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

Thomas Kent letter to Ronald Harms regarding Swainson's Thrush, November 22, 1985	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Photography of birds	1985-11-22	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Thomas Kent asks for additional documentation for Swainson's Thrush sighting and suggests it may have been a Hermit Thrush. Included on the letter is Ronald Harms' reply that he had Judy Carlson verify the identification and that he also photographed the bird. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1985.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush	Laurens				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	1
Lucille Gaffney letter to Thomas Kent regarding Evening Grosbeak flock, November 21, 1985	Correspondence Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching	1985-11-21	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Lucille Gaffney reports that after a year's absence the Evening Grosbeak have returned. She also lists other birds she has sighted. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1985.	Gaffney, Lucille M.	Bald Eagle Evening Grosbeak Purple Finch Red-breasted Nuthatch	Swaledale				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	1
Robert Cecil letter to Thomas Kent regarding Fall bird sightings, November 20, 1985	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Tyrannidae \| Flycatchers Corvidae \| Jays, Crows, and allies Fringillidae \| Finches Hirundinidae \| Swallows Turdidae \| Thrushes Vireonidae \| Vireos Parulidae \| Warblers Troglodytidae \| Wrens	1985-11-20	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The letter discusses Fall bird sightings and proposed editorial changes to Iowa Bird Life. Includes an annotated list of birds sighted. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1985.	Cecil, Robert I.	Purple Finch Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Prairie Warbler	Keokuk Lacey-Keosauqua State Park Shimek State Forest Wildlife Management Area - Croton Unit				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	1
Fall season, 1985 Iowa bird reports	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification	1985-11-20	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	An annotated list of birds sighted by Rich DeCoster. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1985.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Broad-winged Hawk Merlin	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	1
Barb Wilson letter to Thomas Kent regarding Fall sightings, November 18, 1985	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds of prey Birds--Identification Charadriiformes \| Shore-birds, Gulls, and Auks Fringillidae \| Finches Water birds Weather	1985-11-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter discussing Grosbeak sightings, the weather and includes a list of birds sighted. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1985.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Ferruginous Hawk	Lake Park Mills County Willow Slough State Game Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	1
Bob Sheets letter to Don Cummings regarding hunting areas, November 18, 1985	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Wildlife refuges Hunting	1985-11-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Bob Sheets memo reports on Wildlife Refuges opening for hunting season and also reports Tundra Swan sighting. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1985.	Sheets, Bob	Tundra Swan	Lock and Dam 11 Princeton State Wildlife Management Area Muskrat Slough State Game Management Area Green Island Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of King Eider at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-11-10	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a King Eider at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County on November 10, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, diagrams and drawings, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence over the sighting and identification, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee. Within the documentation forms, sightings of both King Eider and Common Eider are reported.	Bray, Tanya	King Eider	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto NWR, Washington County, Ne.--Harrison County, Ia.		The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Dinsmore, Stephen Dinsmore, Robert K. Myers, Jim Fuller, Francis L. Moore, Beth & Mark Proescholdt, W. Ross Silcock, Tom Kent, Peter C. Petersen, and Babs Padelford were submitted later. Other observers include Mark Dixon, Scott Patton, B.J. Rose, Loren Padelford, and Emil K. Nattalle. Elimination of similar species: Larger than White-winged Scoter in direct comparison. This bird also seemed "heavier" and more massive than the scoter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	17
Bluestem Flyer, Volume 20, Number 3, November 1985	Newsletters	Bird declines Bird watching Stercorariidae \| Jaegers Local government and environmental policy Ornithology--Societies, etc Meetings Parks--Iowa	1985-11-01	1985-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 20, Number 3, November 1985. Highlights of the newsletter include details on upcoming meetings and events, an announcement of the completion of a brochure interpreting the features of the Audubon Trail at Brookside Park, and notes on the observation of the first jaeger in the state since 1966.	Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa) van der Linden, Judy	Red-necked Grebe Evening Grosbeak Western Grebe Long-eared Owl	Ames Big Creek State Park Saylorville Lake Brookside Park Ada Hayden Heritage Park				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Parasitic Jaeger at Saylorville Reservoir, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-10-14	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Parasitic Jaeger at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 14, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, an article of Iowa Bird Life, and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Parasitic Jaeger	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., Iowa	General: Saylorville Reservoir- large impoundment on DesMoines [sic] River. Specific: Always out in main deeper part of lake.	