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 King Rail at Cone Marsh, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-07-22	1980-08-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a King Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on July 22, 1980.	Newlon, Carol S.	King Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh	Marsh.	The documentation form by Carol S. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: A Virginia Rail would have had gray cheeks + been about the same size as a Lesser Yellow Legs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 07:30:00/07:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis species at Lake View, 1976	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1976-04-19	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of two Ibises at Lake View in Sac Co. on April 19, 1976 and May 9, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, two Iowa Bird Life articles, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Jones, Glenn E.	Glossy Ibises	Lake View	3 mi. S of West ridge of Lake View, Sac. Co., Iowa	marshy - a grazed out pasture - wet at this time - usually grazed in June and July	The documentation form by Glenn E. Jones is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Bohemayer and Ed Weiner. \| Elimination of similar species: Little green heron. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis species at Lake View, 1975	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1975-05-09	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two species of Ibis at Lake view in Sac County, IA on May 9, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Jones, Glenn E.	Glossy Ibises	Lake View	3 mi. S of west Ridge of Lake View, Sac. Co., Iowa	marshy - a grazed out pasture - wet at this time - usually grazed in June and July	The documentation form by Glenn E. Jones is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ed Weiner and Mark Bohemayer. \| Elimination of similar species: Little green heron. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at Cardinal Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-29	1978-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mississippi Kite at Cardinal Marsh in Winnesheik County, IA on May 29, 1978.	Stone, Tom, Jr. Stone, Tom	Mississippi Kite	Cardinal Marsh State Wildlife Area	Cardinal marsh near Cresco	Marshy area bordered with Woodlands.	The documentation form by Tom Stone and Tom Stone, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russell Hays, Francis Moore, Eleanor Corvin, Lois Sherman, and Antoinette Camarata. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine Falcon: has black mustache and stoops unlike kite. Merlin - flys with steadily flapping and has smaller wingspan. Marsh Hawk - Has white rump patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:05:00/13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Tufted Duck at Sweet Marsh, 1980	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-06-30	1994-01-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Tufted Duck at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on June 30, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, correspondence about the sighting, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Tufted Duck	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh (Tom Stone, Jr. & I first found bird)	marshy area near cattails	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis L. Moore were submitted . Other observers include Russell Hays, Tom Stone, and Tom Stone, Jr. \| Elimination of similar species: May be a ring-neck female or scaup but doesn't look right- probably a hybrid. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:45:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	16
Rare bird documentation form for King Rail in northwest Marshall County, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-05-14	1981-05-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a King Rail in northwest Marshall County, IA on May 14, 1981.	Proescholdt, Beth	King Rail	Marshall County	Private gravel pit in n.w. Marshall County	marshy area of a gravel pit - this spot not worked for a long time shallow water of small pond, surrounded by trees + brush	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Phyllis Harris, Garnita Seward, and Ramona Sommerlot. \| Elimination of similar species: Clapper Rail Virginia Rail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Hawkeye Wildlife Area, 1987	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-06-26	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Laughing Gull at Hawkeye Wildlife Area in Johnson County, IA on June 26, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hollis, Richard Jule	Laughing Gull	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	Hawkeye Wildlife Area, Johnson Co, IA	marshy backwaters of reservoir	The documentation form by Richard Hollis is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Potential other observer includes Thomas H. Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I looked at my field guides + realized that I was not sure if I could distinguish Franklins from Laughing Gulls in their last summer plummage [sic] before becoming adults. I am not sure of the identification. At present I lean toward Laughing due to 1. lack of obvious white on wings 2. Size of dark patches @ wing tips 3. Dark color of mantle 4. The white tail rules out all the younger birds. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Rare bird documentation form for Cattle Egrets near Cherokee, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-06-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for fifteen Cattle Egrets near Cherokee in Cherokee County, IA on June 18, 1984.	Brewer, Marion M.	Cattle Egret	Cherokee	5 miles South of Cherokee and 2 West	Marshy end of a pasture and in a flooded corn field next to pasture	The documentation form by Marion M. Bewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vernon Bierman and Jim Huber. \| Elimination of similar species: Too small for any other egret and orange coloring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:10:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	21
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Goose Lake, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-10	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Greater Scaups at Goose Lake in Clinton County, IA on May 10, 1984.	Petersen, Peter C.	Greater Scaup	Goose Lake	Goose Lake	marshy lake - N. side of Goose Lake, seen from dike.	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Larry Linder. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup - eliminated by head shape, heavy nail on end of bill, whitish marking on head of female + wing stripe extending nearly to end of wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Black Scoter at Conesville Marsh, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-03-31	1979-04-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Scoter at Conesville Marsh in Louisa County, IA on March 31, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black Scoter	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Conesville Marsh, Louisa County Iowa	marshy lake west arm of conesville marsh	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Noel Brown, Mona Brown, and Mike Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: White-winged Scoter - no white in wing, wrong face pattern. Surf Scoter - wrong head shape and face pattern. Ruddy duck - much larger, wrong shape, short tail, all dark body. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13
Rare bird documentation form for Snowy Egret at Forney Lake, 1985	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-07-14	1985-07-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Snowy Egret at Forney Lake in Fremont County, IA on July 14, 1985.	Cecil, Robert I.	Snowy Egret	Forneys Lake	Forney Lake, Fremont, County, Iowa	Marshy lake with cat-tails, other emergent vegetation	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include W. Ross SIlcock, Francis L. Moore, Steve Dinsmore, Mark Proescholdt, and Beth Proescholdt. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Little blue is similar. This bird, however, had dark/black bill, conspicuous yellow feet--features not shared by the Little blue. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:00:00/09:00:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Marshall County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-22	1983-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Marshall County, IA on May 22, 1983.	Sommerlot, Ramona R.	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Marshall County	marsh edge - marshall county	marshy low ground - permenent [sic] small marsh	The documentation form by Ramona Sommerlot is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ron Nelson. \| Elimination of similar species: Le Contes - white stripe on head head pattern not same. Saw Le Contes at forney at IOU conference. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	59
