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 Lincoln's Sparrow at Brenton Slough, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-21	1997-12-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lincoln's Sparrow at Brenton Slough in Polk County, IA on December 21, 1997.	Sinclair, Jim	Lincoln's Sparrow	Brenton Slough	Brenton Slough	marsh edge	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: smaller, more compact bird than Song Sparrow. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	61
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Harrier at Brenton Slough, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-11-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Harrier at Brenton Slough in Polk County, IA on November 4, 1988.	Sinclair, Jim	Northern Harrier	Brenton Slough	Brenton Slough		The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: First impression was of a first year ring-bill gull! \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	22
Rare bird documentation form for Trumpeter Swan at Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-12-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Trumpeter Swans at Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on December 19, 1999.	Toll, Jerry	Trumpeter Swan	Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge	Boyer Chute NWR	open field	The documentation form by Jerry Toll is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. It was compiled into a document by Mindy Sheets later. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	30
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup south of Council Bluffs, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-03-28	1982-03-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Scaup south of Council Bluffs in Mills County, IA on March 28, 1982.	Moore, Francis L.	Greater Scaup	Council Bluffs	Borrow pit along I-29 South of Council Bluffs (Northbound Lane) Mills Co.	Deep water pond	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup has a definite pointed shaped head, and appears smaller than this bird did, also does not have as long a white wing stripe into the primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:20:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Boone Wildlife Research Station, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-08-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Boone Wildlife Research Station south of Ledges State Park in Boone County, IA on August 25, 1986.	Reeves, Doug	Northern Goshawk	Ledges State Park	Boone Wildlife Research Station just south of Ledges State Park	Oak woods, open fields	The documentation form by Doug Reeves is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include DeWaine Jackson, Tom Putnam and Jim Kienzler. \| Elimination of similar species: Too large for a Cooper's hawk (it was big!!), or a broad-winged hawk. No other gray hawks of that size and description that I am aware of. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Worth Township in Boone County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-02-18	1983-02-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Worth Township in Boone County, IA on February 18, 1983.	Martin, Kevin	Northern Goshawk	Worth Township	Boone County, Worth Township Sec. 8	Upland woods	The documentation form by Kevin Martin is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol Brown. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:42:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Common Barn Owl at Worth Township in Boone County, 1984	Field notes	Bird banding Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Barn Owl at Worth Township in Boone County, IA on May 30, 1984.	Ehresman, Bruce	Barn Owl	Worth Township	Boone County, Worth Township (T-83N, R-26W) Sec. 21	Deciduous woodland edge (Wildlife Research Station)	The documentation form by Bruce Ehresman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rick Dietz. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form for Common Barn Owl at Jackson Township in Boone County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-07-08	1983-07-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Barn Owl at Jackson Township in Boone County, IA on July 8, 1983.	Ehresman, Bruce	Barn Owl	Jackson Township	Boone County, Jackson Township (T-84N, R-25W) Sec. 11 + 14	Corn/Beans/oats - grassy roadside	The documentation form by Bruce Ehresman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marlene Ehresman. \| Elimination of similar species: Barred owl is larger and gray. Great Horned Owl is larger, has ear tufts, and not pure white on all underparts. Short-eared owl has darker face and black wrist patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:50:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Boone County, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-01-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Boone County, IA on January 1, 1999.	Havlik, Mike	Merlin	Boone County	Boone County	Bird was spotted flapping about 1 foot off of the ground, landed in the corner of a corn field and began feeding on an unidentified bird.	The documentation form by Michael Havlik is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Schmitz and Jason O'Brian. \| Elimination of similar species: American Kestrel - no black mustache marks, no rufous on back. Sharp-shinned Hawk - pointed wings, dark eye, wide tail band, open field habitat. Peregrine and Prairie Falcon - smaller size, lack of bold mustache. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/11:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at Ledges State Park, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-07-25	1996-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mississippi Kite at Ledges State park in Boone County, IA on July 25, 1996.	Allen, Pam	Mississippi Kite	Ledges State Park	Boone Co., Ledges State Park		The documentation form by Pam Allen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Reid Allen, Eloise Armstrong, and Eugene Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: White-tailed Kite has a white tail and black shoulder patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Riverton Game Management Area, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-12-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Riverton Game Management Area in Fremont County, IA on December 21, 1985.	