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 Magnificent Frigatebird at Red Rock Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc Wildlife conservation	1988-10-02	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review of a Magnificent Frigatebird at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County on October 2, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article from Iowa Bird Life, an introductory letter from Ann Johnson, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	DeVore, Dawn L.	Magnificent Frigatebird	Lake Red Rock	Behind Visitor Center at Lake Red Rock, Marion Co., IA	Freshwater lake shore	The documentation form by Dawn L. DeVore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: After getting the bird book, I took my knowledge of the birds in the area and my mental picture and went to work. I ruled out the turkey vulture because the bird was too streamlined like a tern. I looked at the terns, soon realizing that there were no almost completely black terns. Thus I turned to the gulls. I knew it had to be a water area type bird because of its body and bill shape. Remembering the bill I quickly ruled out the gulls. Thus I turned to the cormorants but the tail was wrong, the neck was too long and more so the cormorant was out of the picture. Thinking I recalled hearing about a sighting of a rare bird in Iowa, only the night before had I looked at an outline of its body shape. Bingo! That was it! The shapes matched but what was the name? I went through the bird section page by page. Then there it was - the Magnificent Frigatebird. This was it; almost all black, large yet streamlined, "forked" or V shaped "tail", and that unique bill. Then the fact that the bird I saw had no red and two side by side white breast areas confirmed that it was a female Magnificent Frigatebird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/12:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	15
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk west of Conesville, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-04-29	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk west of Conesville on edge of Louisa and Muscatine County, IA on April 29, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Ferruginous Hawk	Conesville	1 mi. W. conesville edge of Muscatine and Louise Cos., IA	cultivated fields	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian, Corey, and Lewis Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Rough-legged hawk - underwing would show more dark in the underwing coverts, well defined tail band. Kriders Red-tail - has a very light head. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:45:00/13:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lesser Goldfinch at Sioux City in 1964	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1964-12-01	1993-09-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Record Committee review for two Lesser Goldfinches at Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on January 16, 1964. Includes a record review document with votes, letter regarding the bid sighting, and the original sighting record found in the publication Lesser Goldfinch at Sioux City in South Dakota Bird Notes 16(4):102-103 by Darrell and Evelyn Hanna also seen by Carol Rogers and Herrold Asmussen.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Lesser Goldfinch	Sioux City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Harlequin Duck at Big Lake in 1895	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1907-01-01	1993-08-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Record Committee review for rare bird sighting for two Harlequin Ducks at Big Lake in Pottawattamie County, IA on September 26, 1895. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson seen by I.S. Trostler, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Harlequin Duck	Big Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Charles City in 1916	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds	1916-09-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Record Committee review for five Brants at Charles City in Floyd County, IA on March 17, 1916. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication 1922-23 by C.L. Fenton seen by John R. Waller, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Charles City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur north of Red Oak, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-03-18	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review for approximately thirty Smith's Longspurs north of Red Oak in Montgomery County, IA on March 18, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Smith's Longspur	Red Oak	4 mi. north of Red Oak - Montgomery Co.	last years hay field - on hill top - very rolling country	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Barbara L. WIlson and Tanya Bray were submitted. Other observers include Ross Silcock, Betsy Myers, B.J. Rose, Melba Wigg, Babs Padelford, Jim Kovanda, John Upchurch, Ruth Green, Sandy Kovanda and many unidentified observers from Omaha. \| Elimination of similar species: I really can't think what looks similar to Smith's in adult breeding plumage. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00 on March 18, 1983 and several other times on March 18 and 19, 1983.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for American Swallow-tailed Kite at Jasper County in 1901	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1932-12-01	1994-02-03	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Record Committee review for an American Swallow-tailed Kite at Jasper County, IA during the of Fall 1901. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Some birds in a Des Moines collection in Wilson Bull 44:236-237 by P.A. DuMont seen by D.J. Bullock, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Swallow-tailed Kite	Jasper County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	24
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red-throated Loon at Pleasant Creek Lake, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-04-13	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn County, IA on April 13, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, a photo and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Red-throated Loon	Pleasant Creek State Park	Pleasant Creek Recreation Area (Linn County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Chris Edwards were submitted later. Other observers include John Daniel, Ken Lowder, and Dale Fye. \| Elimination of similar species: The other smaller loon, Pacific has darker gray upperparts and minimal white marks on the back, gray surrounding the eye, a straight bill, black eye, a more rounded top of the head, and often displays a chin strap, all features which differ from Red-throated Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:37:00/14:54:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-11-30	1994-02-05	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA, on November 30, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a request of the reconsideration of sight records, an Iowa Bird Life article, a summary of review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co. (Cherry Glen Recreation Area)	large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation forms by Paul Martsching was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon was eliminated by bill size, more rounded forehead, unspeckled back, and by the neck pattern. Red-throated Loon was eliminated by bill shape, lack of speckling on the back, and three-toned neck pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:43:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-06	1994-02-05	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 6, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a request of the reconsideration of sight records, and a documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Near Rock rip-rap off shore from Cherry Glen, Saylorville Res., Polk Co. Open water near cove.	