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-headed Gull at Dickinson County Landfill, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-07-10	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-headed Gull at Dickinson County Landfill in Dickinson County, IA on July 10, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Black-headed Gull	Dickinson County Landfill	Dickinson County Landfill	Open field	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Huser and five unidentified members of the Loess Hills Audubon Society. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's Gull and Bonaparte's Gull - Dark brown head and wing pattern w/ dark underneath. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
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 Chukar at Davenport, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Introduced birds Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-12-18	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for seven Chukars at Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 18, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Decker, Jacqueline Ruth	Chukar	Davenport	Division & Cheyenne Aves. N.W. Davenport, Scott Co., IA	urban, near edge of city and ag land.	The documentation form by Jacqueline Ruth Decker is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Peter C. Petersen and Leonard Decker. \| Elimination of similar species: Gray Partridge- bill & legs not red, no white & black pattern on head, throat and sides. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	7
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Dog Creek, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form with additional notes for a White-winged Scoter at Dog Creek, in O'Brien County, IA on November 1, 1984.	Brewer, Marion M.	White-winged Scoter	Dog Creek County Park	Dog Creek 4 miles S.E. of Sutherland, Ia.	Small lake	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Huber and Dick Bierman. \| Elimination of similar species: None. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:40:00/15:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur at Doolittle Prairie, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-03-13	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for one to two Smith's Longspurs at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on March 13, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Smith's Longspur	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Dolittle [sic] Prairie, (3 mi. S. Story City) Story Co., Iowa	wet area in weedy farm field	The documentation form by Joe P. Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observer was Alan Branhagen. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Rare bird documentation form for King Rail at Doolittle Prairie, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-04-27	1985-05-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a King Rail at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on April 27, 1985.	Proescholdt, Mark	King Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie - (Story County)	wet prairie potholes	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt and Ramona Sommerlot. \| Elimination of similar species: Virginia Rails are only 1/2 the size of this rail and Virginia rails have gray cheeks. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:45:00/10:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie State Preserve, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-08	1983-05-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie State Preserve in Story County, IA on May 8, 1983.	Armstrong, Eugene	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie north of Ames, Iowa	prairie marsh	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong and Dennis Thompson. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora. smaller, yellow, white wing patches. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for King Rail at Doolittle Prairie, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-06	1983-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a King Rail at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on May 6, 1983.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	King Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie, Ames, Iowa	Wet prairie, pothole fringe.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: See above. In size the bird was easily larger than a Virginia Rail and about the size of a halfgrown pheasant. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41
Rare bird documentation form for King Rail at Doolittle Prairie, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-06	1983-05-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for King Rail at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on May 6, 1983.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	King Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie, Story Co.	flushed from upland burned prairie - flew to short grass marsh	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joe Schaufenbuel. \| Elimination of similar species: Least Bittern - no rusty wing patches, decurved bill Other Rails - large size, heavier bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/07:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-05-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on May 7, 1986.	Martsching, Paul	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie, Story County	wet prairie	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John E. Mayfield. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora does not have white patches on top side of wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:20:00/15:20:20.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-04-28	1985-04-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Yellow Rails in two separate sightings at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on April 28, 1985.	Dinsmore, James J.	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie, Story County	both flushed from along edge of small pothole, prairie areas around both potholes had been burned, one recently, other several weeks ago	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore, George Brown, Gordon Brown, Paul Martsching, and John Mayfield. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora-overall coloration and the wing patches \| The original documentation form event occurred at 10:30:00 for the first sighting and 11:30:00 for the second sighting.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-04-28	1985-04-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Yellow Rails at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on April 28, 1985.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	DooLittle Prairie, Story County		The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Dinsmore, George Brown, Gordon Brown, Paul Martsching. \| Elimination of similar species: other rails by white wing patches and yellowish color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Douglas Cass Township, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-02-19	1983-02-22	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Northern Goshawks at Douglas Cass Township in Boone County, IA on February 19, 1983.	Traub, Mike	Northern Goshawk	Cass Township	Douglas Cass township, Boone County	woodland edge	The documentation form by Mike Traub is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Todd Walrod and Doug Phillips. \| Elimination of similar species: larger than Red-tailed and was not as dark as Red-tailed, also species spotted had eye bands. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull near Horse Island near Davenport, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-01-02	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Thayer's Gull near Horse Island near Davenport in Scott County, IA on January 2, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Thayer's Gull	Horse Island	downstream tip of Enchanted Island. Davenport, Scott Co. IA	Mississippi River - edge of open water, Iowa side	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian Blevins and Corey Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull - eye light, wing tips black with white windows, bill larger than Thayers. California Gull - eye light, wing tips black with white windows, yellow legs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:35:00/13:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Ames, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-08-01	1992-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Peregrine Falcons at Ames in Story County, IA on August 1, 1992.	