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 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
Rare bird documentation form for Hermit Thrush at Sundown Ski Area near Asbury, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1981-12-26	1981-12-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hermit Thrush Sundown Ski Area near Asbury in Dubuque County, IA on December 26, 1981.	Miller, John Carl	Hermit Thrush	Asbury	Along the Heritage Trail across the crick from the longest ski run of Sundown Ski Area.	Streamside cover consisting of: understory (shrubs and bushes). Young tree growth and some mature trees (all deciduous). Cedars nearby.	The documentation form by John Carl Miller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian Larson. \| Elimination of similar species: smaller than a robin larger than a sparrow \| The original documentation form event occurred from 08:30:00/08:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	9
Rare bird documentation form for Black-throated Blue Warbler at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-27	1986-09-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentaiton form for a Black-throated Blue Warbler at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park in Van Buren County, IA on September 27, 1986.	Cecil, John	Black-throated Blue Warbler	Lacey-Keosauqua State Park	Lacey Keosauqua S.P. Nr. Keosauqua, Iowa Near Ely Ford	along trail in woods.	The documentation form by John Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Robert Cecil and James Sandrock. \| Elimination of similar species: Cerulean warbler has white throat and streaks on sides. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eurasian Collared Dove at Rutland, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-06-15	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for six Eurasian Collared Doves at Rutland in Humboldt County, IA during late June, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Smeltzer, John F.	Eurasian Collared Dove	Rutland	Town of Rutland, Humboldt County, Iowa	Seen repeatedly and photographed at bird feeder/waterer.	The documentation form by John F. Smeltzer, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include entire Smeltzer family (wife, daughter, son, father, mother, and brother). \| Elimination of similar species: Mourning dove.....they were too large and the wrong color. Common pigeon.....too small, wrong color as well. Ringed dove......domestic and too fragile for the environment they were surviving in.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	9
Rare bird documentation form for Mute Swan at Mason City, 1982	Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-04-01	1983-03-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mute Swan at Lake Cona Toma in Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 1982. It also includes an article "Sign of spring" in the Mason City Globe Gazette on March 22, 1983 about the bird sighting.	Powell, John M., 1913-1995	Mute Swan	Lake Cona Toma	Mason City, Iowa - Lake Conatoma [sic]	Man made lake -13 acres-	The documentation form by John M. Powell is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include wife, daughter, grandson, and 47 residents. \| Elimination of similar species: Whistling Swan - Black straight bill - Pictures for proof. Orange bill with black knob at base is Mute Swan. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the morning and evening.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	29
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Swainson's Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-12	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Swainson's Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on May 12, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, field notes, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Mayfield, John E.	Swainson's Warbler	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames IA	Open park land, Large trees with grass beneath.	The documentation form by John Mayfield is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Chipping sparrow: observed warbler had less vibrant color, was less active, warbler bill not sparrow bill. Palm warbler: no yellow or yellowish color, no tail wagging definitely not a palm warbler. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:50:00/12:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Casey Barrow Access, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-10-13	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Casey Barrow Access in Des Moines County, IA on October 13, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form with an appendix submitted to the committee.	Fuller, Charles R. Rutenbeck, John	Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Casey Barrow Landing	Sandbar in Mississippi R. at Casey Barrow Access, ID Mis. N. of Burlington	Shallow Water, Sand, Low Vegetation	The documentation form by John Rutenbeck and Chuck Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The bird in question was feeding along the sand/grass edge of the river along with a definate [sic] Pectoral Sandpiper (Several-perhaps up to 4), and an immediate difference was apparent. Those differences were: 1) An over-all buffier (tanner or browner) color. 2) Light buffy chest that ended like a Pectoral but not a streaked-abrupt bib like Pectoral 3) Definite white eye brow 4) What appeared to be a dark brown cap on top of head. Over-all size and shape similar to Pectoral Sandpiper. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher at Sioux Center, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-06	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on May 6, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Vermilion Flycatcher	Sioux Center	In approximately the center of Harry Kuhl's farm, located at the east end of Sioux Center, Sioux Co., Iowa. The specific area in which we found the bird consists of wet bottomlands with creek and tall willows and many broken branches, snags, and stumps. The bird used snags and branches near and over the creek as perch. The lighting, provided by partly cloudy skies which gradually clouded over completely as the afternoon wore on, was excellent, as the sun was largely behind us. We observed the bird from distances varying between 20 feet and 60 yards.	[...] a section of tall trees, extensive shrub area, open fields, and in the center, surrounded by pasture land and agricultural fields, an area of wet bottomlands transversed by a creek (beaver occurs here) through a fairly open stand of tall black willows; broken limbs and snags are scattered throughout the area (see enclosed photographs).	