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
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at northeast Boone County, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-04-23	1986-05-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at northeast Boone County on county line with Hamilton County, IA on April 23, 1986.	Proescholdt, Beth	Peregrine Falcon	Boone County	n.e. Boone County (on county line with Hamilton Co)	marshy pasture of several acres, on both sides of road	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Proescholdt, Ramona Sommerlot, and Carol McMillen. \| Elimination of similar species: another falcon - this one too large; a buteo - not buteo shaped & flying much faster than a buteo with its long pointed wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:25:00/14:26:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Hawkeye Wildlife Area, 1977	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-05-13	1977-05-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for a Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Hawkeye Wildlife Area in Johnson County, IA on May 13, 1977.	Newlon, Michael C.	Yellow-Crowned Night Heron	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	Oxbow on Hawkeye Wildlife area, near Iowa City	marshy pool in mostly -dry oxbow surrounded by second-growth, fast, close to Iowa River.	The documentation form by Mike Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol S. Newlon, B. Knowles, Thomas Staudt, Nicholas Halmi, and others. \| Elimination of similar species: Uniform grey body, small size, head pattern rule out all other N. Am large waders. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:30:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	23
Rare bird documentation form for Ibis species at Ely, 1986	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-25	1986-09-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an Ibis species at Ely in Linn County, IA on September 25, 1986.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Glossy Ibises	Ely	S. of Ely, IA	Marshy roadside pond	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/13:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Knot at Blue Lake, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-12	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red Knot at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on May 12, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird life, field notes from the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee. The date is incorrectly recorded on the documentation form as April 12, 1994.	Ernzen, Peter	Red Knot	Blue Lake	South Blue Lake in Monona County	marshy shoreine [sic]	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Closest similar species would be Dunlin?, eliminated by Dunlins pronounced downcurved bill, blue gray color was dissimilar to the pronounced gray and white of the observed bird. See attached documents. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 19:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	1
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Dunbar Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1980-09-21	1980-09-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Dunbar Slough in Greene County, IA on September 21, 1980.	Newlon, Michael C.	Merlin	Dunbar Slough	Dunbar Slough, Greene Co. IA	marshy slough surrounded by farmland	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol S. Newlon, Tom Shires, and Thomas Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Coloration, lack of strong facial marks, banded tail, eliminates Am. Kestrel; size eliminates larger falcons. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Sedge Wren at Lake Panorama (water body), 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-12-06	1996-12-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sedge Wren at Lake Panorama (water body) in Guthrie County, IA on December 6, 1996.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Sedge Wren	Lake Panorama	Lake Panorama, Guthrie Co., IA	marshy spring near open water	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Marsh Wren is the only other species I considered. Marsh Wren has whiter underparts, and unmarked crown, a more conspicuous white eyeline, and a more distinct black and white pattern on the mantle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:20:00/11:37:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	2
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Lake Red Rock, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-12-19	1983-01-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Long-tailed Duck at Lake Red Rock in Warren County, IA on December 19, 1982.	Gilbert, Bill H.	Long-tailed Duck	Lake Red Rock	South tailwater day-use area; just below dam; Lake Red Rock; Warren Co.	Marshy-Pond-Like Bay (Shallow), Interspersed w/ Rush/Sedge Clumps	The documentation form by Bill Gilbert is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dale Fye and Paul Regnier. \| Elimination of similar species: Long-tailed Duck is the only bird (duck!) with a white head. (It surely wasn't a Bufflehead). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation form for White-faced Ibis at Lake View, 1975	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-05-09	1976-04-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two White-faced Ibises at Lake View in Sac County, IA on May 9, 1975.	Jones, Glenn E.	White-faced Ibis	Lake View	3 mi. S of west edge of Lake View, Sac Co. Iowa	marshy, a grazed out pasture -wel at this time - usually grazed in June & July	The documentation form by Glenn E. Jones is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Bohemayer and Ed Weiner. \| Elimination of similar species: Little green heron. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Rare bird documentation form for Sandhill Crane at west end of Lake Colechester, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-05-08	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sandhill Crane at west end of Lake Colechester in Warren County, IA on May 8, 1990.	Spieker, Susan J.	Sandhill Crane	Lake Colechester	West end of Lake Colchester [sic] in Norwalk, Warren Co., Iowa	Marshy, cattails, shallow water border by corn fields on north and lawns on the south.	The documentation form by Sue Spieker is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ann Johnson. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Blue Herons fly with neck crooked, also when standing crooks neck much of time. Great Blues bill is yellowish and has no red forehead. Whooping Cranes are white as are Great Egrets. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:10:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis species at Otter Creek Marsh, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-09-27	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of two birds (Ibis species) at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on September 27, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the records review, a hand-written description of the birds, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Glossy Ibises	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Otter Creek Marsh near Chelsea, Tama Co., N.E. side of marsh	Marshy, low water amoung cattails between two Northern dikes.	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 Ed Weiner. \| Elimination of similar species: White ibis is not this dark even in immature plumage. All dark colored heron do not have long decurved bill like these birds. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:15:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
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 Great-tailed Grackle at Blue Lake, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-03-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Great-tailed Grackles at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on March 20, 1994.	Ernzen, Peter	Great-tailed Grackle	Blue Lake	South Blue Lake in Monona County	marshywith [sic] several trees flooded	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Both sp. of grackle were present for comparison, up to 11 birds were seen in subsequent days, and 5 nests were observed as well. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 12:00:00/13:00:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77