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 Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-05-26	1979-05-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 26, 1979.	Myers, Robert K.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh		The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: We have similarly flushed many soras this spring and at first glance the very buffy (yellowish) undersides made me think of a immature sora. However, this rail was smaller than a sora and had a very dark (almost black) back. Along the trailing edge of each wing out from the body about 2" and about 1/2" wide (maybe wider) was a white bar. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at University of Northern Iowa, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-27	1984-05-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at University of Northern Iowa in Black Hawk County, IA on April 27, 1984.	Young, Ronan	Yellow Rail	University of Northern Iowa	Northwest corner of UNI prairie preserve		The documentation form by Ronan Young is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Virginia Rail has a larger bill and no white wing patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:30:00/19:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie State Preserve, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-08	1983-05-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie State Preserve in Story County, IA on May 8, 1983.	Armstrong, Eugene	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie north of Ames, Iowa	prairie marsh	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong and Dennis Thompson. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora. smaller, yellow, white wing patches. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-04	1983-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on May 4, 1983.	White, Gerald	Yellow Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Field on East and end of North dike at Cone Marsh	Wet, grassy field (10" grass)	The documentation form by Gerald White is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tim Dwyer. \| Elimination of similar species: No other rail has white on the wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:00:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Ames in 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-13	1983-04-20	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Ames in Story County, IA on April 13, 1983.	Downs, Kraig	Yellow Rail	Ames				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Ames, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Ames in Story County, IA on April 13, 1983.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Yellow Rail	Ames	W. Ames, Ia.	found grounded after storm on sheltered side of apt. building - on walk way	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Kraig Downs, James Dinsmore, and Mark Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora - no white wing patch and larger in size. Virginia Rail - longer bill and darker color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:00:00/06:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Ames in 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-13	1983-04-14	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Ames in Story County, IA on April 13, 1983.	Dinsmore, James J.	Yellow Rail	Ames				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Muskrat Slough in 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-01	1982-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Muskrat Slough in Jones County, IA on May 1, 1982.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Yellow Rail	Muskrat Slough State Game Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Muskrat Slough, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Muskrat Slough in Jones County, IA on May 1, 1982.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Yellow Rail	Muskrat Slough State Game Management Area	Muskrat S. Jones Co IA	Marsh	The documentation form by T.H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Bendorf, Tom Staudt, and James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora: white wing patches, smaller, lighter tan color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:10:00/07:10:10.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
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 Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-05-11	1980-05-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 11, 1980.	Myers, Robert K.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh - Bremer Co. Iowa	This bird flushed in exactly the same place as one did May 26, 1979 for Francis Moore and me. The area has short grass (less than a foot high) and the water under the grass is about 4" or 5" deep. Francis flushed the bird again May 18, 1980.	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Swan Lake, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-04-28	1980-05-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on April 28, 1980.	Glasson, Marilyn Smith	Yellow Rail	Swan Lake	Marshy area about 1/2 mi. NE Swan Lake. N of Swan Lake Road S of Pine Stand	marsh; noted no plant species First flushed from drier grassy area (I didn't see) 2nd time flushed from water edge to dry grass area	The documentation form by Marilyn Smith Glasson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: The Sora is the only other bird that is similar. It has no white on its wings. I've never noticed back striping to be so evident. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:30:00/08:00:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Swan Lake in 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-04-28	1980-05-05	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on April 28, 1980.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Yellow Rail	Swan Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned) in Sioux City, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-18	1998-01-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned) in Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on December 18, 1997.	Huser, Bill F.	Prairie Falcon	St. Joseph Hospital (historical)	St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned), Sioux City, Woodbury, IA	tall brick buildings with broken windows providing roosting sites for hundreds of Rock Doves. Numerous perches and open space for flight.	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jerry Probst and Bob Moritz. \| Elimination of similar species: The distinct tear marks eliminated all hawks but falcons and also eliminated the Merlin. Long wings, relative to the tail, and body size eliminated Gyrfalcon. Size and direct comparison eliminated Kestrel. Lack of dark "helmet" eliminated Peregrine Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:45:00/16:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-05-05	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 5, 1979.