Documents • Iowa State University • Avian Archives of Iowa Online

Title	Genres	Topics	Date (Start)	Date (End)	Type	Description	Creator/Author	Birds	Locations	Locality	Habitat	Remarks

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie east of Lindsay Wilderness Area, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-11-20	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie east of Lindsay Wilderness Area in Van Buren County, IA on November 20, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Vickers, William P.	Black-billed Magpie	Lindsay Wilderness Area	East of Lindsay Wilderness, Bonaparte, Ia	Second growth woodland near open pasture	The documentation form by William Vickers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include W.C. Cockerell and Mike Bentler. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerhead shrike, which is much smaller \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie east of the Sergeant Floyd Memorial Bridge near Sioux City, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-12-29	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie east of the Sergeant Floyd Memorial Bridge near Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on December 29, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Probst, Jerry	Black-billed Magpie	Interchange 144A	East of Floyd Monument Bridge across Mo. River Woodbury Co		The documentation form by Jerry Probst is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing with that profile larger + blacker than a blue jay. White color + tail eliminate crow \| The original documentation form event occurred around 16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie east of the Sergeant Floyd Memorial Bridge near Sioux City, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-12-29	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie east of the Sergeant Floyd Memorial Bridge near Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on December 29, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Probst, Jerry	Black-billed Magpie	Interchange 144A	East of Floyd Monument Bridge across Mo. River Woodbury Co.		The documentation form by Jerry Probst is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing with that profile larger + blacker than a blue jay. White color + tail eliminate crow \| The original documentation form event occurred around 16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie at Sioux Township in Plymouth County, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-11-19	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie at Sioux Township in Plymouth County, IA on November 19, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Huser, Bill F.	Black-billed Magpie	Sioux Township	Lineberry's Ranch, Sioux Tnship., Plymouth County, Iowa	rolling prairie hills with scattered thickets and trees	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas H. Kent, Dick Tetrault, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: there are no similar species other than California's Yellow-billed Magpie. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie in Sioux Township in Plymouth County, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-05-08	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Black-billed Magpies at Sioux Township in Plymouth County, IA on May 8, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black-billed Magpie	Sioux Township	234th St., s. of Westfield, Plymouth Co., IA.	riparian, in valley of Loess Hills, 1.5 miles from Big Sioux River bottoms.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller and Bill Huser were submitted. Other observers include Clint Lineberry, Dick Tetrault, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: none \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:00:00/07:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie at Loess Hills in northwest Plymouth County, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-24	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for three Black-billed Magpies at Loess Hills in northwest Plymouth County, IA on January 24, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Smith, Brian L.	Black-billed Magpie	Plymouth County	Northwest Plymouth County	Loess Hills (prairie)	The documentation form by Brian L. Smith is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Mike Martin. \| Elimination of similar species: nothing similar w/ long tail + white wing patches.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area, 1999.	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-09-27	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie at Hitchcock Wildlife Area in Pottawattamie County, IA on September 27, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, an e-mail from Sue Mattix to Jim Fuller, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Mattix, Sue	Black-billed Magpie	Hitchcock Nature Area	Hitchcock Wildlife Area, Crescent, IA	forest	The documentation form by Sue Mattix is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Howard Mattix. \| Elimination of similar species: Only similar species would be yellow billed magpie - this one had a black bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie at Broken Kettle Grasslands, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-10-09	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie at Broken Kettle Grasslands in Plymouth County, IA on October 9, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fields, Will	Black-billed Magpie	Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve	Broken Kettle Grasslands (a Nature Conservancy Preserve, Plymouth Co., IA)		The documentation form by Will Fields is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include unidentified members of Iowa State University Fisheries and Wildlife Biology Club. \| Elimination of similar species: The American crow and the common raven lack do not have such a long tail and they usually do not have white in their plumage. I had seen American crows flying around the preserve earlier that morning. This bird definitely had a longer tail than the American crows. Ring-necked pheasants also have a long tail, but they do not normally have a black and white plumage. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, American Kestrel, 1979-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1979-08-01	1983-07-15	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the American Kestrel submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1979-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	American Kestrel	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	45
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 for Fish Crow at Cone Marsh, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-03-28	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Fish Crow in Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on March 28, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Fish Crow	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	In the woods along the edge of Cone Marsh (Louisa County.		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jane Fuller, Chuck Fuller, John Rutenbeck, Rick Hollis, and Jim Durbin. \| Elimination of similar species: The call this bird was making was not that of a Common Crow, and the bird making the call (as well as the other bird) appeared to have a smaller bill and was more glossy than I would expect a Common Crow to be. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:48:00/09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Eastern Kingbird, 1960-1982	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1960-04-21	1982-09-18	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Eastern Kingbird submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1960-1982. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Eastern Kingbird	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	46
