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 White-faced Ibis at Runnells Game Area, 1981	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-09-11	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a White-faced Ibis at Runnels Game Area in Polk County, IA on September 11, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	White-faced Ibis	Runnells Overlook	Runnels [sic] Game Area	slough	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Glossy Ibis. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Rare bird documentation form for Semipalmated Plover at Red Rock Dam, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-11-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Semipalmated Plover at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on November 28, 1989.	Brown, Beth	Semipalmated Plover	Red Rock Dam	running along the sandy shoreline below the Red Rock Dam in the tailwaters.		The documentation form by Beth Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: There was a white ring above the breastband. The mantle, crown dark-brownish, too dark for a Piping Plover. The color was similar to the color of a Killdeer, but had no rust color on the rump. I did not note leg color. I saw it fly but took note of nothing except the white underparts, because I was surprised that another like bird was with it. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	4
Rare bird documentation form for American Pipit at Pocahontas, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-02-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an American Pipit at Pocahontas in Pocahontas County, IA on February 27, 1982.	Jardine, Wallace E.	American Pipit	Pocahontas	Rural Pocahontas, IA	General: Rural back yard (about 1 acre). Young trees, shrubs, bounded on three sides by 100+ acre fields. Specific: Base of stone fireplace with feeder on top. Fireplace is 6' from concrete patio in back yard.	The documentation form by Wallace E. Jardine is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Vesper Sparrow. Breast not streaked as heavily as Vesper Sparrow + white outer tail feathers more prominent than on Vesper Sparrow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Water Pipit near Pocahontas, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-02-27	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Water Pipit near Pocahontas in Pocahontas County, IA on February 27, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Jardine, Wallace E.	Water Pipit	Pocahontas	Rural Pocahontas, IA	General: Rural back yard (about 1 acre). Young trees + shrubs bounded on three sides by 100+ acre fields. Specific: Base of stone fireplace with feeder on top. Fireplace is 6' from concrete patio in back yard.	The documentation form by Wallace Jardine is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Vesper sparrow. Breast not streaked as heavily as vesper sparrow + white outer tail feathers more prominent than on vesper sparrow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Pocahontas, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-02-27	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for a Hoary Redpoll at Pocahontas in Pocahontas County, IA on January 27, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Jardine, Wallace E.	Hoary Redpoll	Pocahontas	Rural Pocahontas, IA	Rural back yard (about 1 acre). Young trees + shrubs. Bounded on three sides by 100+ acre fields. Thistle feeder located next to a 20' Linden three about 30' north of house	The documentation form by Wallace E. Jardine is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common redpoll. This bird was paler and had a red washed unstreaked rump. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/07:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Rare bird documentation form for Western Grebe at Rush Lake, 1981	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-06-29	1981-07-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for six Western Grebes at Rush Lake in Osceola County, IA on June 29, 1981.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Western Grebe	Rush Lake	Rush L., Osceola Co, IA	Lake with extensive marshy edge N. side of lake	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Douglas Harr. \| Elimination of similar species: None similar. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/08:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	15
Rare bird documentation form for Cooper's Hawk at Rush Lake, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-05-02	1980-06-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cooper's Hawk at Rush Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on May 2, 1980.	Jardine, Wallace E.	Cooper's Hawk	Rush Lake	Rush Lake, Laurens, Iowa	Woods bordering farm field + lake. Tree on slope. 30' high in a 40' tree.	The documentation form by Wallace E. Jardine is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ray Cummins. \| Elimination of similar species: Sharp-shinned. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:00:00/07:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lazuli Bunting at Spencer, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-29	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lazuli Bunting at Spencer in Clay County, IA on May 29, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Lazuli Bunting	Spencer	Russ Heine Acreage 2110 370th St. Spencer, Clay Co.	Backyard garden w/ locust tree and pine windbreak	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Harold White was submitted later. Other observers include Nancy Schoenewe and Alice Kehoe. \| Elimination of similar species: Indigo bunting - color of blue, wing bars, rufous wash on breast. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:25:00/18:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	4
