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 Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 23, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Great-tailed Grackle	Council Bluffs	Off I-29 at south Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa.		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) with more rounded crown, characteristic call notes, much less likely to occur in Iowa. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) much smaller, different call notes, female lacks rich brown foreparts and superciliary stripe. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00/09:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Addendum to the Cedar Falls, IA Christmas Bird Count - December 27, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1980-12-27	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field reports from the Cedar Falls area Christmas Bird Count on December 27, 1980 compiled by Francis Moore. It features sighting of a Pine Grosbeak at Mark Sand Prairie in Black Hawk County, IA. This document is related to https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/9552/view, https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/9550/view, and https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/8712/view.	Moore, Francis L.	Varied Thrush Pine Grosbeak Brown Thrasher Hoary Redpoll Peregrine Falcon Red-breasted Nuthatch Mallard	Cedar Falls Waterloo Cedar Hills Sand Prairie				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Ames, 1980	Field notes	Bird feeders Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-12-23	1981-01-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Grosbeak at Ames in Story County, IA on December 23, 1980.	Ladd, Marlys	Pine Grosbeak	Ames	Backyard - 1408 Coolidge, Ames, Iowa	General: feed box and crab apple tree Specific: Perched on box for short time, did not eat - then flew to crab apple -	The documentation form by Marlys Ladd is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian Ladd and George Ladd. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple finch - Pine Grosbeak was too large for this species Cross bills - Wrong beak- \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:30:00 for several minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-24	1978-02-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Pine Grosbeaks at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines in Polk County, IA on January 24, 1978.	Mooney, Richard D., 1905-1997	Pine Grosbeak	Glendale Cemetery	Glendale Cemetary [sic]-50th St. & University Ave. Des Moines	Cemetary [sic] with numerous assorted evergreen trees and various other trees.	The documentation form by Richard D. Mooney is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pauline Mooney, Ruth Binsfeld, Woodward Brown, and Mary Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Evening Grosbeak eliminated by coloration. Purple Finch eliminated by size and coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Pine Grosbeaks at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 12, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Pine Grosbeak	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City, Johnson Co Iowa	General: on edge of small forested areas, mostly deciduous with some pine plantings. Specific: Hickory Hill is about 100 acres of undeveloped park land with a creek + several branches running through it. Forested and grassy area are interspersed.	The documentation form by Richard J. DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing else looks much like the female plumaged pine grosbreaks. Evening grosbeaks have larger beaks + shorter tails. Crossbills have crossed bills. Female purple finches lack wingband and the olive coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:12:00 and 09:40:00/09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Larrabee, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-02	1978-01-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Pine Grosbeaks at Larrabee in Cherokee County, IA on January 2, 1978.	Brewer, Marion M.	Pine Grosbeak	Larrabee	4 E, 1 S of Larrabee, Ia	In large forest, ash, oak + Etc, Snow on Ground + very cold	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include one unidentified non-birder observer. \| Elimination of similar species: Larger the purple Finch. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Rare bird documentation form for Baltimore Oriole at Bettendorf, 1997	Field notes	Bird feeders Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1997-12-12	1998-01-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Baltimore Oriole at Bettendorf in Scott County, IA from December 12, 1997 to December 27, 1997.	McKay, Kelly Statser, Jack L.	Baltimore Oriole	Bettendorf	1515 29 Street Bettendorf, Scott County, IA.	suburban yard surrounded by a wooded ravine.	The documentation form by Kelly McKay and Jack Statser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vera Blevins. The documentation form was written by Kelly McKay from a phone conversation with Jack Statser. \| Elimination of similar species: Orchard Oriole - smaller; much darker red-orange underparts; all dark tail. American Redstart - very much smaller; all black with orange restricted to spots on sides, wings, and tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	79
Rare bird documentation form for Baltimore Oriole at Cedar Rapids, 1990	Field notes	Bird feeders Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-12-15	1990-12-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Baltimore Oriole at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on December 15, 1990.	Wickham, Peter P.	Baltimore Oriole	Cedar Rapids	Bird feeder, 100 Thompson Drive S.E., Cedar Rapids	Suburban area, with condominiums, private homes, lawns & trees	The documentation form by Pete Wickham is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Durbin and three unidentified people with other bird feeders. \| Elimination of similar species: There are no similar species that I can think of. It wasn't a Bullock's type, which would have orange on the face and a big white wing patch.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	79
Chris Reed card to Peter C. Petersen regarding Baltimore Oriole sighting, 1981	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds Meetings	1981-01-14	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Photocopied card detailing a Baltimore Oriole sighting at Fairport in Muscatine County, IA on January 14, 1981. It is a copy of https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/2323/view.	Reed, Chris	Baltimore Oriole	Fairport				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	79
Rare bird documentation form for Orchard Oriole at Lake Manawa in 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1986-10-19	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Orchard Oriole at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on October 19, 1986.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Orchard Oriole	Lake Manawa State Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	78
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
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at MidAmerican Energy Ponds, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1993-06-20	1993-06-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for at least five Great-tailed Grackles at MidAmerican Energy Ponds at Pottawattamie County, IA on June 20, 1993. There are details of another sighting of another Great-tailed Grackle near Osceola in Clark County, IA on June 26, 1993 on the documentation form.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Great-tailed Grackle	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	South IPL pond, Pottawattamie County, Iowa (4+ males, 1 female); along Hwy. 2 in Nebraska City bridge area, Fremont County, Iowa (1 male)	[...] Observed in cattails at edge of IPL pond in Pottawattamie County [...]	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
