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 Peregrine Falcon in Delaware County, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-06	1984-05-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon in east-central Delaware County, IA on April 6, 1984.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Peregrine Falcon	Delaware County	EC Delaware Co., along hgwy 20	Typical Iowa countryside-cultivated fields with scattered small woodlots and stream bottoms.	The documentation form by Carl Bendorf is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: First impression of size of Red-tail seems to rule out Merlin. Falcon shape of wings rules out accipiters. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Zirbel Slough, 1988	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-08-04	1988-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-necked Grebe at Zirbel Slough in Cerro Gordo County, IA on August 4, 1988.	Walter, Janice L.	Red-necked Grebe	Zirbel Slough	East-west dike on north side of Zirbel Slough, Cerro Gordo Co., Ia	small open pool in dense marsh. Pool at base of dike.	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Walter. \| Elimination of similar species: Shape and behavior of Grebe. Size eliminated Pied-billed, Eared, and Horned Grebes. Reddish instead of white neck and thicker, heavier bill eliminated Western Grebe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 20:14:00/20:24:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
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
Rare bird documentation form for Common Moorhen at Sweet Marsh, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-08-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for thirteen Common Moorhens at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on August 11, 1985.	Moore, Francis L.	Common Moorhen	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co., Iowa	Mixed marsh, Cattail and Indian Grass and Smart Weed and others	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: American Coot is slate gray on the body with a white bill and does not have the white longitudinal line below the wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:40:00/14:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	44
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Sweet Marsh, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon on the east side of Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 15, 1984.	Moore, Francis L.	Peregrine Falcon	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co., IA	Cattail marsh along Wapsipinicon River	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers. \| Elimination of similar species: No other bird looks like an adult Peregrine with the black mustache patches in front of the eye, the steel blue-black back and wings and light colored breast and belly. Accipiters do not look or fly like this bird did. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:35:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin east side of Sweet Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-16	1983-04-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin east side of Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 16, 1983.	Moore, Francis L.	Merlin	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co.	Open disked field along road, river bottom, mixed deciduous woods near-by	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers and Russell Hays. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine Falcon is larger with dark facial pattern Peregrine breast is also barred not streaked. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:25:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Warbler at Sweet Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Warbler at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 13, 1983.	Moore, Francis L.	Prairie Warbler	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co.	Boggy Yellow Birch area turning into Oak and Hickory mix	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers. \| Elimination of similar species: No other warbler has white wing bars large bold black splotchy stripes down the side with a yellow breast, belly and throat and an olive green back and also wags its tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:05:00/10:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	30
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Warbler at Sweet Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Warbler on the east side of Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 12, 1983.	Moore, Francis L.	Prairie Warbler	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co.	Boggy Yellow Birch area turning into Oak and Hickory mix	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers. \| Elimination of similar species: No other warbler this color with the black stripe through the eye and the black stripe extending down in front of and below the eye, with dark bold black stripes down the side. No other warbler has a song that buzzes up the scale in a chromatic fashion like the Prairie. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:40:00/10:48:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	30
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-05-11	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 11, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh - Bremer Co. Iowa	The bird flushed in exactly the same place as one did May 26, 1979 for Francis Moore and me. The area has short grass (less than a foot high) and the water under the grass is about 4" or 5" deep. Francis flushed the bird again May 18, 1980.	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	11
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-05-11	1980-05-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 11, 1980.	Myers, Robert K.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh - Bremer Co. Iowa	This bird flushed in exactly the same place as one did May 26, 1979 for Francis Moore and me. The area has short grass (less than a foot high) and the water under the grass is about 4" or 5" deep. Francis flushed the bird again May 18, 1980.	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Saylorville Reservoir Dam, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-10-29	1982-10-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Northern Goshawks at Saylorville Reservoir Dam in Polk County, IA on October 29, 1982.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Northern Goshawk	Saylorville Dam	East side of Saylorville Reservoir Dam, Polk Co., Iowa	Hickory - Oak Hillside, along Reservoir	The documentation form by Joseph P. Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Buteo shape and flight different. Cooper's Hawk would be smaller, with a more rapid wing beat and have rusting or streaked underparts. \| The original documentation form event occurred at two different times first 11:00:00 and second 13:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-14	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake south of Jewell in Hamilton County, IA on April 14, 1984.	Moore, Francis L.	Red-necked Grebe	Little Wall Lake	East side of Little Wall Lake, South of Jewell, Hamilton Co., IA	Open Lake, no cover present close by.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers, Hank Zaletel, Carl Bendorf, Tom Kent, Tom Staudt, and others. \| Elimination of similar species: Much larger and radically different in coloration from the Horned Grebe nearby. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Peregrine Falcon at Ames, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-01-31	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Peregrine Falcon at Ames in Story County, IA on January 31, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bostian, Kelly	Peregrine Falcon	Ames	East side of Iowa State University Campus	Tree top approximately 40-45 ft. east of Heady Hall (East Hall)	The documentation form by Kelly Bostian is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Prairie Falcon: Absence of dark terminal band on tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:10:00/17:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	5
