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 for Townsend's Solitaire at Polk City Cemetery, 1992	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-17	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Townsend's Solitaire at Polk City Cemetery in Polk County, IA on May 17, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hertzel, L. Paul	Townsend's Solitaire	Polk City Cemetery	Polk City Cemetary. [sic]	Mowed grass with scattered pines and bushes.	The documentation form by Paul Hertzel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Briefly considered Mockingbird, but posture (upright) and behavior was wrong. On closer look had orange, not white, wing bars. Lacked sleek head and longer bill of Mockingb[...] Eye-ring was very obvious. \| The original documentation form event lasted occurred from approximately 12:00:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	6
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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Peregrine Falcon at Ames, 1984	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-06-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Peregrine Falcon at Ames in Story County, IA on June 23, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Martsching, Paul	Peregrine Falcon	Ames	Ames, Story County, Iowa	General: I once saw a Prairie Falcon flying the same way in S. Dakota. Specific: in town (southwest of intersection of 13th & Grand)	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Prairie Falcon, not overall tannish. Marsh Hawk, no white rump, wings too dark below, wings too pointy \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:20:00/18:21:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Clark's Grebe at Hendrickson Marsh, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-05-30	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for three Clark's Grebes at Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on May 30, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Martsching, Paul	Clark's Grebe	Hendrickson Marsh Lake	Hendrickson Marsh, Story County, Iowa	shallow open water "lake" with quite a bit of marshy area adjacent.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Steve Dinsmore was submitted later. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt, Mark Proescholdt, and Hank Zaletal. \| Elimination of similar species: Western is dark immediately around the eye. Red necked is reddish on front and sides of neck this time of year, with white confined to chin, throat and cheek. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 20:00:00/20:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Hendrickson Marsh, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-04-24	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on April 24, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Martsching, Paul	Black Rail	Hendrickson Marsh Lake	Hendrickson's Marsh, Story County, Iowa	General: marsh along shore of large shallow lake Specific: area with much old grass more or less bent down with new growth less than six inches. Was a little water under the grass where it flew up	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Paul Martsching (later time, but same bird) were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora - bigger,lighter, yellow beak. Virginia - bigger, lighter, long thin beak. Rail chick - too early in year - and was flying \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-08-24	1985-11-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on August 24, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Pine Warbler	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Story County, Iowa	lowland forest	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Bay-breast & Blackpoll have streaks on back & don't have yellow eyebrow. neither is inclined to be yellow on breast, tho [sic] Blackpoll may be dingy yelowish-green. [sic] Bay-breast usually with no streaks below. Bay-breast usually with buff or pink wash on sides. Cape May & Yellow - R have yellow rumps \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00/09:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Reservoir, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-11-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 24, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	White-winged Scoter	Saylorville Lake	(upstream side of dam) Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County, Iowa		The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Black Scoter & Surf Scoter don't have white wing patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:55:00/12:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for Western Kingbird north of Hendrickson Marsh, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-05-19	1985-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Kingbird north of Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on May 19, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Western Kingbird	Hendrickson Marsh Wildlife Management Area	about 3 1/2 miles north of Hendricksons Marsh in Southeast Story County, Iowa	field on both sides of road with very short corn.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Eastern Kingbird - has black head, white terminal band on tail & breast & belly are white. Crested Flycatcher - has some rust in wings, a very rusty tail, brown head & back, gray upper breast. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	72
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Parula at Brookside Park in Ames, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1982-10-10	1982-10-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Parula at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on October 10, 1982.	Martsching, Paul	Northern Parula	Brookside Park	Brookside Park - Ames - Story County, Iowa	General: forest with some area with all underbrush cut and grass mowed. Specific: In tree at edge of more natural forest area.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: female Common Yellowthroat doesn't have wing bars and is brownish on head & back. Nashville Warbler doesn't have wing bars; back isn't grayish; yellow extends way down the front. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:00:00/10:00:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	21
