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 Snowy Egret ten miles north of Burlington, 1989	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-09-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Snowy Egret ten miles north of Burlington in Des Moines County, IA on September 12, 1989.	Fuller, James L	Snowy Egret	Burlington	10 miles north of Burlington (Des Moines Co.)	Mississippi River Sandbar	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Chuck Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Egret - Size - Bill Black & Golden feet differ. Immature Little Blue Heron has thicker 2 tone bill and gray or yellow green legs - not black with golden feet. Cattle Egret has yellow bill and no golden feet.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Laughing Gull at Mississippi River Pool 18 in Des Moines County, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-09-09	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Laughing Gulls at Mississippi River Pool 18 in Des Moines County, IA on September 9, 1989. Includes one record review document with votes, two photographs, analysis of the photograph, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Laughing Gull	Pool 18	Mississippi River, 2 south and 5 east of Kingston, Des Moines Co., Iowa.	Mississippi River several miles above dam.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Louise Augustine and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: The juvenile bird is distinctive and I was able to pick it out quickly. When we first saw the second-year bird, we considered both Franklin's and Laughing gulls. A juvenile or first-winter Franklin's would not have uniform gray in the wing coverts. A second-summer or second-winter Franklin's Gull would not have a full tail band. The bill shape also favors Laughing Gull. The bird appears to be in second-winter plumage, except for the tail band which fits better with first-summer plumage. I was impressed with the soft grayness of the bird and its similarity the birds I photographed recently in North Carolina. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Rare bird documentation form for Trumpeter Swan at Mississippi River in Davenport, 1998	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-23	1998-12-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Trumpeter Swan at Mississippi River near Enchanted Island in Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 23, 1998.	McKay, Kelly	Trumpeter Swan	Horse Island	~0.25 mile downstream of Enchanted Island, Davenport (Scott Co.)	Mississippi River side channel. Surrounding habitat consists of a backwater slough and a developed shoreline.	The documentation form by Kelly J. McKay is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Tundra Swan - Smaller, more of an angle between bill and forehead. Snow Goose - Smaller, pink bill, black primaries. American White Pelican -'pouched' bill, black primaries and secondaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	30
Rare bird documentation form for Cinnamon Teal at Credit Island, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-04-30	1990-05-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cinnamon Teal at Credit Island in Scott County, IA on April 30, 1990.	Fuller, James L	Cinnamon Teal	Credit Island	Credit Island, Scott County (Davenport)	Mississippi River Slough	The documentation form by James L. Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pete Petersen. \| Elimination of similar species: Ruddy Duck (male has white head patch), is different shape with smaller size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:05:00/14:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	6
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Lansing, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-04-10	1982-04-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for nine Greater Scaups at Lansing in Allamakee County, IA on April 10, 1982.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Greater Scaup	Lansing	Lansing, Allamakee Co., Iowa	Mississippi River, away from main channel	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lynn Barth. \| Elimination of similar species: direct comparison with the many Lesser Scaups. The Greater were distinctly larger the bill was wider and rounder than that of Lesser. The swimming birds also had much whiter sides than the duller colored male Lesser Scaups. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull at Lock and Dam 14, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-12-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull at Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on December 21, 1980.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Glaucous Gull	Lock and Dam 14	Lock + Dam 14, Scott Co, Iowa	Mississippi River, frozen except below dam and small area about dam	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Shire and William Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring gull - uniform light color Iceland gull - size, black-tipped bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	37
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-02-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Scott County, IA on February 12, 1995.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Lock and Dam 15, Davenport, Scott Co., IA	Mississippi River, mostly frozen above dam.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tim Schantz and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: The size and pattern do not fit any other species or plumage. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/12:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-02-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Scott County, IA on February 4, 1995.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Above Lock and Dam 15, Davenport, Scott Co., IA	Mississippi River, river open.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include several unnamed people. \| Elimination of similar species: The size and mantle color exclude Great Black-backed Gull. The mantle was too dark for a California Gull. Slaty-backed Gull would likely appear larger, have a darker mantle, and more white in tertials. