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 Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-01-17	1992-01-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport in Scott County, IA on January 17, 1992.	Cecil, Robert I.	Thayer's Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Lock and Dam 15, Davenport, Iowa. Rusty Pelican Restaurant	River	The documentation form by Bob Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: See above discussion. [...] The wingtip pattern is what caught my attention. There was much less darkening to the outer primaries than on accompanying gulls. [...] When viewed fro [sic] underneath, the wingtips of the subject bird were white to the tips, with the exception of very narrow black tips at the tips of the primaries. This was very different from the adult Herring/Ring-bills which had substantial black towards the end of the underwings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-01-17	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport in Scott County, IA on January 17, 1992.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Above Lock + Dam 15, Davenport, IA	Frozen river	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Size and leg color eliminate other dark mantled gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Gyrfalcon at Bettendorf, 1992.	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-01-20	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Gyrfalcon at Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on January 20, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Timper, Edward	Gyrfalcon	Bettendorf	Devils Glen & Middle Road, Bettendorf, Hwy Z30 & Indiana Ave, Rural Scott Cty.	Residential with fields, and rural farm area with picked fields	The documentation form by Edward Timper is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I am a master falconer, and have handled and flown many large falcons, including gyrfalcons, peregrines, prairie falcons, and large exotics such as saker falcons and lanners. I am positive that this is a gerfalcon [sic]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:45:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Saw-whet Owl at Clear Lake in 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Zoological specimens	1992-01-29	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Saw-whet Owl at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on January 29, 1992.	Andrews, Ron	Northern Saw-whet Owl	Clear Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	55
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Mississippi River between Bettendorf, IA and Moline, IL, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-01-31	1992-02-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Mississippi River between Bettendorf in Scott County, IA and Moline in Rock Island County, IL on January 31, 1992 and February 1, 1992.	Fuller, James L	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Bettendorf Moline	Mississippi River between Moline, Illinois and Bettendorf, Iowa.		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Charles Fuller and Jane Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: The only other dark mantled gull with yellow legs is Yellow-footed Gull, which has never been seen outside of the extreme southwestern part of the country. Yellow-footed gull is also larger than the Herring gull, but this bird was smaller in general size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:35:00/14:45:00 on January 31, 1992 and 09:50:00/10:00:00 on February 1, 1992.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Big Bluestem Flyer, Volume 27, Number 6, February 1992	Newsletters	Bird surveys Bird watching Birds--Counting Ornithology--Societies, etc Wildlife conservation	1992-02-01	1992-02-29	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 27, Number 6, February 1992. Highlights of the newsletter include the results from the Ames and Boone County Christmas Bird Counts, an appeal for society members to support Iowa's Nongame Wildlife Program, and a calendar of society events for February through June 1992.	Edwards, David C. Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa)	Ring-billed Gull Gyrfalcon Common Redpoll House Finch	Ames Boone County				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	4
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Mississippi River between Moline, IL and Bettendorf, IA, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-01	1992-02-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Mississippi River between Moline in Rock Island County, IL and Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on February 1, 1992.	Fuller, James L	Great Black-backed Gull	Bettendorf Moline	Mississippi River between Moline, Illinois and Bettendorf, Iowa.		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Charles Fuller, Jane Fuller, Jim Scheib, Randy Pinkston, John Daniel, and Ann Johnson. \| Elimination of similar species: Size alone should eliminate all other dark mantled gulls. In addition, all of the other adult dark grey mantled gulls have a wing tip that is black, and darker than the rest of the upperwing and back, while this bird had a uniformly black upperwing and back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at the Mississippi River between Bettendorf and Moline in 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1992-02-02	1992-03-01	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at the Mississippi River between Bettendorf, IA and Moline, IL on February 2 and 3, 1992.	Petersen, Peter C.	Great Black-backed Gull	Bettendorf Moline				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull on the Mississippi River between Bettendorf, IA and Moline, IL, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the Mississippi River between Bettendorf in Scott County, IA and Moline in Rock Island County, IL on February 2, 1992.	Petersen, Peter C.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Bettendorf Moline	Miss. River between Bettendorf, Scott Co., IA + Moline, R.I. Co., IL.	Main channel of Miss. River	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ann Johnson and Gerald White. \| Elimination of similar species: Great-Black-backed- seen with one, much smaller, mantle not black. Slaty-backed. This bird smaller than Herrings, legs were yellow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Bettendorf, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on February 3, 1992.