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Colo, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-09	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Colo in Story County, IA on May 9, 1982.	Martsching, Paul	Peregrine Falcon	Colo	abt 3 miles south of Colo (Story County), Iowa	cropland. field with corn stubble residue	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: male marsh hawk - no white rump patch, speckled underneath, much darker above, contrasting face pattern, style of flight very different. Prarie [sic] Falcon - was dark gray. Buteos - wings were long and very pointed - tail narrow - falcon like flight. Accipiters - wings were long and narrow and pointed. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow near Colo, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-03-07	1985-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow near Colo in Story County, IA on March 7, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Vesper Sparrow	Colo	near Colo (along old hi way 30) Story County, Iowa	pasture or weedy fields on either side of road.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: meadowlark is fat with short wide tail; Junco doesn't have stripes on back; Tree sparrow has narrow white edges on tail, but also has rusty cap; Smith's Longpsur has similar tail pattern, but tail is shorter, back markings finer, doesn't have rusty patch on wing; Water Pipit doesn't have streaked back. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Eastern Wood-Pewee at Brookside Park in Ames, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-10-13	1982-10-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Eastern Wood-Pewee at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on October 13, 1982.	Martsching, Paul	Eastern Wood-Pewee	Brookside Park	Brookside Park Ames, Story County, Iowa	General: woods. Specific: trees at edge of woods. These trees were still in the area where the grass is mowed; it flew off into the more natural woods area.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Phoebe: lower part of beak light; wing bars; no tail wagging; no contrast between head and back. Empidonax: bigger; darker; no eye ring; lazier; no olivish on back; or trace of yellowish below \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 11:00:00/11:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	64
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon along the Skunk River in Ames, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-11-06	1983-11-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon along the Skunk River in Ames in Story County, IA on November 6, 1983.	Martsching, Paul	Peregrine Falcon	Ames	along Skunk River east side of Ames, Story County, Iowa	river bottom land. over open field	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Pigeon (dark) smaller - white rump patch; wings wider; tail shorter; Usually doesn't fly rapidly any distance in a straight line. Merlin - smaller. Prairie Falcon - I think even in the poor lite [sic] it would have looked brownish if it had been a Prairie Falcon. This bird looked nearly black from above. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:30:20.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Ames, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-11-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Ames in Story County, IA on November 16, 1983.	Martsching, Paul	Peregrine Falcon	Ames	Ames, Story County, Iowa [with a drawing and detailed description on second page of document]	in town	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Prairie Falcon is light brown. Merlin is much smaller. accipiters have wide wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/12:48:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for House Finch at Brookside Park in Ames, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-10-12	1985-11-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a House Finch at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on October 12, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	House Finch	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Story County, Iowa	youngish maple trees along Squaw Creek	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple Finch - does not have brown streaks on side (Male); back & wings are rosey. [sic] \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:00:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	82
Rare bird documentation form for House Finch at Ames, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1985-07-08	1985-07-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a House Finch at Ames in Story County, IA on July 8, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	House Finch	Ames	Ames, Story County, Iowa	in town	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple Finch - male has a purplish or rosey [sic] red color & no streaking on breast; song is different \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:45:00/08:45:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	82