Silcock, W. Ross	Merlin	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Boat ramp area; Riverton GMA.	Floodplain, open deciduous	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Barb Wilson. It was compiled by Betty Walters. \| Elimination of similar species: small, bigger than Kestrel. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:10:00/11:12:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Blue Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-10	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Trumpeter Swan at Blue Lake in Monona County, Iowa on April 10, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Huser, Bill F.	Trumpeter Swan	Blue Lake	Blue Lake, Monona County, Iowa	marshy oxbow with open, but shallow, water	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Peter Ernzen was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Mute swans usually have a curved neck posture with the bill held below horizontal. Their springtime bill color is expected to be pink. Tundra Swans are expected to have a concave bill, a slight forehead and a smaller proportioned bill. The facial skin extending to the eye is less substantial. The neck posture is usually vertical without the 'kink' at the base. The feathered edge between the eyes forms a straight line. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-faced Ibis at Blue Lake, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-20	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a White-faced Ibis at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on May 20, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	White-faced Ibis	Blue Lake	Blue Lake, Monona Co., IA	Marshy, open backwater slough.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The white feathering around the eye, red eye, and carmine legs eliminate Glossy Ibis. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Rare bird documentation form for Cinnamon Teal at Blue Lake, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-11-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cinnamon Teal at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on November 30, 1994.	Ernzen, Peter	Cinnamon Teal	Blue Lake	Blue Lake in Monona Co.	Lake - 99% ice covered	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Don't know of any. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:54:00/12:24:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-faced Ibis at Blue Lake, 1995	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-25	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of nine White-faced Ibis at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on April 25, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	White-faced Ibis	Blue Lake	Blue L., Monona Co., IA	Missouri River bottoms oxbow -- shallow, open	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pete Ernzen. \| Elimination of similar species: The white facial feathers, red eyes, and all carmine legs eliminate Glossy Ibis, the only contender. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/09:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Northern Shrike near Battle Creek, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-07-15	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Northern Shrike near Battle Creek in Ida County, IA on July 15, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	DeVore, Dawn L.	Northern Shrike	Battle Creek	Block 376 Ida County, 2.3 miles South on county pavement, South of Battle Creek, turn 1/2 mile East, turn North into field-lane, Ida County, Iowa.	Open farm land, a hay field on one side, and a corn field on the other side. The bird was along a fence row.	The documentation form by Dawn L. De Vore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Don Poggensee and Pam Poggensee. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerhead Shrike: On the bird that was seen the top of the bill was dark black and the bottom was a lighter in color. A Loggerhead has a completely black bill. The bird that was seen was a light gray, much lighter than a Loggerhead adult. The bird was not a juv. Loggerhead because the black patch on the head is very different than that of a Loggerhead. On a Loggerhead the black area or patch is very wide and runs along both over and under the eye, it also continues back toward the back of the head meeting up with the gray on the back of the birds head. On the bird that was seen the black area or patch did not run both over and under the eye, it only ran under the eye. Also the patch did not meet up with the gray on the back of the birds head, the black area was surrounded on three sides by white, never letting the black meet up with the gray. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/15:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	39
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-11-18	1996-01-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on November 18, 1995.	Huser, Bill F.	Glaucous Gull	Black Hawk Lake	Blackhawk Lake, Sac County, IA	lake ice/open water	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jerry Probst, Bob Livermore, Pete Ernzen, and unidentified members of the Loess Hills Audubon Society. \| Elimination of similar species: Relatively few gulls have pale coloration in their immature plumages. Also, few have pale colored primaries. Those fitting this description: Iceland Gull- smaller than a Herring Gull, with a disproportionally [sic] smaller bill. 1st winter with an all dark bill. Thayer's Gull- usually darker colored over-all, with an [sic] smaller, all dark bill in immatures and usually some darker colored primaries. Glaucous-winged Gull- though having a large bill, it is all dark in 1st and 2nd winter plumages \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	37
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sabine's Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-09-05	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sabine's Gull at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on September 5, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, a photocopy of a photograph, and eight documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Sabine's Gull	Black Hawk Lake	Black Hawk Lake and spoil pond east of the lake, Lake View, Sac County		The documentation form by Babs Padelford and Loren Padelford forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ross Silcock, Peter Ernzen, Thomas H. Kent, James Fuller, Don Poggensee, Mark Proesholdt, and Ed Thelen were submitted. Other observers include Roland Barth, Jim Sinclair, Dick Tetrault, Jane Fuller, Beth Proescholdt, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Doug Rose, Russ Widner, Rob Thelen, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It was a small, dark gray gull, smaller in size than Ring-billed Gulls that were present for direct comparison. The mantle color was darker than Ring-billed mantles. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	9