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Great Black-backed Gull	Bettendorf	Bettendorf, IA	Mississippi River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: Size. All black back and wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Slaty-backed Gull near Lindsay Park, 1992	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-02-06	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Slaty-backed Gull near Lindsay Park in Davenport in Scott County, IA on February 6, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Slaty-backed Gull	Lindsay Park	Lindsay Park Boat Club, Davenport, Scott Co., IA + Rock Isl. along Miss. R.	Ice flow, Iowa side of Miss. River - flew toward Il. when flushed.	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Black-backed Gull - legs not yellow too large, wide trailing edge on wing, white between tips of primaries + mantle. Greater Black-backed Gull - too small, mantle not black. Western Gull- \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:35:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	6
Documentation form for extraordinary bird sightings in Iowa, Thayer's Gull, February 7, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-07	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Documentation form supporting the sighting of a Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 14 contributed by Bob Cecil on February 7, 1992.	Cecil, Robert I.	Thayer's Gull	Lock and Dam 14				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Black-backed Gull between Lock and Dam 15 and Lock and Dam 14, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-08	1992-02-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Greater Black-backed Gulls between Lock and Dam 15 and Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on February 8, 1992.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 14 Lock and Dam 15	Mississippi River between lock 15 & 14	I saw a total of four adult Greater Black-backed gulls between lock 15 & 14. Two were seen briefly and in rather poor light setting with Herring Gulls above lock 15. This was around 9AM and they flew off to the north. The fourth was just above the e. Moline bridge on the Iowa side at 12AM. The third was seen across the river from Campbells Island around 10AM. This bird I saw standing, spreading it's wings, and flying. It is the bird described below.	The documentation form by Ray Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Peter C. Petersen and Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: The very large size eliminates the others possible Black-backed Gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-02-29	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on February 29, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Iceland Gull	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	Near boat marina on shore and swimming with Ring-billed Gulls at wide part of reservoir.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Bob Cecil was submitted. Other observers include John Cecil, Bob Myers, and Maridel Jackson. \| Elimination of similar species: The small size, small head and bill, and all dark bill exclude Glaucous Gull. The lack of any dark in the wing or tail exclude Thayer's Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 12:30:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Rare bird documentation form for Trumpeter Swan at Runnells Area, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-29	1992-03-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form two Trumpeter Swans at Runnells Area in Marion County, IA on February 29, 1992.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Trumpeter Swan	Red Rock Wildlife Area	Runnells A.; Marion Co., IA	Refuge area at upper end of Red Rock Res.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Cecil, Ann Johnson, and another man. \| Elimination of similar species: The appearance of the adult's bill eliminates Mute Swan. The lack of a yellow bill spot on the adult argues against Tundra Swan, but I understand that this is not an absolute criteria. The straightness of the culmen and shape of the feather extension along the forehead are difficult to judge, especially at a distance. Perhaps most convincing was the amount of darkness on the immature. Tundra Swans are said to be quite white on the back and wings by spring. The size of the bill on the immature was also quite impressive. The date is a bit early for Tundra Swan, but fine for Trumpeter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	30
Big Bluestem Flyer, Volume 27, Number 7, March 1992	Newsletters	Bird kills Bird watching Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Environmental policy Ornithology--Societies, etc Books--Reviews	1992-03-01	1992-03-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 27, Number 7, March 1992. Highlights of the newsletter include bird sightings from central Iowa contributed by Maridel Jackson, a report of a February field trip, and an article on bird mortality as a result of collisions with glass.	Edwards, David C. Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa)	Red-shouldered Hawk Common Redpoll Greater Prairie-Chicken	Ames Iowa State Nursery Stuart Smith Park				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	4
Rare bird documentation form for Smith's Longspur northeast of Larrabee, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-03-04	1992-03-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Smith's Longspur northeast of Larrabee in Cherokee County, IA on March 4, 1992.	Brewer, Marion M.	Smith's Longspur	Larrabee	3 Miles E, 1 mile N, 3/4 E of Larrabee	short grass	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lapland longspur, white wing patch & white edged tail, buffy belly \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:35:00/15:38:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	67