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/13:00:00 estimated.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon near the Bellevue Bridge, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-10-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon near Bellevue Bridge in Mills County, IA on October 20, 1981.	Bray, Tanya Kovanda, Sandra Padelford, Babs	Prairie Falcon	Bellevue Bridge	Mills County, Highway 370, approx 1 1/2 miles east of the Bellevue Bridge	Missouri River bottomland; cornfields	The documentation form by Babs Padelford, Sandy Kovanda, and Tanya Bray is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The pale brown upperparts and black axillars elimate [sic] Peregrine Falcon. Size and black axillars eliminate Merlin. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/11:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-11-05	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Washington County, NE on November 5, 1981.	Bray, Tanya Kovanda, Sandra Padelford, Babs	Prairie Falcon	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto Bend NWR (Nebr. portion)	Missouri River Bottomland; Cottonwood trees and fields	The documentation form by Tanya Bray, Babs Padelford, and Sandy Kovanda is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird had distinct black axillaries, unlike either Peregrine Falcon or Merlin. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
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 of Brown Pelican at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-06	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Brown Pelican at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on May 6, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in the Nebraska Bird Review about the sighting, two photographs, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Rose, B.J.	Brown Pelican	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Harrison County, IA, and Washington County, NE. It was on the south end of the oxbow, just above the dam.	Missouri River oxbow lake	The documentation form by B.J. Rose is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, and Peter C. Petersen were submitted later. Other observers include Babs Padelford, Ross Silcock, Dick Tetrault, and Brian Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: White Pelican is white with black wing tips; some were present for comparison. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Jaeger species at Hitchcock Nature Area, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-11-24	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Jaeger species bird at Hitchcock Nature Area in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 24, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes and two copies of a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Orsag, Mark	Jaegers	Hitchcock Nature Area	Hitchcock Nature Area Hawkwatch	Missouri River Valley Floodplain	The documentation form by Mark Osrag is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Sue Mattix. \| Elimination of similar species: Dark immature gulls were eliminated by flight pattern, body-to-wing shape profile (as above), and the well seen identical translucent patches on the wings. Other jaeger species were eliminated by the bird's size. It thermalled above a wetland area beyond HNA's 'Westridge' with a group of Ring-billed Gulls. Size comparison was perfect-revealing a noticeably larger, heavier-bodied bird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/14:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Forney's Lake, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-03-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Forney's Lake in Fremont County, IA on March 25, 1984.	Petersen, Peter C.	Prairie Falcon	Forneys Lake	Forney's Lake, Fremont Co.	Missouri River Valley. Forney's Lake and adjacent fields	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lewis Blevins, Corey Blevins, and Brian Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine Falcon - black along base of wing and light fore edge eliminate. Merlin - same plus size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:23:00/12:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon near Cedar Rapids, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-09-30	1979-12-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon near Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on September 30, 1979.	Newlon, Michael C.	Peregrine Falcon	Cedar Rapids	Weir Nelson's house, Linn Co. IA (on IA 30, a few miles w. of I-380)	mixed area of woods and cropland, a few miles north of the Cedar river	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, Weir Nelson, Michael C. Newlon, Bernie Knight, and Calvin Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: build, prominent 'sideburns' rule out all other middle-sized N Am hawks; build rules out accipiters and broad-wing: sideburns rule out prairie falcon (wd. be very rare in this area). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Farragut, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-12-28	1985-01-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Farragut in Fremont County, IA on December 28, 1984.	Silcock, W. Ross	Merlin	Farragut	2 Miles N. of Farragut, Fremont Co., IA	Mixed cedar + deciduous wooded hillside	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: At first, when seen perched, possibility of Prairie Falcon, but lack of axillars eliminates this. Facial mark + flight characteristics (pointed wings, rapid wing beats) eliminate Cooper's or female Sharp-shin immatures. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:10:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at MacBride Field Campus, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1984-01-06	1984-01-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at MacBride Field Campus in Johnson County, IA on January 6, 1984.