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Heady Hall at Iowa State University, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-01-31	1984-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon near Heady Hall at Iowa State University in Ames in Story County, IA on January 31, 1984.	Bostian, Kelly	Peregrine Falcon	Heady Hall	East side of Iowa State University Campus	Tree top approximately 40-45 ft. east of Heady Hall (East Hall)	The documentation form by Kelly Bostian is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Prairie Falcon: Absence of dark terminal band on tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:10:00/17:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at East River Valley Park, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-11-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at East River Valley Park at Ames in Story County, IA on November 3, 1982.	Bennett, Richard S.	Northern Goshawk	River Valley Park	East River Valley Park, Ames, Iowa	Floodplain woodlot next to skunk river	The documentation form by Richard S. Bennett is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Only other bird that size with a dark eye band would be an osprey, but the hawk was not that large + the back was definitely a blue-gray color. Also, wrong habitat. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:20:00 .	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Buff-breasted Sandpiper east of Zearing, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-05-14	1986-05-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Buff-breasted Sandpiper east of Zearing on Marshall and Story County line, IA on May 14, 1986.	Proescholdt, Mark	Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Zearing	East of Zearing in Marshall Co. on Marshall-Story Co. line	A pond in flooded field with new corn coming up	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt. \| Elimination of similar species: A Reeve has white oval spots on tail and lacks the buffiness we saw. An Upland Sandpiper has longer neck and streakings on the neck and throat and lacks buffiness. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	25
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Greencastle Road at Coralville Reservoir, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Greencastle Road at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on December 19, 1993.	Fuller, James L	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Coralville Lake	East of the north end of the Greencastle Road at the Coralville Reservoir (Johnson County).	Shallow water and mudflats.	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John McClure, Chris Edwards, and Jonnie Ellsworth. \| Elimination of similar species: All other dark mantled gulls have a larger size. They also have pink legs, with the exception of Yellow-footed Gull, which has never been known to wander from Baja and Southern California. Yellow-footed gull is also considerably larger. No one disagreed with identification. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:55:00/13:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Western Kingbird east of Steamboat Rock, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-05-11	1990-05-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Kingbird east of Steamboat Rock in Hardin County, IA on May 11, 1990.	Proescholdt, Mark	Western Kingbird	Steamboat Rock	East of Steamboat Rock in Hardin County	Overgrown pasture area	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cassin's Kingbird does not have white along the tail edges. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/09:46:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	72
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon east of Lost Island Lake, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-04-03	1993-04-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon east of Lost Island Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on April 3, 1993.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Prairie Falcon	Lost Island Lake	East of Lost Island Lake, Clay County [actually Palo Alto County], Iowa	farmland near glacial lakes	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lee Schoenewe, Bob Cecil, and Harold White. \| Elimination of similar species: This was the best view I have ever had at the underwing of Prairie Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:45:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie east of Lindsay Wilderness Area, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-11-20	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie east of Lindsay Wilderness Area in Van Buren County, IA on November 20, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Vickers, William P.	Black-billed Magpie	Lindsay Wilderness Area	East of Lindsay Wilderness, Bonaparte, Ia	Second growth woodland near open pasture	The documentation form by William Vickers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include W.C. Cockerell and Mike Bentler. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerhead shrike, which is much smaller \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Gyrfalcon at Kettleson Hogsback, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-09-25	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Gyrfalcon at Kettleson Hogsback in Dickinson County, IA on September 25, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schantz, Tim	Gyrfalcon	Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area	East of Kettleson Hogback entrance, Dickenson [sic] Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Tim Schantz is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Maridel Jackson, Ross Silcock, Jane R. Clark, and Jim Sinclair were submitted later. Other observers include John Cecil, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Northern Goshawk- Although Goshawks have been known to show pointed wings, they are never as pointed as a Falcon's. I have seen many Northern Goshawks and jizz alone would rule this one out. I saw no barring on the tail. One of the prime field marks on a Goshawk are the bright white undertail coverts which this bird did not have. The bird in question also lacked a dark crown. Peregrine Falcon- Size. No dark helmet. Jizz (mentioned above). The bird lacked overall contrast of a Peregrine Falcon. Juveniles would be brown. Prairie Falcon- Color. Prairies are a brown bird in all plumages. The underwing was uniform with no black axillaries. Habitat. Prairies feed almost exclusively on small mammals. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Rare bird documentation form for Ibis species at east of Jewell and south of Anderson Lake, 1991	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-05-08	1991-05-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an Ibis species east of Jewell and south of Anderson Lake in Hamilton County, IA on May 8, 1991.	Proescholdt, Mark	Glossy Ibises	Anderson Goose Lake	East of Jewell and south of Anderson Lake - (Hamilton co.)	small pond in a corn field	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ramona Sommerlot, Ann Johnson, Tim Schantz, Beth Brown, and Beth Proescholdt. \| Elimination of similar species: This was a white-faced Ibis or a Glossy Ibis. A first spring white ibis would show lots of white in its plumage colorations. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:20:00/18:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie east of the Sergeant Floyd Memorial Bridge near Sioux City, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-12-29	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie east of the Sergeant Floyd Memorial Bridge near Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on December 29, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Probst, Jerry	Black-billed Magpie	Interchange 144A	East of Floyd Monument Bridge across Mo. River Woodbury Co.		The documentation form by Jerry Probst is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing with that profile larger + blacker than a blue jay. White color + tail eliminate crow \| The original documentation form event occurred around 16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie east of the Sergeant Floyd Memorial Bridge near Sioux City, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-12-29	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie east of the Sergeant Floyd Memorial Bridge near Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on December 29, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Probst, Jerry	Black-billed Magpie	Interchange 144A	East of Floyd Monument Bridge across Mo. River Woodbury Co		The documentation form by Jerry Probst is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing with that profile larger + blacker than a blue jay. White color + tail eliminate crow \| The original documentation form event occurred around 16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Rare bird documentation form for King Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-08-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a King Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on August 11, 1985.	Moore, Francis L.	King Rail	Sweet Marsh	East of Dike that is an extension of the dead-end road on East side of Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co., Iowa	Open ditch with a dike on one side with cattail marsh on both sides of ditch.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was about the size of a Blue-winged Teal in body size which eliminates Virginia Rail on size. No other rail in Iowa is this color and size. In some respects it looked like a very large Virginia Rail only brighter cinnamon on the breast, browner on the head and with a darker looking bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:08:00/14:08:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41