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Swallow at Otter Creek Marsh, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-03-05	1992-03-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Swallow at section seven of Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on March 5 ,1992. The documentation form was submitted with a Mike Stegmann letter to James Dinsmore about the bird sighting and documentation form on March 18, 1992.	Stegmann, Mike	Barn Swallow	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Section #7, Otter Creek Marsh, Tama County, Iowa	Cattail Marsh	The documentation form by Mike Stegmann is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Tree Swallows use this area to a great extent later in the spring and summer but the bird seen was blue-black with tan underside and long forked tail which tree swallows lack. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	87
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-03-07	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on March 7, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Great Black-backed Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Sandpiper Beach ,Saylorville Lake	Beach	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The only gull which approaches the Gr. Bl-backed in size is the Glaucous Gull - this species would not have a dark tail band or dark secondaries or an all dark bill \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-legged Kittiwake at Lake Macbride, 1992	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-03-15	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Lake Macbride in Johnson County, IA on March 15, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Scheib, James	Black-legged Kittiwake	Lake MacBride	South arm of Lake Macbride, Johnson Co.	Lake	The documentation form by James Scheib is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I was thinking that it was a Boneparte's [sic] Gull, but the bill was the wrong color and the gray hood was prominent like in the field guide for the Black-legged Kittiwake. I believe the BLK is the only gull that has the eye crescent, the gray hood, and a yellow bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mountain Bluebird at Ames, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-03-17	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird at Ames in Story County, IA on March 17, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Patterson, Matthew	Mountain Bluebird	Ames	South Ames- one quarter mile south of highway 30	Riparian woodland with frequent openings	The documentation form by Matthew Patterson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Breast color and body posture easily differentiated the Mountain from the Eastern Bluebird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Eurasian Wigeon at Ventura, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-03-18	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Eurasian Wigeon 4 miles south of Ventura in Cerro Gordo County, IA on March 18, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Eurasian Wigeon	Ventura	County Roads B43 at S14, approx. 4 miles south of Ventura, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Obvious differences from American Wigeon include the American's dark (green) face mask, white forehead and crown ("baldpate"), as well as those other differences discussed above. Female American has finely mottled grayish head and brownish sides, lacks striking patterns on wings and hindparts. Redhead (Aythya americana) has 'pochard' gestalt with darker brick-red vs. cinnamon-buff head, head more rounded in profile, tricolored bill broad and stout. Also has relatively plain wing with gray coverts and pale gray remiges. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) of either sex safely separable on the basis of head and bill in profile. Again, male's head is dark brick-red, back and sides whitish, lacks bold wing pattern. Female mergansers easily separable on the basis of bill alone. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Brown Pelican at Lake Rathbun, 1992	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-03-21	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for four Brown Pelicans at Lake Rathbun in Appanoose County, IA on March 21, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and one documentation form submitted to the committee.	Exline, Nancy	Brown Pelican	Rathbun Lake	Just west of mile marker 16 on Highway 142 on north side of Rathbun Reservoir, Appanoose County.	Upper reaches of one arm of the Reservoir with shallow water and flood prone vegetation on S. side of highway, shallow captive water ponds and pasture on north side.	The documentation form by Nancy Exline is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Roy Downing. \| Elimination of similar species: None except whites-cormorants mentioned as possible by Darrell Howell and Dinsmore; however, I am very familiar with this species also and know it was not cormorants. \| The original documentation form event occurred at 10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Gyrfalcon at Iowa Lake Wildlife Management Area in 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Photography of birds Rare birds	1992-03-27	1994-10-18	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Gyrfalcon at Iowa Lake Wildlife Management Area Kossuth Counties, IA on March 27, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, eight photographs of the bird, letters between Brad Bolduan, Peder H. Svingen, and Thomas Kent, and the published and approved sighting record found in the publication Gyrfalcon in Kossuth County in Iowa Bird Life 64:1 by Brad Bolduan.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Gyrfalcon	Iowa Lake Marsh State Game Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Big Bluestem Flyer, Volume 27, Number 8, April 1992	Newsletters	Bird watching Ornithology--Societies, etc Wildlife conservation Meetings Waterfowl Prairie restoration	1992-04-01	1992-04-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 27, Number 8, April 1992. Highlights of the newsletter include details on upcoming shorebird, waterfowl, and warbler field trips, reports on March fields trips to Lake Red Rock and Little Wall Lake, details of the future American Ornithologists' Union meeting in Ames on June 24-27, 1992, and information on a meeting of the central Iowa Prairie Network.	Edwards, David C. Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa)	American Kestrel	Little Wall Lake Ames Lake Red Rock				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	4