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Northern Goshawk	Macbride Nature Recreation Area	Macbride Field Campus Johnson Co.	mixed conifer and deciduous forest. hilly with open areas	The documentation form by Thomas J. Staudt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol Newlon and a Christmas Bird Count group. \| Elimination of similar species: large size and eyebrow strip eliminate other accipiters. Buteo's are generally browner, shorter tail, and also lack an eyebrow strip. Osprey is also browner and has more extensive white on the head. Osprey also would have noticeably long wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at MacBride Field Campus, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-12-17	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Northern Goshawks at MacBride Field Campus in Johnson County, IA on December 17, 1983.	Newlon, Carol S.	Northern Goshawk	Macbride Nature Recreation Area	McBride [sic] Field Campus, Johnson Co., IA	mixed conifer groves + deciduous woodland	The documentation form by Carol S. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Michael Newlon and J. Dawson Mohler. \| Elimination of similar species: Coloration eliminates all N. Am raptors except for male N Harrier + the kites - These eliminated by size, proportions, habitat, season. Huge size, grey underpants rules out other accipiters. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Townsend's Solitaire north of Polk City, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-12-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Townsend's Solitaire north of Polk City in Polk County, IA on December 16, 1990.	Hertzel, L. Paul	Townsend's Solitaire	Polk City	North of Polk City, Iowa: So. side of 146th street.	mixed conifers: junipers, hemlocks, cedars	The documentation form by Paul Hertzel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tony Hertzel, Judy Schearer, Barney Cook, and unidentified others. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	5
Rare bird documentation form for Turkey Vulture at Eden Valley Refuge, 1997	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-19	1998-01-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Turkey Vulture at Eden Valley Refuge in Jackson County, IA on December 19, 1997.	Wickham, Walt	Turkey Vulture	Eden Valley County Refuge	1 1/2 miles south, 1 mile west of Eden Valley Refuge	mixed cropland and woods	The documentation form by Walt Wickham is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Chip Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: lack of head feathers, \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	26
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Volga River Recreation Area, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-12	1981-12-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Volga River Recreation Area in Fayette County, IA on December 12, 1981.	Myers, Robert K.	Northern Goshawk	Volga River State Recreation Area	Volga River Recreation Area (Fayette County)	Mixed deciduous Timber	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russell Hays and Joe Schaufenbuel. \| Elimination of similar species: An imm. Coopers hawk could be similar in size and coloring but would not show the very obvious white stripe above the eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:50:00/10:52:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-09-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on September 4, 1985.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pine Warbler	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames	mixed deciduous woodland	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The smaller, thinner bill and faint streaking on the sides eliminate a Yellow-throated Vireo. The white underside of the tail and undercoverts, unstreaked back and lack of prominent streaking on the underparts eliminate Blackpoll Warbler. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Western Kingbird at West Ames, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-03	1984-11-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Kingbird at West Ames in Story County, IA on November 3, 1984.	Shephard, Burt	Western Kingbird	Ames	West Ames, IA.	mixed deciduous, bordering on open field at edge of urban area	The documentation form by Burt Shephard is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Terry Shephard. \| Elimination of similar species: Scarlet Tanager - shape of bill, gray on head and white edge on tail feathers. Other Kingbirds - chest color, white outer tail feathers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/dusk.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	72
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler near George Wyth State Park, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-28	1986-09-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Pine Warblers near George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on September 28, 1986.	Moore, Francis L.	Pine Warbler	George Wyth Memorial State Park	Sand pit area adjacent to George Wyth S.P., Black Hawk Co.	Mixed hardwood edge along old logging road.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Blackpoll and Bay-breasted has streaking on back and not as dark brownish olive on the back as the Pine. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Common Moorhen at Sweet Marsh, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-08-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for thirteen Common Moorhens at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on August 11, 1985.	Moore, Francis L.	Common Moorhen	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co., Iowa	Mixed marsh, Cattail and Indian Grass and Smart Weed and others	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: American Coot is slate gray on the body with a white bill and does not have the white longitudinal line below the wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:40:00/14:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	44