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Stephen Dinsmore, Francis L. Moore, Carl J. Bendorf, Thomas H. Kent, and Bery Engebretsen were submitted. Other observers include Dennis Thompson, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene Armstrong, Tom Staudt, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Pomarine Jaeger and Long-tailed Jaeger are possible. See explanation on back as to why I believe this was Parasitic Jaeger. [...] A juvenile dark phase Pomarine would also show much white in the base of primaries (top and bottom) and the tail wouldn't have any long streamers. The Pomarine should however be a larger bird (Herring Gull size). The Pomarine's flight should be slower and more labored than this bird was. A juvenile dark phase Long-tailed Jaeger would not show as much white on dorsal side of primaries as this bird did and the flight pattern should be almost tern-like which it was not. Long-tailed Jaegers should also appear to be more grayish than the bird in question- even in dark phase. Further note on size-- As the jaeger rested on the water, double-crested cormorants would sometimes swim into the field of view and they appeared to be at least one-third larger than the jaeger. A pied-billed grebe also swam near once and the jaeger was probably 1/4 again longer than the grebe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:40:00 and seen several times after that for a total of sixty minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-10-13	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 13, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir	Saylorville reservoir, v Went alone, 1 mi north of Dam	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dennis Thompson. \| Elimination of similar species: Smaller, bill decidedly smaller than common. Bill was not upturned as Red-throated would be. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:05:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Clark's Grebe at Big Creek Lake, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-10-12	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Clark's Grebe at Big Creek Lake in Polk County, IA on October 12, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Clark's Grebe	Big Creek State Park	Big Creek SP, Polk County in middle of large lake	in middle of large lake	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis Moore were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Western Grebe eliminated by the white on the cheek which extended well above the eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Wood Stork at Washta, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-10-11	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Wood Stork near Washta in Cherokee County, IA on October 11, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Wood Stork	Washta	4 miles S of Washta	River bottom	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: snow goose. black secondarys [sic] \| The original documentation form event occurred in the mid afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie near Larchwood, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-10-06	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie near Larchwood in Lyon County, IA on October 6, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harr, Douglas C.	Black-billed Magpie	Larchwood	6 mi. W, 2 mi. S of Larchwood, Lyon County, Iowa	General: Hills bordering Big Sioux River Specific: Prairie hills, with some riverbottom & hillside timber, cropfields on tops of hills nearby.	The documentation form by Douglas Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Fribley and Paul Hagen. \| Elimination of similar species: Only similar groups would be crows, jays and blackbirds. Size, tail shape and unique color pattern dictate nothing else except Black-billed Magpie. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:04:00/14:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk in Story County, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-09-29	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Tiegs Marsh in Story County, IA on September 29, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about bird sightings, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Ferruginous Hawk	Story County	Tiegs Marsh, Story County	in open cropland near a small marsh	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Fred J. Alsop were submitted later. Other observers include Dr. George Brown and Paul Martsching. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-tailed hawk eliminated by lack of dark bar on leading edge of underwing, position of white wing patches, white tail with rusty tip, lack of belly band, and rust color on back and wings. Rough-legged hawk eliminated by lack of wrist marks, rust color on back and wings, all white legs, unbanded tail and lack of belly band. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00 and 10:10:00 to 10:15:00 estimated.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Ken Thimmesch letter to Iowa Ornithologists Union regarding unidentified Warbler, September 29, 1985	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Photography of birds Parulidae \| Warblers	1985-09-29	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The letter asks for help in identifying a Warbler that was photographed in Cedar Rapids. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1985.	Thimmesch, Ken	Cape May Warbler	Cedar Rapids				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sightings of Sage Thrasher at Cedar River Park in Waterloo, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-09-23	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sage Thrasher at Cedar River Park in Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on September 23, 1985. Includes one record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article and cover page, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Sage Thrasher	Cedar River Park	East end of Cedar River Park, at The Boating Center, Waterloo, IA	Spends most of its time in a Hawthorne tree and near the building at The Boating Center	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Robert K. Myers, Beth Proescholdt, Mark Proescholdt, Carl J. Bendorf, Steve Dinsmore, Jim Fuller, Thomas J. Staudt, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Russell Hays, Tom Stone, Jr., Tom Stone, Sr., Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Hank Zaletel, John Hoogerheide, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: No other species is of this size and coloration to confuse with this species. \| The original documentation form sighting is from 17:25:00 to 18:05:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	10
