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 Great Gray Owl at Claybanks Forest, 1997	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-02-08	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl at Claybanks Forest in Cerro Gordo County, IA on February 8, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, a photocopy of a photograph, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Allen, Pam Allen, Reid I.	Great Gray Owl	Claybanks Forest	Cerro Gordo County, 1/4 mile west of the intersection of Wren and 225th Street; on 225th St.		The documentation form by Pam and Reid Allen forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Carolyn Fischer, Jim Fuller, and Stephen J. Dinsmore were submitted. Other observers include Mark Proescholdt, Beth Proescholdt, James J. Dinsmore, Dick Tetrault, Chris Caster, Dale Fye, Diane Porter, Ron Muilenberg, Gerald White, Jan Walter, Rita Pedelty, Tom Fischer, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: There really is no other owl except a Barred Owl which could be confused with this bird. The yellow eyes of the Great Gray Owl eliminated the possibility of a Barred Owl which has dark eyes. Also, size would eliminate the Barred Owl. The Great Gray Owl looked almost twice as large as a Barred Owl. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:52:00/16:09:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Rare bird documentation form for Ruddy Duck at Willow Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-04-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Ruddy Duck at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on April 12, 1980.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Ruddy Duck	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Resembles a ruddy in size, shape, color of sides, + color of belly. However, it lacked any light color on the cheeks. I don't know a duck that normally has this pattern. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:07:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	18
Rare bird documentation form for Great Blue Heron at Saylorville Dam, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-07-27	1984-08-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Great Blue Herons at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on July 27, 1984 with an addendum on August 1, 1984.	Engebretsen, Bery	Great Blue Heron	Saylorville Dam	about 2 mi S. of Saylorville Dam 0.5 mi S of 66th, east side of DSM Ranch	Heavy, mature river bottom. Very thick canopy. Nests in locust. [illegible] nearby silver maple.	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	18
Why keep bird records?	Lecture notes	Bird surveys Bird watching Ornithology--Methodology	1947-05-10	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Lecture notes presented May 10, 1947. Includes the paper "The Use of bird records." These papers were used for a presentation given at the 1947 annual meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union and describe why bird records are kept, announces the launch of the periodical "Audubon field notes" and establishes deadlines for when field notes should be submitted for each season.	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996		Cedar Falls Iowa				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	9	18
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding fall migration, 1976	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Trapping	1976-12-10	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall migration report contributed by Gladys Black in a letter to Nicholas S. Halmi, December 10, 1976. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of fall 1976.	Black, Gladys	Snow Bunting Snowy Owl Red-breasted Nuthatch Hairy Woodpecker	Des Moines Iowa Mount Vernon Fort Madison Beaman				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	18
Red Rock fall migration, 1976	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1976-08-01	1976-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall migration report for Red Rock, Iowa contributed by Gladys Black. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1976.	Black, Gladys		Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	18
Gladys Black letter to Nicholas S. Halmi regarding fall migration, 1976	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1976-12-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall migration report contributed by Gladys Black in a letter to Nicholas S. Halmi, December 1, 1976. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1976.	Black, Gladys	Bald Eagle Boreal Chickadee Mallard	Iowa Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eurasian Tree Sparrow at Oxford, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-01-09	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Eurasian Tree Sparrow at Oxford in Johnson County, IA on January 9, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Scheib, James	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Oxford	4296 Black Hawk Ave SW, Oxford, Johnson Co., 5 mi. S. of Oxford I-80 exit	Feeder on cedar tree outside farm house	The documentation form by James Scheib is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers were Pat Schnack and Grace Geyer. \| Elimination of similar species: Easily distinguished from accompanying house sparrows as described above. No other sparrow has a rounded blackear mark completely surrounded by white. Closest might be Lark Sparrow which has a white crown strip, brown ear mark, white around the eye, and white on the tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eurasian Tree Sparrow at Burlington, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-12-16	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for ten Eurasian Tree Sparrows at Burlington in Des Moines County, IA on December 16, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Burlington	23 miles north of Burlington (Des Moines County)	open country, but birds in rural residence front yard	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Charles and Jane Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: House Sparrow - as compared above. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eurasian Tree Sparrow at West Branch, 1987	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-03-14	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Eurasian Tree Sparrows at West Branch in Cedar County, IA on March 14, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and eight documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Veal, Sally	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	West Branch	in my backyard in West Branch		The documentation form by Sally Veal is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by James Sandrock, Carl Bendorf, Thomas Kent, James Fuller, Peter Petersen, Thomas Staudt, and Francis Moore were submitted later. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Walter Zuurdeeg, Ann Barker, Mary Lou Petersen, and Gerry White. \| Elimination of similar species: As I was filling my bird feeders I noticed two birds in the silver maple behind the house that at first glance appeared to be house sparrows. I was struck by the neat appearance and greater activity of these particular birds and by the fact that they were not associating with the flock of house sparrows near the bird feeders. Even without binoculars I was able to see the black spots on the birds faces. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00 through the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Townsend's Warbler at Stone State Park, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-11	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Townsend's Warbler at Stone State Park in Woodbury County, IA on May 11, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form with field notes submitted to the committee.	Garthright, William C.	Townsend's Warbler	Stone State Park	"Bunny Hill" Trail, behind Loess Lodge, in Stone State Park, Sioux City, Iowa	wooded ravines	The documentation form by Bill Garthright is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Black-throated Green Warbler doesn't have black face and crown, or yellow breast. Blackburnian Warbler doesn't have black throat and chin or solid black crown; is more orange or orange-yellow rather than bright lemon yellow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:45:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Townsend's Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-05-12	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Townsend's Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine County, IA on May 12, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	White, Gerald	Townsend's Warbler	Wildcat Den State Park	[...] At Wild Cat Den State Park in a small area of bottom land of deciduous woods on May 12, 1988 at 7:20 AM, for aproximatly [sic] 45 seconds.		The documentation form by Gerald White is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] When the first look at the head I thought of a possible Blackburnian but when I saw the neck I knew I had a new bird for myself. The most striking features being the head and throat markings. [...] I then checked the rest of the birds listed and made the summation that I had seen the Townsend's. That evening when I returned from work I checked my Golden, Peterson, N.G.S. and Audubon Master Guide for their accounts of the Townsend's and similar species. I eliminated the following; Hermit Warbler - no cheek patch: Blackburnian - dosn't [sic] have a black throat: Black-throated Green - has solid back color and cheek patch not as bold, no black cap. Of the references mentioned, the N.G.S. has the most accurate illustration of the birds head but I can't verify that the bird I saw did or didn't have yellow under the eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 07:20:00/07:20:45.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Townsend's Warbler at Fejervary Park, 1950	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1950-05-07	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Townsend's Warbler at Fejervary Park in Davenport in Scott County, IA on May 7, 1950. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation article reviewed by the committee .	Feeney, Thomas J.	Townsend's Warbler	Fejervary Park	[...] in a ravine at Fejuvary [sic] Park, Davenport.		The documentation article by Thomas J. Feeney is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer includes Thomas Morrissey. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] the distinctive face pattern, the combination of black crown and striped sides made identification certain. \| Observation lasted for ten minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	18
Letter to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union announcing the Iowa Birdline is now in operation, December 1981	Correspondence	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Citizen science	1981-12-01	1981-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union announcing the Iowa Birdline is now in operation. A handwritten note by Richard Jule Hollis at the bottom of letter thanks Hank Zaletel for all his help.	Bendorf, Carl J. Hollis, Richard Jule		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Gray Owl at Colfax Township in Grundy County, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-02-17	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl at Colfax Township in Grundy County, IA on February 17, 1996. Includes two record review documents with votes, an article from the Grundy Register, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, James J.	Great Gray Owl	Colfax Township	section 17, Colfax Township, Grundy Co. (ca 3 miles east of Wellsburg)	roadside, open farmland	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Barred Owl-size, relative length of tail, gray rather than brownish gray as predominant color.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great Gray Owl at Big Marsh, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-02-11	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl at Big Marsh in Butler County, IA on February 11, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Field Notes, and seven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Great Gray Owl	Big Marsh Wildlife Area	Big Marsh, Butler Co., Iowa	At north edge of large man-made marshy area near the Cedar River.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Stephen J. Dinsmore, Jim Dinsmore, Mary Lou and Peter Petersen, Chris Edwards, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted. Other observers include Francis Moore, Beth Proescholdt, Carl Kurtz, Linda Kurtz, Carolyn Fischer, Pat Hansen, Alan Martin, Rita Pedelty, Rita Goranson, Jan Walter, Tim Gedler, Dennis Henrickson, Bruce DeLong, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Tom Stone, James Scheib, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Only Barred Owl is remotely similar. The most impressive marks were the yellow eyes, bow tie mark, and large gray facial disks. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:59:00/17:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Gray Owl near Quarry, 1959	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1959-05-12	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Gray Owl near Quarry in Marshall County, IA on May 12, 1959. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Mitchem, Lucile	Great Gray Owl	Quarry	[...] gravel road that follows the Iowa River near the small town of Quarry.		