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 of Prairie Falcon northwest of Spencer, 1992	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-11-29	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Prairie Falcon northwest of Spencer in Clay County, IA on November 29, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Prairie Falcon	Spencer	NW of Spencer, Clay Co., IA	open farmland near little Sioux River	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature peregrine- lacked dark head and heavy moustache \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	6
Rare bird documentation form for Black Scoter at West Okoboji Lake, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Scoter at West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County, IA on December 18, 1993.	Harr, Douglas C.	Black Scoter	West Okoboji Lake	NW side of West Okoboji Lake, Dickinson County, Iowa	Open lake	The documentation form by Douglas C. Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lee Schoenewe. \| Elimination of similar species: larger than nearby Lesser Scaup. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Burrowing Owl at Union Township in Kossuth County, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-05-01	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Burrowing Owls at Union Township in Kossuth County, IA in May, June, and July, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Roberg, Craig C.	Burrowing Owl	Union Township	NW1/4 sec. 6 Union twp. Kossuth county	Alfalfa hay field - about 80 acres. Burrow on extreme west edge.	The documentation form by Craig Roberg is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Bob Moats. \| The original documentation form events lasted approximate one hour in the morning on several occasions through May, June, and July, 1980.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	17
Rare bird documentation form for Field Sparrow at Nyatt Girls Scout Camp in Nebraska, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for five Field Sparrows at Nyatt Girls Scout Camp in Sarpy County, NE on December 19, 1981.	Graf, Marge	Field Sparrow	Camp Maha	Nyatt Girls Scout Camp	dike at lake with open water	The documentation form by Marge Graf is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Diane Jones. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	51
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Burrowing Owl south of Archer, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-04-13	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Burrowing Owl south of Archer in O'Brien County, IA on April 13, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harms, Ronald	Burrowing Owl	Archer	O'Brien County, Ia. 1.75 South of Archer	Flat land	The documentation form by Ronald Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: it's just a burrowing owl \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:00:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Knot at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-08-05	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Red Knots at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on August 5, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of the review, an article of Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red Knot	Oak Grove Recreation Area	Oak Grove Beach, Saylorville Reservoir	sandy beach along lake	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Steve Dinsmore (later sighting) and Bob Myers were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Only two other sandpipers have reddish underparts-Curlew Sandpiper and Sanderling. Bill shape eliminates Curlew Sandpiper. The larger size, extent of reddish underparts, leg color, white rump, and wing stripe confined to the secondaries eliminates Sanderling. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:31:00/07:57:00 and 08:17:00/08:26:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sabine's Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-10-05	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sabine's Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 5, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Sabine's Gull	Oak Grove Recreation Area	Oak Grove Beach, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.	sitting on and circling over the beach parking lot	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: All other gulls eliminated combination of wing pattern and slightly forked tail with black terminal band. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:13:00/09:18:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-04-13	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Laughing Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on April 13, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, a photocopy of a photo, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Oak Grove Recreation Area	Oak Grove Beach, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA		The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: On the basis of the dark hood, size, and dark gray mantle, all gulls except for Laughing and Franklin's gulls can be removed from consideration. I will admit that I was skeptical that a Laughing Gull could show up in Iowa on such an early spring date; most interior records are from May-June. But, given the evidence, I am convinced that this bird was indeed a Laughing Gull. The size of this bird, nearly that of a ring-billed gull, favors Laughing Gull. The bill shape and size, length of the legs, wing pattern, and extent of the eye crescents also favor Laughing Gull. An adult Franklin's Gull can be eliminated by the lack of a white bar separating the gray inner wing from the black wingtip. One year-old Franklin's Gulls, however, may show a wing pattern like that of this bird. But, according to Kaufman (1990), such a Franklin's Gull should show some white flecks on the hood, and would be most likely encountered in late spring and summer. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:48:00/11:34:00 and 12:26:00/13:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Oak Grove Park, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-11-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Oak Grove Park in Sioux County, IA on November 6, 1998.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Golden Eagle	Oak Grove State Park	Oak Grove Park area in western Sioux County		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing at Oak Grove Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1986-11-23	1986-11-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bohemian Waxwing at Oak Grove Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 23, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Bohemian Waxwing	Oak Grove Recreation Area	Oak Grove Recreation Area of the Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.	sitting in dead tree along road	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cedar Waxwing eliminated by call, size, grayer coloration, and rusty undertail coverts. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:45:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-10-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on October 3, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Northern Goshawk	Oakland Cemetery	Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City, Johnson Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Wings proportionately longer and narrower than either Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawks', distinctly broad at secondaries, narrowing at primaries. Tail too long for any Buteo, proportionately shorter than other accipiters or N. Harrier. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:25:00/10:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for a Snowy Egret at Mill Creek State Park, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-12	1984-05-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Snowy Egret at Mill Creek State Park in O'Brien County, IA on May 12, 1984.	Huber, James E.	Snowy Egret	Mill Creek State Park	OBrien County, Mill Creek State Park 1 mile East of Paullina	Marsh	The documentation form by James E. Huber is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: American Egret, Cattle Egret \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:20:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rosy Finch at Oelwein, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-03-12	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rosy Finch at Oelwein in Fayette County, IA on March 12, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in Des Moines Register, a letter from Richard Wilkinson to Thomas H. Kent, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Stone, Tom	Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch	Oelwein	Oelwein, IOWA	Feeds on feeder. Come to a Rocky Ravine like spot by house.	The documentation form by Tom Stone is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Nicholas Halmi was submitted later. Other observers include Russel Hays, Frank Moore, Joe Schaufenbuel, Tom Kent, Tom Shires, Peter Petersen, Bernie Knight, Robert Myers, and eight more birders from Cedar Rapids-Marion. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird doesn't have any black on back or breast like the Black Rosy Finch. This bird had gray on head to distuinguish [sic] it. From the Brown capped Rosy Finch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:28:00/12:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	12