Rare bird documentation form for Ibis species at Ely, 1986	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-25	1986-09-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an Ibis species at Ely in Linn County, IA on September 25, 1986.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Glossy Ibises	Ely	S. of Ely, IA	Marshy roadside pond	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/13:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff south of Grimes, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-10	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ruff south of Grimes in Polk County, IA on May 10, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Ruff	Grimes	S. of Grimes	minimum-till corn field with standing water, old stocks	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Dennis Thompson, Reid Allen, and Pam Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: white underwings, U-Shaped white tail patch, small head, & size seem to eliminate other species. Too large for White-rumped. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 17:30:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon south of Sheldahl, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-09-19	1985-09-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon south of Sheldahl in Story County, IA on September 19, 1985.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Peregrine Falcon	Sheldahl	S. of Sheldahl, Story County	open country near town	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The large size, long pointed wings, dark back contrasting with light underparts, and the black hood eliminate all other raptors. \| The original documentation form event occurred at 18:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Booth Township in Palo Alto County, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-02-03	1988-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Booth Township in Palo Alto County, IA on February 3, 1988.	Knight, Calvin A.	Prairie Falcon	Booth Township	S.E. Cor. Section 33, Booth Township (T94-N,R34-W) Palo Alto Co., Iowa	open farms land; snow covered	The documentation form by Calvin Knight is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ron Reese, Jim Fuller, M. Stewart, Bernie Knight, and Ron Harms. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine Falcon: lighter color + underwing pattern eliminated the Peregrine \| The original documentation form event occurred at 07:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-tailed Kite at Otter Creek Marsh, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents) Maps (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-09-18	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a White-tailed Kite at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on September 18, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration, map, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee. Within the original documentation, the bird is identified as a Black-shouldered Kite.	Petersen, Peter C.	White-tailed Kite	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	S.E. corner Otter Creek marsh, near Chelsea, Ia.	rather dry marsh, some wooded margins	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Brian Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: The only similar raptor would be an Osprey which is much larger, has a black mask, elbow with large black area, mottled gray underwing and on tail and dark on upper surface of wing. Gulls are closer, but wings with dark area at tips of wings on top side, shorter tail, different flight, not pursued by small birds. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	25
Rare bird documentation form for Say's Phoebe southeast of Missouri Valley, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-08-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Say's Phoebes southeast of Missouri Valley in Harrison County, IA on August 25, 1978.	Gochenour, Ruth A.	Say's Phoebe	Missouri Valley	S.E. of Missouri Valley, Iowa. Boyer River bridge on County Road F66. Harrison County.	General--river. Specific--small willow and other small trees and rather high grasses along the river dike. The bird was first observed in this habitat from the river bridge.	The documentation form by Ruth Gochenour is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ardyth Newberry. \| Elimination of similar species: The female Vernillion [sic] flycatcher--streaking was absent. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	70
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle north and west of Hendrickson's Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-03-19	1983-03-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle north and west of Hendrickson's Marsh in Story County, IA on March 19, 1983.	Proescholdt, Beth	Golden Eagle	Hendrickson Marsh Lake	s.e. Story County, north + west from Hendrickson's Marsh	farmland about 3 miles from Hendrickson's Marsh - open, flat fields, bare with no crops	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Proescholdt and Phyllis Harris. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle - no white head + tail of adult, + not an immature Bald Eagle as it had dark wing linings, not white in the linings. Buteo - much too big for a buteo. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Townsend's Solitaire at southeastern Webster County, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-05-05	1986-05-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Townsend's Solitaire at southeastern Webster County, IA on May 5, 1986.	Munson, Erik	Townsend's Solitaire	Webster County	s.e. Webster Co., along Des Moines r.	overgrown pasture with cedars, woody draws meeting cropland	The documentation form by Erik Munson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: mockingbird by underlined portions above, posture [...] basic uniform gray all over. [...] bold eye ring; \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:07:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Thornton, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-02-12	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Thornton in Cerro Gordo, IA on February 12, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fischer, Carolyn J.	Ferruginous Hawk	Thornton	S.W. Cerro Gordo Co. N.W. of Thornton	open country	The documentation form by Carolyn Fischer is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Jim Dinsmore, Thomas Kent, and Stephen Dinsmore were submitted later. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Helen Fye, Dale Fye, Diane Porter, G. Foster, Chris Caster, Mike Overton, Dixie Overton, Rob Muilenburg, Jan Walter, Tim Phalen, Lowell Washburn, Gerald White, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Krider's Hawk - face wasn't all white + back wasn't heavily spotted. Also larger - Red-tailed Hawk - could not see dark patagial marks. Wingtips were long. Tail was not red - \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Merlin in southwest Chickasaw, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-06-03	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Merlin in southwest Chickasaw County, IA on June 3, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Merlin	Chickasaw County	S.W. Chickasaw Co.	Fence row in row-cropped ag. land	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other small falcon has uniform dark brown back and upper wing surface. It was much too small to be a female Peregrine. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:45:05.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	3