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh, Tripoli, Iowa	A grassey [sic] marsh area along edge of a pond. This area had an average water depth of four inches. The size of the grassey [sic] marsh is about half an acre and is located in and area of extensive cattail marsh and wet meadows.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Cedar Hills Sand Prairie, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-04-29	1979-06-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Cedar Hills Sand Prairie in Black Hawk County, IA on April 29, 1979.	Stone, Tom, Jr. Stone, Tom	Yellow Rail	Cedar Hills Sand Prairie	Mark sandprairie near Cedar Falls	20 by 50 ft. marsh with alot of marshy grasses and broken down old cattails.	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. and Tom Stone is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: no other rail has a white bar along the edge of the wing. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-30	1978-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Yellow Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co., Iowa	alfalfa field bordered to w. and s. by ledges + more fields; to n, second-growth woods; to e., extensive area of woods and marsh.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent, Thomas Staudt, Rich DeCoster, Nicholas Halmi, Carol Newlon, and Thomas Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora-like build, yellow-ochre underparts, white patch on wings, eliminate all other rails. Imm. sora would lack yellow beneath + white wing patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Conesville Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two or three Yellow Rails at Conesville Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Yellow Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Conesville Marsh Louisa County IA	hay field with scattered marshy areas in it	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Newlon, Rich DeCoster and Tom Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-29	1978-04-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 29, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh, which is located one mile East of Tripoli, Bremer County, IA.	The area of Sweet Marsh where the bird was flushed had a water depth of about two feet. Many large and small clumps of grass covered mounds of earth, there was a shallow marshy spot that was heavily vegitated. Otherwise the area surrounding sighting was similar. This type of habitat covered several acres. The grasses were mostly remanent [sic] of last years growth, with new sprouts over a foot in height. The water was slightly stagnant, and water level was slightly higher than normal because of recent rains.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I can think of no species of bird of similar size with a white patch on hind wing. Other rails would be uniform dark and larger. Perching birds such as a Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza gerogiana) have long tails. Extreme comparisons could be made with Common Snipe (Capella gallinago) which is long billed, has pointed wings, and has a rapid zig-zag flying style. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Prairie Chicken south of Pisgah, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-02-07	1979-03-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Prairie Chicken south of Pisgah in Harrison County, IA on February 7, 1979.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Greater Prairie-Chicken	Pisgah	Three miles south of Pisgah, Harrison County, Iowa.		The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Darwin Koenig. \| Elimination of similar species: The close reative [sic] the Lesser Prairie Chicken is smaller, paler and lacks distinct markings. It is also rare, and has never occurred in Iowa. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:20:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	38
Rare bird documentation form for Gray Partridge near Shenandoah, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-04-22	1995-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Gray Partridge near Shenandoah in Page County, IA on April 22, 1995. It was submitted as an e-mail from Steve Matherly to Ann Johnson on April 25, 1995.	Matherly, Steve	Gray Partridge	Shenandoah	Go west on State Hwy 2 from Shenandoah, Iowa to the country road that goes south to Riverton, Iowa. Proceed west to the next county road (gravel) (approx. one mile) and turn south. Proceed one-quarter of a mile to first farm house (right or west side). Bird was seen along fencerow north of the house.		The documentation form by Steve Matherly is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Matherly and Maribel Matherly. \| Elimination of similar species: Bird easily distinguishable from other possibilities such as hen pheasant, bobwhite quail, and prairie chicken both by size and colorization. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:00:00 .	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	37
Rare bird documentation form for Gray Partridge west of North Liberty, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-16	1978-12-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for seven Gray Partridges west of North Liberty in Johnson County, IA on December 16, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Gray Partridge	North Liberty	2 miles west of North Liberty IA on county road F 28	flat farm land, cut snow covered corn field	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Shires, Rick Hollis, and Carl Bendorf. \| Elimination of similar species: Bobwhite, chukar. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:30:00/13:34:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	37
Rare bird documentation form for Chukar at Davenport in 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-12-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for six Chukars at Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 17, 1995. The birds were also present for two to three years starting in 1981.	Decker, Jacqueline Ruth	Chukar	Davenport				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	36
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 documentation form for Prairie Falcon at the junction of Interstate 29 and U.S. 30 west of Missouri Valley in 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-10-10	1981-10-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at the junction of Interstate 29 and U.S. 30 west of Missouri Valley in Harrison County, IA on October 10, 1981.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Prairie Falcon	Interchange 75				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35