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
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
Rare bird documentation form for Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh, 1982	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-04-30	1982-05-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1982.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Little Blue Heron	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Old Man Slough near Cone Marsh Louisa County Iowa	river bottom slough	The documentation form by Thomas J. Staudt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Egret is larger, has a yellow bill and black legs. Cattle Egret has thick yellow-orange bill, thick short neck and in breeding plumage on orange patch on breast. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:45:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Des Moines, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-08-22	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of three Mississippi Kites in the Des Moines Area in Polk County, IA on August 22, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Mississippi Kite	Des Moines	Olivet Baptist Church - Des Moines area	Church parking lot with large trees and open spaces and creek	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russ Widner and Phil McFadden. \| Elimination of similar species: It's quite distinctive. A white-tailed Kite has black shoulders and a white tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:40:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Woodpecker Marsh, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-09-07	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Woodpecker Marsh in Wayne County, IA on September 7, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, two letters from Charlotte Scott to Thomas Kent, and a letter from Thomas Kent to Charlotte Scott.	Scott, Charlotte	Black-headed Grosbeak	Woodpecker Marsh	on a country road near Woodpecker Marsh			Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Dickcissel at Davenport, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-01-24	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Dickcissel at Davenport in Scott County, IA on January 24, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Barker, Ann M.	Dickcissel	Davenport	on ground near feeder @ RR3 Box 190, Davenport	Short grassy area under feeder, near bushes & Scotch Pines	The documentation form by Ann Barker is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Bill Barker. \| Elimination of similar species: House Sparrow - Lap. Longspur. Field marks - this bird had definite black bib, bright yellow on breast, yellow eye line, chestnut shoulders. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Elk Rock State Park, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-11	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Elk Rock State Park in Marion County, IA on December 11, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Elk Rock State Park	on ice in Lake Red Rock as viewed from bluff in N. Elk Rock St. Park	Reservoir on ice	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Black Backed - size other dark immature gulls - wings - more solid + consistent color + mantle solid dark gray \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:40:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Western Gull east of Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport, 1989	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-12-11	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Gull east of Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 11, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Western Gull	Lock and Dam 15	On Miss. River chanel [sic] ice between Davenport, Scott Co. IA &+ Rock Isl. Arsenal, RI Co. IL.	On ice covered chanel [sic] of Mississippi - 1/4 - 1/2 mi. upstream (East) of Lock + Dam 15.	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Brian Blevins and Gerald White were submitted. Another observers includes Lewis Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Slaty-backed Gull - Gray mantle merged directly to black tips, trailing white wing edge too narrow, mantle color too dark for g.b. Lesser-Black-bkd Gull - leg color pink, bird too large + heavy Greater Black-bkd. Gull - Bird too small, back not black enough, legs too bright + pink. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:35:00 on December 11, 1986, 08:20:00/08:25:00 and 09:00:00/09:15:00 on December 12, 1986.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-legged Kittiwake in Waterloo, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-21	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-legged Kittiwake in Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on December 21, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Black-legged Kittiwake	Waterloo	On South Side of Cedar River between Cedar Falls and Waterloo opposite George Wyth S.P.	Open river front	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Al Brown, Opal Uher, Maurice Hanson, Tom Stone, and Ruby Hanson. \| Elimination of similar species: No other adult gull has this combination of fieldmarks, all yellow bill, black legs, black outer primaries, smudge on back of head onto the nape, black eyes, rest of body all white, white slightly forked tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:10:00/13:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	10
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at George Wyth State Park, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on December 21, 1997.	Moore, Francis L.	Black-legged Kittiwake	George Wyth Memorial State Park	On southside of Cedar River between Cedar Falls and Waterloo opposite George Wyth S.P.	Open river front	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Al Brown, Opal Uher, Maurice Hanson, Ruby Hanson, and Tom Stone. \| Elimination of similar species: No other adult gull has this combination of fieldmarks, all yellow bill, black legs, black outer primaries, smudge on back of head on to the nape, black eyes, rest of body all white, white slightly forked tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:10:00/13:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Snowy Egret at Albion, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-27	1984-04-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Snowy Egrets at Albion in Marshall County, IA on April 27, 1984.	Dinsmore, James J.	Snowy Egret	Albion	on southwest edge of Albion, Marshall County	in flooded field/small marsh	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore, Eric Munson, Hank Zaletel, Joe Schaufenbuel, "et al". \| Elimination of similar species: leg/foot color eliminates Little Blue, Cattle and Great Egret. Also the size was much smaller than a Great Egret. \| The original documentation form event lasted occurred around 18:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull south of Muscatine, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-12-28	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull south of Muscatine in Muscatine County, IA on December 28, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation submitted to the committee.	White, Gerald	Iceland Gull	Muscatine	On the Mississippi River approximately three miles south of Lock 16.		The documentation by Gerald White is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Betty Wood and Keith Blunt. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The bill appeared smaller than the bills of near-by Herring Gulls. The bird size was near the same size or smaller than the Herring Gulls. [...] I eliminated Glaucous Gull because it would have been larger and heavier looking and the bill would not have been all dark. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:50:00/11:52:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4