	across the road from entrance to Wildcat Den S.P., Muscatine Co.	field margin - in saplings (8-10' tall) at edge of uncultivated, fenced-off field	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: N. Parula: slender, coarser bill with abrupt ending: Field Sparrow: trill at end of song accelerando on same [illegible], but ascending chromatically. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/10:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at West Liberty in 1922	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1933-12-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at West Liberty in Muscatine County, IA on September 29 and 30, 1922. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Revised List of Birds of Iowa by Philip A. DuMont seen by Mr. Mosher.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Prairie Warbler	West Liberty				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Sioux City in 1964	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1964-06-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA in 1964. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Field Reports in Iowa Bird Life 34(2):44-49 by Woodward H. Brown seen by Evelyn Hanna.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Prairie Warbler	Sioux City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Polk County in 1915	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1931-10-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at Polk County, IA on May 28, 1915. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Polk County Iowa by Philip A. DuMont, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Prairie Warbler	Polk County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at MacBride Nature Recreation Area, 1977	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1977-05-21	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at MacBride Nature Recreation Area in Johnson County, IA on May 21, 1977. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Newlon, Michael C.	Prairie Warbler	Macbride Nature Recreation Area	McBride [sic] Field campus (NE of No. Liberty, IA)	Old field with saplings, poison ivy, briars, but rather sparsely placed. Second growth woods in one side of field.	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Rich DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: of the other warblers with yellow underparts + streaks + wingbars, none other have the combination of (1) facial pattern described (2) brown streaks on back (3) song \| The original documentation form event occurred at 09:30:00/09:50:00 and around 12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Linn County in 1896	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Birds--Collection and preservation	1907-03-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at Linn County, IA in 1896. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson seen by Morton E. Peck.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Prairie Warbler	Linn County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Grundy Center in 1954	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1954-09-01	1994-01-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at Grundy Center in Grundy County, IA on April 26, 1954. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of the record, and the original sighting record found in the publication Bird Notes from Central Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 24(3):59 by Helen Gould King.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Prairie Warbler	Grundy Center				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Greenfield Township in Warren County, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-09-14	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at Greenfield Township in Warren County, IA on September 14, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form with an addendum submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Prairie Warbler	Greenfield Township	My Yard - small acreage in northern Warren County, IA	Mixed open woods and field edge with creek and many shrubs	The documentation form with an addendum by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Palm Warbler - no streaking on breast; chestnut cap not evident; streaking was black; breeding plumage unlikely on this date Pine Warbler - belly and undertail coverts bright yellow; wingbars not as distinct as the wing was not as dark nor the bars as white: streaking on the sides darker than a pine [...] Magnolia Warbler - Magnolia's body and wings too dark; adult eliminated because of no streaking on breast (only sides) and no black facial mask; immature does not have heavy enough streaking nor yellow extending up the face and around the eye far enough and the wingbars are too contrasting (black and white) Cape May Warbler - vibrant yellow undertail coverts would seem to by and large eliminate the Cape May, especially when combined with no streaking on the breast and belly; wing bars were two distinct pale yellowish markings, not white or blotched together Blackburnian Warbler - unstreaked back; no distinct cheek patch; no white wing bars on dark wings Blackpoll/Bay-breasted Warbler - unstreaked back; primary identification of fall blackpoll is white undertail coverts which eliminates this bird immediately. Also this complex normally has more distinct white wing bars on darker wings and the streaking on the sides is not the stark black on brilliant yellow but a more muted yellowish wash. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:45:00/18:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Grammer Grove Wildlife Area, 1981	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-05-20	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at Grammer Grove Wildlife Area in Marshall County, IA on May 20, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Beth	Prairie Warbler	Grammer Grove County Wildlife Area	Grammer Grove Wildlife Area, N. Marshall County	General: open river bottom woodlands, about 1/2 mile from Iowa River Specific: a line of 20'-25' sapling willows, in an open area, close to more dense woodland	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Ramona Sommerlot. \| Elimination of similar species: Magnolia or Canada Warbler - however this bird had streaks only on sides with clear yellow underparts - + 2 streaks through + under eyes \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22