Open water near cove	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-throated and Common Loon does not have tri-toned neck pattern as this bird had. Red-throated also has slightly upturned bill, this bird did not. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/12:05:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great-tailed Grackle near Wheatland in 1961	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Rare birds	1961-12-01	1993-08-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Record Committee review for a Great-tailed Grackle near Wheatland in Clinton County, IA on October 18, 1961. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication A Sight Record of the Boat-tailed Grackle in Iowa Bird Life 31(4):88 by Woodward H. Brown seen by C. Esther Copp and Dolly Copp.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Great-tailed Grackle	Wheatland				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	9
Cedar Rapids Christmas bird count	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification Rare birds	1980-12-20	1981-01-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare or unusual species details from the Cedar Rapids Christmas bird count. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of winter 1980-1981.		Field Sparrow White-winged Crossbill Ringed Turtle-Dove Marsh Wren	Cedar Rapids Marion				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	19	6
Rare bird sighting for Prairie Falcon east of Garden City in 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-11-27	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting reported in a Raptor Migration Reporting Form for a Prairie Falcon east of Garden City in Hardin County, IA on November 27, 1980.	Zawadowski, Nancy Zawadowski, Joe	Prairie Falcon	Garden City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird sighting for Prairie Falcon in Iowa, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1991-03-07	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting in a sketch for a Prairie Falcon in Iowa on March 7, 1991.		Prairie Falcon	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Charlotte Scott letter to Thomas Kent regarding Ruddy Shelduck sightings, December 1, 1981	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1981-12-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for two Ruddy Shelducks at Promise City in October 1981. The sighting is reported in a letter from Charlotte Scott to Tom Kent on December 1, 1981. Charlotte also reports a sighting of a Snowy Owl at Benny Davis Lake.	Scott, Charlotte	Snowy Owl Ruddy Shelduck	Benny Davis Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	6
Rare bird sighting for Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake in 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1986-05-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for two Red-necked Grebes seen by Steve Dinsmore at Little Wall Lake on May 1, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red-necked Grebe	Little Wall Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Thomas Kent letter and enclosed documentation form regarding Hwa-Mei sighting, March 4, 1993	Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1993-02-28	1993-03-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for two Hwa-Mei (Chinese Thrush) at Ottumwa in Wapello County, IA on February 14, 1993. It is reported in a documentation form completed by Nelson Hoskins and submitted in a letter from Thomas Kent to Ross Silcock on March 4, 1993. Thomas also reports a late sighting of a Brown Thrasher.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934- Hoskins, Nelson R.	Brown Thrasher Chinese Hwamei	Iowa City Ottumwa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	6
Rare bird sighting for Merlin at Des Moines in 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-01-24	1988-02-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for for a Merlin at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on February 17, 19, and 26, 1988; also includes additional species sighting information.	Martsching, Paul	Short-eared Owl Merlin Northern Shrike	Des Moines Doolittle Prairie State Preserve Hendrickson Marsh Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Details for unusual bird sighting, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-11-08	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Thayer's Gull by Jim Fuller at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 8, 1992.	Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull	Red Rock Dam				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Details for unusual bird sighting, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-01-09	1992-01-17	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Thayer's Gull by Jim Fuller at Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport in Scott County, IA on January 9, 13, and 17, 1992.	Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull	Lock and Dam 15				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird sighting for Reeve's Pheasant at Red Haw State Park in 1966	Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1966-10-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Reeve's Pheasant at Red Haw State Park in Lucas County, IA on October 18, 1966. The sighting is found in the publication Field reports by Woodward H. Brown in Iowa Bird Life 36:103-105	Brown, Woodward H.	Reeves' Pheasant	Red Haw State Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	6
Details for unusual bird sighting, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1994-04-06	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Red-necked Grebe by Jim Fuller at S & G Materials Quarry near Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on April 6, 1994.	Fuller, James L	Red-necked Grebe	Iowa City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Rare bird sighting for Prairie Falcon north of Fairfield in 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-03-16	1999-05-14	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Prairie Falcon north of Fairfield in Jefferson County, IA on March 16, 1999. Document contains additional species sighting information.	Fuller, James L	Prairie Falcon King Rail	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge Fairfield				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird sighting for Prairie Falcon at Hitchcock Nature Area in 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-10-25	1994-12-12	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Prairie Falcon at Hitchcock Nature Area in Pottawattamie County, IA on October 25, 1994.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Prairie Falcon	Hitchcock Nature Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird sighting for Prairie Falcon at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-11-15	1980-12-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Prairie Falcon at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on November 15, 1980 with additional species sighting information.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Prairie Falcon Snowy Owl	Harrison County DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35