The documentation article by Lucile E. Mitchem forms the basis of this record. Other observer includes her daughter. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I was well acquainted with the Barred Owl, the only other owl an amateur might confuse with the larger Great Gray Owl. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 05:30:00/05:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Common Eider at Jester Park, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-03-26	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Common Eider at Jester Park, Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on March 26, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Common Eider	Jester Park	off Jester Park boat ramp, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County, IA	open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: ID based solely on head profile whichwas [sic] identical to the Red Rock bird studied at length earlier in the year. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:55:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Common Eider at Red Rock Reservoir, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents) Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-01-27	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Common Eider at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on January 27, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence over the sighting, photos, drawings of the bird sighting, articles in Iowa Bird Life, Field Notes, and other publications, and twelve documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Common Eider	Red Rock Dam	Des Moines River below Red Rock dam - Marion Co., Iowa	open stretch of river	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Dinsmore, Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, Reid Allen, Ann Johnson, Mark Proescholdt, Chris Edwards, Peter C. Petersen, Ray Cummins, Robert Cecil, and Diane Porter were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: See above discussion (Description). Steller's Eider eliminated by size. Female and immature King Eider eliminated by pattern of barring on flanks, size of bill, position of eye, faint white supercilium, and pattern of feathering on bill. Spectacled Eider eliminated by facial pattern and bill shape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:45:00/15:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Tricolored Heron at IPL Ponds, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-04	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Tricolored Heron at the Iowa Power and Light settling ponds, in Council Bluffs, IA on May 4, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Greer, Janet	Tricolored Heron	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa Power and Light settling ponds, Council Bluffs, IA	lakeshore	The documentation form by Janet Greer is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marge Graf, Dutch Graf, and Mary Jo Harlow. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Blue Heron: Eliminated by bill color, rusty feathers on the breast, white belly and leg color, and dark face and crown. Little Blue Heron: Eliminated by size, rusty wing coverts, and white chin. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/12:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Tricolored Heron at Cone Marsh, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Maps (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc Wildlife conservation	1989-04-29	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Tricolored Heron at Cone Marsh, Louisa County, IA on April 29, 1989. Includes record review documents with votes, articles in Iowa Bird Life and the Loon, maps of Tri-Colored Heron sightings and breeding areas, correspondence about the sighting from Ross Silcock to Carl Bendorf, from to Dick Shaffer to Thomas H. Kent, from Bruce Peterjohn to Thomas H. Kent and committee votes, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Tricolored Heron	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone M., Louise Co., IA	marsh	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Shaffer. \| Elimination of similar species: Size and white belly eliminate other herons. Apparently an immature or non-breeding plumaged adult. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:50:00/10:59:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	18
Letter to Iowa Ornithologists' Union members regarding an Iowa Birdline	Correspondence	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Citizen science	1981-09-01	1981-09-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter to Iowa Ornithologists' Union members regarding a working proposal for an Iowa Birdline (phoneline). The letter includes a survey to gather information in order to set up the Birdline.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Hollis, Richard Jule		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Iowa Birdline information provided to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Administrative records	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Citizen science	1981-01-01	1981-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The Iowa Birdline information sheet provided to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. The document includes the first year operating expenses and subsequent years. It also includes a sample message for reporting.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Letter to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union regarding setting up a Birdline	Correspondence	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Citizen science	1981-06-01	1981-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union announcing a proposal to set up a Birdline. Includes advantages of using a phone number (Birdline) for members to call to report bird sightings. The letter is also asking members to contribute money towards the cost of set up.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Hollis, Richard Jule		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Richard Jule Hollis letter to Hank Zaletel regarding the Iowa Birdline, December 17, 1981	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Counting Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Richard Jule Hollis letter to Hank Zaletel announcing that the Iowa Birdline is now in operation. The letter includes directions on how to use the Iowa Birdline. This letter was sent to Hank Zaletel in advance of sending a letter to all members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Hollis, Richard Jule		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18