B.J. Rose letter to Doug Rose regarding Christmas Bird Count sightings, January 16, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1993-01-16	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from B. J. Rose to Doug Rose documenting birds seen during the Glenwood Christmas Bird Count on December 27, 1992. Rose gives details for the sighting of a Great-tailed Grackle, a Chipping Sparrow, and four Yellow-rumped Warblers.	Rose, B.J.	Yellow-rumped Warbler Chipping Sparrow Great-tailed Grackle	Glenwood Bartlett Bartlett State Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird at Snake Creek Marsh, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1996-05-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Brewer's Blackbird at Snake Creek Marsh in Greene County, IA on May 11, 1996.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Brewer's Blackbird	Snake Creek State Game Management Area	Snake Creek M., Greene Co., IA	small island in pond	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bert Engebretsen. \| Elimination of similar species: The dark eye and lack of any rust color eliminates Rusty Blackbird, which is similar in size and shape to this bird. Common Grackle has a longer tail, females show lots of brown color, and the call note is different. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:54:00/16:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Wapello Township in Louisa County, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-04-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle at Wapello Township in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1992.	Ohde, Bill	Great-tailed Grackle	Wapello Township	SE 1/4 of section 19, T74N, R4W, Louisa County, Iowa	Rural farmstead on edge of large timber block. In tall (15') backyard shrubs.	The documentation form by Bill Ohde is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common grackle - this bird was nearly crow-sized, longer tailed, with the peculiar whistles and rattles. Boat-tailed grackle - song was wrong. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Details for rare bird sighting, Jim Fuller, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1992-05-08	1992-05-13	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field reports for three sightings of Great-tailed Grackles in Iowa. First sighting is at the West gun club pond at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on May 8, 1992, the second at Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 13, 1992, and the third near the visitor's center at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on May 13, 1992.	Fuller, James L	Great-tailed Grackle	Coralville Lake Council Bluffs DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Crawford Creek Recreation Area, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-02	1992-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle at Crawford Creek Recreation Area in Ida County, IA on May 2, 1992.	Ernzen, Peter	Great-tailed Grackle	Crawford Creek County Recreation Area	Crawford Creek Recreational Area ICCB.	open park land, lake with cattails	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Grackle, not as long, more irridescent, [sic] common grackle with in [sic] 20 ft. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:27:00/09:29:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Spring Field Report for I.O.U., J. Donald Gillaspey, 1989	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Rare birds	1989-03-01	1989-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field report sent to Steve Dinsmore at IOU for J. Donald Gillaspey. It features a sighting of a Great-tailed Grackle northwest of Lamoni in Decatur County, IA on May 12, 1989.	Gillaspey, J. Donald	Upland Sandpiper Great-tailed Grackle	Lamoni				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at the Port Neal generators near Salix in 1986	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds	1986-07-10	1986-07-22	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for three Great-tailed Grackles at the Port Neal generators near Salix in Woodbury County, IA on July 10 and 17, 1986.	Huser, Bill F.	Great-tailed Grackle	MidAmerican Energy Ponds				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Forney's Lake, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-07-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two to three Great-tailed Grackles at Forney's Lake in Fremont County, IA on July 22, 1985.	Myers, Robert K.	Great-tailed Grackle	Forneys Lake	Forney Lake - Freemont [sic] County	Grassey [sic] islands in lake and bushes at lake's edge.	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ross Silcock and Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Much larger + longer biled [sic] than common grackle Range would probably rule out Boat-tailed Grackle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 08:05:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Forney's Lake, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-07-13	1985-07-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle at Forney's Lake in Fremont County, IA on July 13, 1985.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Great-tailed Grackle	Forneys Lake	Forney's Lake, Fremont Co.	on mudflat area in middle of marsh	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt and Mark Proescholdt. \| Elimination of similar species: Eliminated from Common Grackle by larger size (twice the size of other nearby grackles), longer tail and flatter crown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:00:00/20:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Finn Pond in Greene County, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birds--Nests Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-31	1984-06-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for six Great-tailed Grackles at Finn Pond in Greene County, IA on May 31, 1984.	Dinsmore, James J.	Great-tailed Grackle	Finn Pond Wildlife Area	Finn Pond (2 miles west of Jefferson, Greene Co)	freshwater marsh	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Grackle-size Boat-tailed Grackle- range and eye color \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird at Clear Lake, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-09-16	1999-12-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for at most sixty Brewer's Blackbirds at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on September 16, 1999.	Fischer, Carolyn J.	Brewer's Blackbird	Clear Lake	North Shore Drive Clear Lake	Small wet area, some small trees - marsh	The documentation form by Carolyn Fischer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Rusty Blackbird - The birds were lacking rusty wings - And buffy eyebrow - Common Grackle - Lacking long-keel-shaped tail heavy bill-	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Details for birds seen on Burlington CBC 12/19/98	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1998-12-19	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes by Jim Fuller from the Burlington Area Christmas Bird Count on December 19, 1998. The notes include a Brewer's Blackbird east of Lock and Dam 18.	Fuller, James L	Red-throated Loon Brewer's Blackbird Eastern Phoebe Common Loon Sharp-shinned Hawk	Burlington Lock and Dam Number 18 Crapo Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird northwest of Mason City, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1998-10-13	1999-01-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for eight Brewer's Blackbirds northwest of Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on October 13, 1998.	Goranson, Rita	Brewer's Blackbird	Mason City	Wheelerwood Drive, north + west of Mason City, 1 mile before intersection with Killdeer Ave	River + trees on one side - farm land on other side	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Had been seeing grackles - a larger bird - larger tail. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76