Oesterreich, Wolfgang	Peregrine Falcon	Ames	downtown Ames		The documentation form by Wolfgang Oesterreich is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:20:00/16:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Davenport, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-12-20	1992-12-22	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 20, 1992.	Blevins, Brian L.	Peregrine Falcon	Davenport	Downtown Davenport, Masonic Temple (Scott Co., IA)	Inner City of Davenport overlooking River	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Corey Blevins and Lewis Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Merlin - By size and full head cap. Gyrfalcon - By size and by full head cap. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for House Finch at Burlington, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-04-12	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a House Finch at Burlington in Des Moines County, IA on April 12, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	House Finch	Burlington	Dr. Harvey Eastburn Home - 3 miles N. of Burlington	Yard - but deep woods edge	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jane Fuller and Charles Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Male Purple Finch - The bird in question had a different red color which was less extensive than the Purple Finch's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:20:00/09:21:00 and 11:50:00/11:52:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Western Tanager near Ames, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-05-07	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Tanager near Ames in Story County, IA on May 7, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Niyo, Kayleen	Western Tanager	Ames	Dr. Kevin Healy's home, Ames, IA	Mature oak/hickory subdivision	The documentation form by Kayleen A. Niyo forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Dinsmore and Kevin Healy were submitted. Other observers include Rosanne Healy, Mary Jane Hatfield, and Lucy Rimler. \| Elimination of similar species: I have seen Western Tanagers in Wyoming and Idaho, so I knew that was what it was. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:30:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	29
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Long-billed Curlew south of Black Hawk Lake, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-22	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Long-billed Curlew south of Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on May 22, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Ernzen, Peter	Long-billed Curlew	Black Hawk Lake	dredge pond area southeast of Blackhawk Lake in Sac Co.		The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joshua Ernzen. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Whimbrel was eliminated by size, color and bill size. The whimbrel should have been slightly smaller to about the same size as the marbled godwits. The brown body and cinnamon wing linings did not fit whimbrel either. The bill size is variable with shorebirds, however the great length of the bill was more suggestive of the long billed curlew. The call heard does not fit the description for whimbrel in my National Geographics [sic] Field guide to Birds of North America. Three outside possibilities the far Eastern curlew, Eurasian curlew, and bristle thighed curlew were eliminated as well. The far Eastern curlew size is about the same as that of the marbled godwit. The bird also has white wing linings with dark barring. The barring would be hard to see, however the lighter color would be distinguishable. The Eurasion [sic] curlew was eliminated because this bird would have a white rump, and white wing linings. The bird I saw in flight turned and twisted. I did not notice any white markings on the rump. The bristle thighed curlew is much more similar to the smaller whimbrel and would be eliminated by small size, shorter bill and call - "chu-a-wut". \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:50:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	24
Rare bird documentation form for Cattle Egret at Des Moines River Valley at Saylorville Lake, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-08-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cattle Egret at Des Moines River Valley at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on August 2, 1984.	Engebretsen, Bery	Cattle Egret	Saylorville Lake	DsM river valley, S.P. Saylorville Lake, along NW 26th St.	river flood plain, open small, permanent pool with reedy shore, surrounded by short grass	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Little blue and snowy have dark bills. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:05:00/18:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-faced Ibis at Du Marsh, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-06-03	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of two White-faced Ibises at Du Marsh in Clay County, IA on June 3, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	White-faced Ibis	Du Marsh Area	Du Marsh, Clay Co.	Open marsh	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Nancy P. Schoenewe and Harold White. \| Elimination of similar species: Glossy Ibis - white facial border and facial skin color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:30:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Broad-winged Hawk at Dubuque, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-01-02	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Broad-winged Hawk at Dubuque in Dubuque County, IA on January 2, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Miller, John Carl	Broad-winged Hawk	Dubuque	Dubuque, IA along the Heritage Trail near Sundown Ski area	Woodland with fields	The documentation form by John Carl Miller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Leta Miller. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:07:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	31
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Dudgeon Lake area, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents) Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-06-06	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Dudgeon Lake in Benton County, IA on June 6, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, three photographs, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Mississippi Kite	Dudgeon Lake State Wildlife Mgt Area	Dudgeon Lake area - N. of Vinton - (Benton Co.)	Riverbottom woods along Cedar River with pond and power line cut	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Steve Dinsmore, Thomas H. Kent, Carl J. Bendorf, Beth Proescholdt, Jim Fuller, Randy Pinkston, Peter C. Petersen, and Diane Porter were submitted later .Other observers include Brian Blevins, Phyllis Harris, Jim Sinclair, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Marc Phelps, Dave Conrads, Anne Barker, and Steve Poe. \| Elimination of similar species: There really are no similar species. An adult Black-shouldered Kite is very distinctive and the immature does not have a barred tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:33:00/07:45:00 and 11:45:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Dugout Creek Waterfowl Production Area, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-10-05	1994-10-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Dugout Creek Waterfowl Production Area in Dickinson County, IA on October 5, 1994.	Harr, Douglas C.	Yellow Rail	Dugout Creek Wildlife Management Area	Dugout Creek Waterfowl Production ARea [sic], 3 mi. SE of Lake Park, Dickinson Co.	sedge mat zone of a glacial fen, near banks of Dugout Creek	The documentation form by Douglas C. Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Station Evaluation Team. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora--larger, darker, commonly seen in area wetlands. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:10:00/14:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Dunbar Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-09-21	1980-09-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Dunbar Slough in Greene County, IA on September 21, 1980.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Merlin		Dunbar Slough, Greene Co Iowa	Marsh with mud flats, trees adjacent to marsh, Dunbar Slough	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol Newlon, Michael Newlon, and Tom Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: Size differed from Peregrine seen early at same location. Marking specific for Merlin. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:15:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32