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at southwest Chickasaw County, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-06-03	1990-06-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at southwest Chickasaw County, IA on June 3, 1990.	Cecil, Robert I.	Merlin	Chickasaw County	S.W. Chickasaw County	Fence row in row-cropped ag. land	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other small falcon has uniform dark brown back and upper wing surface. It was much too small to be a female Peregrine. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:45:05.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for White-crowned Sparrow at Cedar Rapids, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-06-23	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a White-crowned Sparrow at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on June 23, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bradley, Rob	White-crowned Sparrow	Cedar Rapids	S.W. Side Cedar Rapids - Residence	Back yard with Cedar and Maple trees	The documentation form by Rob Bradley is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Greg Plotz and Dawn Zimpfer. \| Elimination of similar species: White throated Sparrow Had no white throat and no yellow spot between eye + bill. On the white throats that don't show much, if any yellow, and a very dull white throat, the head is not as distincty [sic] marked with the black + white stripes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 20:00:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	39
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Snowy Plover east of Black Hawk Lake, 1997	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-06-14	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Snowy Plover east of Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on June 14, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Allen, Pam	Snowy Plover	Black Hawk Lake	Sac County, in a dredge pond just east of the most easterly edge of Black Hawk Lake.	The bird was observed feeding quite near the edge of water and near shore area of the dredge pond which was mostly gumbo-like mudflats with some grassy patches.	The documentation form by Pam Allen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Peter Ernzen was submitted later. Other observers include Reid Allen, Rob Thelen, and Joe Clark. \| Elimination of similar species: See above description. [...] It was about one-third the size of a Kildeer, with a short, thin pointed black bill (longer, however, than a Piping Plover's stubbier short bill). [...] Also conspicuous was the black patch which was located just at the top of the 'shoulder' where the wing joined the body and extending a little ways toward the mid-breast area (but nowhere extending as far as the complete or semi-complete breastband common on the Piping Plover). The legs and feet were a dull dark slate grey (with no hint of the orange/pink coloration indicative of a Piping Plover). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:10:00/13:20:00 and 14:00:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	18
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Sanborn, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-04-25	1998-06-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for eighty-five White-winged Scoters at Sanborn in O'Brien County, IA on April 25, 1998.	Gruenewald, Robert	White-winged Scoter	Sanborn	Sanborn, Iowa	Waste Disposal Ponds	The documentation form by Robert Gruenewald is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other scoter species have white wing patches, and do not occur in this area, to my knowledge. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Davenport, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Charts (graphic documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-01-16	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Davenport in Scott County, IA on January 16, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, comparisons of different gull sightings, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Davenport	Sand Bar, Center Mississippi river Davenport	River Partly Frozen	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Peter C. Petersen, Tom Kent, and James Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring - slightly smaller than herring Ring billed - larger than ring billed Glaucous - much larger than bird seen Great Black Backed - much smaller than great Black Backed Bird was standing + sitting with Ring Bill on left and Herring on right \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler near George Wyth State Park, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-28	1986-09-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Pine Warblers near George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on September 28, 1986.	Moore, Francis L.	Pine Warbler	George Wyth Memorial State Park	Sand pit area adjacent to George Wyth S.P., Black Hawk Co.	Mixed hardwood edge along old logging road.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Blackpoll and Bay-breasted has streaking on back and not as dark brownish olive on the back as the Pine. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Western Sandpiper at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-09-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Western Sandpipers at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 1, 1991.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956- Pinkston, Daniel P.	Western Sandpiper	Sand Point	Sand Point on Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston and Daniel Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Some 30+ Semipalmated Sandpipers observed in same area simultaneously: Less robust and proportionately shorter-legged, bills clearly the shorter in all individuals with less distinct or no droop at tip, cold grayish coloration with no hint of rust in scapulars or crown. Sanderling larger with proportionately shorter bill, always shows dark bend of wing in basic plumage. Basic-plumaged Dunlin comparable in size to Pectoral Sandpiper with more substantial and drooped bill, gray wash across entire breast. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18