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-02-11	1996-02-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on February 11, 1996.	Thelen, Ed	Thayer's Gull	Black Hawk Lake	Black Hawk Lake Sac County	Natural Lake - near open water from aerator	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rob Thelen and Peter Ernzen. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull has dark lesser coverts and dark feathers under the wing tips. More distinct tail band + larger bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-10-23	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on October 23, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Ernzen, Peter	Great Black-backed Gull	Black Hawk Lake	Black hawk Lake	Lake	The documentation form by Pete Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Livermore. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Because I did not see the bird from front I could not eliminate other species - However due to its extreme size I eliminated all other species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:34:00/10:34:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon east of Reinbeck, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-02-26	1989-02-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon east of Reinbeck in Black Hawk County, IA on February 26, 1989.	Proescholdt, Beth	Prairie Falcon	Reinbeck	Black Hawk County - 4 1/2 miles east of Reinbeck on #175	open farmland, unused silos beside busy road	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Proescholdt, Dennis Thompson, Cecille Thompson, Reid Allen, Pam Allen, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine - the bird we saw was very light brown, had a thin mustache stripe & not a Peregrine's wider sideburn, & it had dark axillars as well as underwing coverts. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:10:00/17:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Records Committe review for rare bird sighting for Whimbrel at Bjorkboda Marsh, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-10-01	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Whimbrel at Bjorkboda Marsh in Hamilton County, IA on October 1, 1995. Includes one record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Jackson, Maridel	Whimbrel	Bjorkboda Marsh	Bjorkboda Marsh in Hamilton Co.		The documentation form by Maridel Jackson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Barb Bettis. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It too landed in the shallow water and muddy shore area and as I scoped it dettermined it had to be a whimbrel. I have seen them only in Texas, but this bird could not have been anything else. It was slightly larger than the willet or the greater yellow legs and it had a obvious white eyestripe and dark legs. It's bill was not nearly as long a long billed curlew, but was obviously very decurved. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1980	Administrative records Field notes Maps (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-05-18	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 18, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes, a map of the sighting area, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	Bird was located on East side of Sweet Marsh, which is outside of Tripoli to the East. Observation was on a dike that comes off of and South of parking lot on second road going to the marsh as you proceed North from the Southern part of the Marsh. See map for location, at asterisk.	Habitat bird was found in was a grassy area about 2' to 2 1/2' tall about 2' from dike and extending approximately 50' from dike. All around this particular area was large concentrations of cattails and sedges. Water was approximately 2" to 4" deep in area of sighting with deeper water on 3 sides of the area and the dike on the fourth side.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Robert Myers and Joe Schaufenbuel. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:15:00.	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	1980-05-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 18, 1980.	Moore, Francis L.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	Bird was located on East side of Sweet Marsh, which is outside of Tripoli to the East. Observation was on a dike that comes off of and South of parking lot on second road going to the marsh as you proceed North from the Southern part of the Marsh. See map for location at asterisk.	Habitat bird was found in was a grassy area about 2' to 2 1/2' tall about 2' from dike and extending approximately 50' from dike. All around this particular area was large concentrations of cattails and sedges. Water was approximately 2" to 4" deep in area of sighting with deeper water on 3 sides of the area and the dike on the fourth side.	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 Joe Schaufenbuel. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:15:02.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Baltimore Oriole at Cedar Rapids, 1990	Field notes	Bird feeders Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-12-15	1990-12-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Baltimore Oriole at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on December 15, 1990.	Wickham, Peter P.	Baltimore Oriole	Cedar Rapids	Bird feeder, 100 Thompson Drive S.E., Cedar Rapids	Suburban area, with condominiums, private homes, lawns & trees	The documentation form by Pete Wickham is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Durbin and three unidentified people with other bird feeders. \| Elimination of similar species: There are no similar species that I can think of. It wasn't a Bullock's type, which would have orange on the face and a big white wing patch.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	79