Rare bird documentation form for Western Sandpiper east of Colo, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-05-14	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Sandpiper east of Colo in Story County, IA on May 14, 1986.	Martsching, Paul	Western Sandpiper	Colo	pothole one mile east of Colo, Iowa (on old highway 30)	pothole in plowed field	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Sandpiper article in American Birds shows both Semipalm and Western with spooned bills and partial webbing between toes, but Semipalms bill is shorter and doesn't droop at end (except in extreme cases with same Semipalm females) and in any case doesn't have the orangish feathers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:10:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Chestnut-collared Longspur west of Hendrickson Marsh, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-03-30	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Chestnut-collared Longspur west of Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on March 30, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Martsching, Paul	Chestnut-collared Longspur	Hendrickson Marsh Wildlife Management Area	3 1/2 miles West of Hendricksons Marsh, Story County, Iowa	soybean stubble field	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Smiths Longspur - the white edges of the tail are "straight" Vesper Sparrow - the white edges of the tail are "straight": tail longer \| The original documentation form event occurred around 16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	43
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Larson Marsh, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-09-02	1984-09-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Larson Marsh in Ames in Story County, IA on September 2, 1984.	Martsching, Paul	Merlin	Larson Marsh	Larson Marsh, east of Ames, Story County, Iowa	marsh in midst of corn & soybean fields.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Sparrow hawk - kestral [sic]; smaller, & has rust on tail or back; has bold face pattern. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:00:00/17:00:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Ames, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-10-10	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Ames in Story County, IA on October 10, 1983.	Martsching, Paul	Peregrine Falcon	Ames	Ames, Story County, Iowa	flying over town	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Sparrow hawk & Merlin much smaller. Prairie Falcon brown & unlikely anyway. Nighthawk has white bar on wings - floppy flight. other hawks would have wider wings & tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:15:00/17:15:20.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Smith's Longspur west of Hendrickson Marsh, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1985-03-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Smith's Longspurs west of Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on March 30, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Smith's Longspur	Hendrickson Marsh Wildlife Management Area	3 1/2 miles West of Hendricksons Marsh, Story County, Iowa	General: agricultural area Specific: soybean stubble field	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Vesper Sparrow - has longer tail (There were two of these by the road) Pipit - has longer tail (these birds (Smith's) were easy to distinguish from Laplands because of so much more white on the sides of the tail) \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	67
Rare bird documentation form for Philadelphia Vireo at Brookside Park in Ames, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-10-03	1982-10-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Philadelphia Vireo at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on October 3, 1982.	Martsching, Paul	Philadelphia Vireo	Brookside Park	Ames (Brookside Park) Story County, Iowa	General: woods Specific: in smallish (20-25 ft) tree by creek	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Warbling Vireo - dark mark between bill and eye; yellow all the way across breast. Red Eyed Vireo - This bird was grayish not greenish; eye stripe not prominent or outlined with black; yellow breast. Yellow Throated Vireo - didn't have specticles [sic]; didn't have wing bars. Nashville Warbler - even the palest Nashville's have eye rings. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:00:00/10:00:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Pine Warblers at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on May 18, 1983.	Martsching, Paul	Pine Warbler	Brookside Park	Brookside Park in Ames, Story County, Iowa	General: forested park with some open area and some area with all underbrush removed. Specific: tree in part without undergrowth.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yel Thr Vireo-has yellow specticles [sic], thicker beak, heavier build, no streaking on breast. fem Cap May W has much heavier streaking below, yellowish rump patch; wing bar(s) more or less run together. Palm has chestnut cap & wags tail. fem Blackburnian has dark streaks below, streaks on back, more prominent head markings. Even faintly marked Magnolias have all yellow breast & belly & rump. fem Blackpoll isn't yellow breasted. fem Blk Thr Grn is yellow on side of face & black between chin & breast & some dk streaks on sides. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-09-06	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 6, 1983.	Martsching, Paul	Pine Warbler	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Story County, Iowa	General: forest Specific: shrubby area	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow Throated Vireo - did not have yellow specticles [sic]; had faint streaks on breast. fall Blackpoll or Bay Breasted Warbler - had no stripes or marks on back; was yellowish on head and head yellow breast \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Solitary Vireo at Brookside Park in Ames, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-10-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Solitary Vireos at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on October 27, 1982.	Martsching, Paul	Blue-headed Vireo	Brookside Park	Brookside Park in Ames, Story County, Iowa	General: woods Specific: woods (bottomland) a lot of trails. most of trees lost 3/4 or more of leaves.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow Throated Vireo - specticles [sic] not yellow; throat not yellow White Eyed Vireo - specticles [sic] not yellow (they both had darkeyes, as does imm. White Eye) Bell's Vireo - specticles [sic] wider - prominent white wing bars \| The original documentation form event occurred once at 14:45:00 and again at 14:47:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	78