The documentation form by John Van Dyk forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Gordon Brown was submitted. Other observers include Ken Venhuizen, Mike Van Dyk, Jan Van Dyk, and John Kevin Van Dyk. \| Elimination of similar species: This category hardly applies since a male Vermilion Flycatcher is quite unmistakable. If there is any bird with which it might possibly be confused -- perhaps at great distance -- it would be a Scarlet Tanager. However, our bird was much smaller, had no red on its back, had black patchy line through its eye, had a thin dark flycatcher bill instead of a light-colored tanager bill, and behaved like a flycatcher. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/17:00:00 on May 6, 1983 and 06:30:00/07:00:00 on May 7, 1983.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mountain Bluebird at Big Sioux River in Western Sioux County, 1979	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1979-04-07	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird at Big Sioux River in Western Sioux County in Sioux County, IA on April 7, 1979. Includes a record review document with votes, two articles in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Mountain Bluebird	Garfield Township	Along dirt road through dry hilly fields bordering the Big Sioux River in extreme western Sioux Co., appoximately 1 1/2 miles south-east of Hudson, S.D., and approximately 2 1/2 miles north of junction of Big Sioux and Rock Rivers.	Area of open dry rolling hills between Big Sioux and Rock Rivers.	The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Mike Van Dyk. \| Elimination of similar species: The blue of Eastern and Western Bluebird is much deeper than of this bird. Both these species show reddish or rusty on breast, and both exhibit a distinctive hunched position. There is no possibility of confusion with Blue Grosbeak (which occurs in our area in summer): its large conical beak and blue underparts exclude it. The Indigo Bunting is dark blue all over and has a sparrow-like bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Rare bird documentation form for Say's Phoebe near Rock Sioux Access, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-05-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Say's Phoebe near Rock Sioux Access in Sioux County, IA on May 7, 1979.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Say's Phoebe	Rock Sioux Access	[...] near bridge across Rock River, about 12 miles due west of Sioux Center, in Sioux Co., Iowa.	[...] The general habitat is a mixture of open fields, rolling hills, and woods along the Rock River. The bird was observed in an open area.	The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The bird was obviously not a Robin, with which it could possibly be confused. The brick-red of the Robin is quite different. The Robin is also larger. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 07:30:00/07:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	70
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon in the Fairview area, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-01-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon in the Fairview area in Sioux County, IA on January 4, 1989.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Prairie Falcon	Fairview Area	Iowa in Sioux County just east of the Big Sioux River in the Fairview area		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I at once ruled out a Peregrine: the bird did not have strong head markings (no dark crown, and no heavy 'sideburns') and was altogether too light to be a female Peregrine.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Rock Valley Wildlife Area, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-09-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Rock Valley Wildlife Area in Sioux County, IA on September 21, 1994.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Merlin	Rock Wildlife Area	Rock Valley Wildlife Area		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I had seen Sharp-shinned Hawks in this area a week before, but the pointed wings made me recognize at once I was looking at a falcon. [...] no Kestrel-like head markings. \| The original documentation form event lasted around twenty minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Winterfeld Park, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1998-12-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Winterfeld Park in Sioux County, IA on December 2, 1998.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Surf Scoter	Winterfeld Boat and Fish Area	Winterfeld Park along the north side of Rock Valley in Sioux County		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I rule out any possible confusions, as follows: - White-winged Scoter has white in the wing and lacks sharp contrast between crown and face - Black Scoter has rounded forehead and lacks pale head patches - Ruddy Duck is smaller, has differently shaped bill and dark line across cheek - Female Scaups have white in the wing, differently shaped white patch at base of bill, and little contrast between crown and face. \| The original documentation form event occurred for around 20 minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin between Sioux-Rock public access and Oak Grove Park, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-09-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin between Sioux-Rock public access and Oak Grove Park in Sioux County, IA on September 24, 1994.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Merlin	Oak Grove State Park Rock River Access	Between the Sioux-Rock public access area and Oak Grove Park		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: In addition, it would fly every few minutes or so, back and forth between several dead trees, displaying it pointed wings, brownish upperparts, banded tail, and absence of any rufous on its upper parts. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Sioux Center, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-09-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on September 16, 1993.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Peregrine Falcon	Sioux Center	Sioux Center, IA 51250		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Its clear head markings definitely rule out a Prairie Falcon (which is now becoming a regular visitor here in winter), and the bird was much too large to be a smaller (e.g., Merlin). \| The original documentation form event occurred for around five minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Big Sioux Recreation Area, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-09-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Big Sioux Recreation Area in Sioux County, IA on September 7, 1994.