Note about September 22	Field notes	Bird watching Vireonidae \| Vireos Parulidae \| Warblers	1985-09-22	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Paul Martsching reports that September 22 was one of the best days he has ever had for sighting Warblers. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Blue-headed Vireo Black-and-white Warbler Rose-breasted Grosbeak Red-eyed Vireo Gray Catbird Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Ovenbird American Redstart Nashville Warbler	Brookside Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Prairie Falcon north of Alleman, 1985	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-09-21	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Prairie Falcon north of Alleman in Polk County, IA on September 21, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the sighting from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent about the documentation forms, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Munson, Erik	Prairie Falcon	Alleman	4 mi. north of Alleman, IA	cropland	The documentation form by Erik Munson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Steve Dinsmore were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Merlin by size, habitat, paleness, tail; kestrel by size, back color, imm. peregrine by lack of black head, paleness, tail , etc. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	6
Field checklist of Iowa birds	Checklists Field notes	Bird watching Birds of prey Fringillidae \| Finches Turdidae \| Thrushes Parulidae \| Warblers Water birds Weather	1985-09-20	1985-09-22	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A checklist of birds sighted over three days in September from the Braley property in Shenandoah. Includes a letter from Jean Braley to Thomas Kent regarding Warbler and Thrush migration dated October 9, 1985. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1985.	Braley, Francis Braley, Jean B.	Yellow-breasted Chat Evening Grosbeak Scarlet Tanager	Shenandoah				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Knot at Fisher Lake, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-09-19	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red Knot at Fisher Lake in Polk County, IA on September 19, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red Knot	Fisher Lake	Fisher Lake, n. of Des Moines, Polk Co., IA		The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Robert K. Myers and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong, Cal Knight, and Jane Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Fall Dowitchers have longer bills and legs, a darker tail, longer neck, darker back, and darker underparts. Sanderling is smaller, much whiter, has bolder wing stripe and lacks a white eye stripe. (I saw several later in the day.) \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	1
Bluestem Flyer, Volume 20, Number 1, September 1985	Newsletters	Bird watching Birds--Migration Local government and environmental policy Ornithology--Societies, etc Parulidae \| Warblers Meetings	1985-09-01	1985-09-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 20, Number 1, September 1985. Highlights of the newsletter include details on upcoming meetings and events, an announcement of the resignation of Edward Brigham as the vice president of the National Audubon Society's north midwest region, notes on the beginning of the fall Warbler migration, and updates on conservation efforts and environmental issues.	Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa) van der Linden, Judy	Hooded Warbler	Ames Ledges State Park				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	3
Field notes contributed by Ronald Harms, August 9, 1985	Field notes	Bird banding Bird watching	1985-08-09	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes were contributed by Ronald Harms. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of summer 1985	Harms, Ronald	Northern Waterthrush	Laurens				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	21	7
Field notes contributed by Bery Engebretsen, August 5, 1985	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Hirundinidae \| Swallows Parulidae \| Warblers Birds--Infancy	1985-08-05	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes were contributed by Bery Engebretsen. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of summer 1985.	Engebretsen, Bery	Cooper's Hawk Bell's Vireo Ring-necked Duck Gray Partridge Veery Cerulean Warbler	Big Creek Lake Saylorville Lake Saylorville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	21	7
Field notes and Bery Engebretsen letter to James J. Dinsmore regarding bird sightings, August 3, 1985	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Nests Birdsongs Birds--Infancy	1985-08-03	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of birds and locations contributed by Bery Engebretsen. Included with the field report is a note from Bery Engebretsen to James J. Dinsmore regarding Cooper's Hawks. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of summer 1985.	Engebretsen, Bery	Cooper's Hawk Willow Flycatcher Yellow-headed Blackbird Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Yellow-billed Cuckoo Ruby-throated Hummingbird Wood Thrush Yellow-Crowned Night Heron Cerulean Warbler Ovenbird Louisiana Waterthrush Scarlet Tanager Great Blue Heron Cliff Swallow Northern Bobwhite	Big Creek State Park Lake View Saylorville Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	4
Field notes and Peter P. Wickham letter to James J. Dinsmore regarding bird sightings, August 3, 1985	Checklists Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification Birds--Nests Birdsongs	1985-08-03	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes contributed by Peter P. Wickham in a letter to James J. Dinsmore. A field checklist is included with the letter with birds observed in the Cedar Rapids Christmas count area in mid-June. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of summer 1985.	Wickham, Peter P.	Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Pied-billed Grebe Alder Flycatcher Black-and-white Warbler Rose-breasted Grosbeak Great Horned Owl Forster's Tern Acadian Flycatcher Sedge Wren Veery Louisiana Waterthrush Hooded Warbler Hairy Woodpecker Eastern Whip-poor-will Black-capped Chickadee Common Pheasant	Cedar Rapids Coralville Lake Palisades-Kepler State Park Shimek State Forest Squaw Creek Regional Park Matsell Bridge Public Access				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	21	7