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Merlin	Big Sioux Reacreation Area	[...] South Pits just south of Hawarden in western Sioux County.		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: My first thought was that I was looking at a Kestrel. A second look, however, immediately revealed the absence of the facial markings characteristic of a Kestrel. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Townsend's Solitaire at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-02-03	1979-02-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Townsend's Solitaire at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon in O'Brien County, IA on February 3, 1979.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Townsend's Solitaire	East Lawn Cemetery	East Lawn cemetery, Sheldon (extreme western O'Brien Co.), Iowa. This cemetery covers an extensive area and is planted with many large evergreen, viz., spruce (mostly Norway Spruce), pine (Austrian Pine, I think), and a species of cedar or juniper (I am not sure of the species; it resembles the Red Cedar of the East somewhat, but has a more open crown); these junipers carry many blue berries.	among evergreen, moving from tree to tree, selecting mostly the juniper/cedar trees, see above: Location	The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: one who knows neither the Solitaire not the Mockingbird might conceivably mistake it for the latter. But the Mockingbird is larger, has no eye ring, shows no buff on the wing, and flashes conspicuous white in wing and tail in flight. I have lived both in California and in southern New York, where the Mockingbird is common: I am very familiar with the Mockingbird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	5
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin west of Sioux Center, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-09-17	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin west of Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on September 17, 1988.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Merlin	Sioux Center	Sioux Center (Sioux Co).		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was either a female or a juvenile: brownish above, and striped (lengthwise) breast. There was no possible confusion with a Kestrel: the bird possessed no distinctive Kestrel head markings and no rufous on back and tail.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Sioux Center, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-03-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on March 27, 1987.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Merlin	Sioux Center	Sioux Center (Sioux Co).		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: There were many migrating Kestrels in the area, but I recognized this bird at once as a Merlin because of its distinctively striped breast (it was facing the road) [...] Size about of a Kestrel, but no distinctive Kestrel-like head markings and no rufous on back and tail. [...] I rule out Kestrel on basis already indicated above, as well as Sharp-shinned Hawk, since this bird had pointed wings and the breast striping was lengthwise on light background, rather than crosswise on reddish or rusty background.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon in Western Sioux County, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-10-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon in Western Sioux County, IA on October 24, 1990.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Peregrine Falcon	Sioux County	Western Sioux County (about 11 miles straight west of Sioux Center)		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird was most definitely not a Prairie Falcon. Its slaty upper parts and very dark head markings completely rule out such a possible confusion. \| The original documentation form event lasted for five minutes or so.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Oak Grove Park, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-11-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Oak Grove Park in Sioux County, IA on November 6, 1998.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Golden Eagle	Oak Grove State Park	Oak Grove Park area in western Sioux County		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon east of Hawarden, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-11-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon east of Hawarden in western Sioux County, IA on November 23, 1990.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Prairie Falcon	Hawarden	some five miles east of Hawarden in western Sioux County.		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Sioux Center, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-10-03	1989-10-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on October 3, 1989.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Merlin	Sioux Center	top of a dead tree in a neighbor's yard.		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include his wife Susan Van Dyk. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was about the size of a Kestrel, but lacked the bold facial markings. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon for more than twenty minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Sioux Center, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-02-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on February 6, 1982.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Prairie Falcon	Sioux Center	approximately three miles south-west of Sioux Center (Sioux Co.)		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Kevin. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Sioux Center, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-01-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on January 1, 1989.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Merlin	Sioux Center	farmyard just a little bit east of our home in Sioux Center		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tina Van Dyke and Wendy Van Dyk. \| Elimination of similar species: I saw at once that the bird was not a Kestrel but a Merlin. The bird was about the size of a Kestrel, but lacked the bold facial markings, exhibited no rufous on back or tail, showed vertically streaked underparts, and its tail was barred. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon with two sightings with one for an unknown length of time and the other for three to four minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32