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Western Kingbird, 1979-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1979-06-22	1983-05-11	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Western Kingbird submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1979-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Western Kingbird	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	46
Lantern slide and photograph of Ring-billed Gulls and young in flight	Lantern slides Photographs	Bird watching	1924-06-21	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Ring-billed Gulls and young on Gull Island and in flight over Stump Lake, North Dakota, June 21, 1924. Slide originally titled "Gulls and Terns Flying." Rosene provides details on photograph. These items related to Rosene's journal: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/9319/view	Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	Ring-billed Gull	Stump Lake				Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	4	46
Christmas bird census, Des Moines Audubon Society, December 26 1934	Field notes Drafts (documents) Articles	Bird watching Birds--Counting Weather	1934-12-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Draft article. Contains summary results for the Des Moines Audubon Society Christmas bird count held December 26 1934. These results were included in the article "Christmas bird censuses from Iowa" published in Bird-Lore, vol. 37, no. 1.	Des Moines Audubon Society		Polk County				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	8	46
Philip DuMont letter to the Des Moines Register regarding an article about American Egrets, August 18, 1934	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Geographical distribution	1934-08-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Philip DuMont to the Open Forum Editor dated August 18, 1934. DuMont responds to an article published August 12th by saying that the American Egret is not an unusual bird in Iowa and that Little Blue Heron reports are more interesting. This letter was published in the Des Moines Register August 26, 1934.	DuMont, Philip A. (Philip Atkinson), 1903-1996	Little Blue Heron Great Egret	Iowa McGregor				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	7	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow southwest of Oakville, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-11	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Fish Crow southwest of Oakville in Louisa County, IA on May 11, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Fish Crow	Oakville	1/2 mi SW Oakville, Louisa Co, IA	Bottomland Forest along Iowa River	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: Am. Crow - larger, different call, flight stronger. Due to late season no Am. Crows have fledged. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-21	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for four Fish Crows at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Louisa County, IA on April 21, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Fish Crow	Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Louisa Division	Louisa Refuge, Mark Twain NWR, Louisa Co., IA	Mississippi River bottoms	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Johnson and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Chuck Fuller, and Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: The Records Committee has not accepted two previous records of Fish Crow along the Mississippi River in Louisa County because of the difficulty in substantiating the identification. I was well aware of this, and like other committee members, I believed that they were likely present in this area. I can only say that I was watching the birds when I heard them, which eliminates the possibility that they were young American Crows. I would not want to rely on the morphologic features. I was impressed that this group stayed together in the flooded woods, which was unlike the behavior of the American Crows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:40:00/09:30:00 and 10:25:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Big Timber Unit of Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge , 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-25	1997-10-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Fish Crow at Big Timber Unit of Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Louisa County, IA on April 25, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	McKay, Kelly	Fish Crow	Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Big Timber Division	Big Timber Unit of Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge approx. 2.0 miles downstream of Kilpeck landing. This landing is located 8.0 miles South of Muscatine, Ia. on County Road X61.	Bottomland Hardwood Forest	The documentation form by Kelly McKay forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Peter C. Petersen was submitted. Other observers include Brian Blevins, Michael Bornstein, and Gerald White. \| Elimination of similar species: American Crow: different sounding calls; This bird was smaller than American Crows \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-08	1997-10-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Fish Crow at Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve in Muscatine County, IA on May 8, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brush, Tim	Fish Crow	Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve	Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve, extreme NE Louisa + SE Muscatine Counties - approximately on boundary	bottomland forest/pond	The documentation form by Tim Brush is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Calls eliminated American Crows, which were calling at the same time. I am familiar with both adult + young crow calls of both American + Fish Crows. The calls were identical to those of Fish Crows in New Jersey. The circling behavior is unique to Fish Crows + the upriver migration is typical of Fish Crows in NJ - overmigration \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:53:00/09:54:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Raven at Lake Manawa State Park, 1998	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-02-05	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Raven at Lake Manawa State Park in Pottawattamie County, IA on February 5, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Bunnimit, Manit	Common Raven	Lake Manawa State Park	[...] Lake Manawa State Park, near Council Bluffs, IA. [...] was travelling south on the road that follows the west edge of Lake Manawa.		The documentation letter by Manit Bunnimit is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It flew for most of the time by soaring with its wings held very flat, only twice flapping its wings momentarily (shallow wingbeats) and once folding its wings rather tightly and gliding. All of the crows I have seen flap steadily, gliding only occasionally. [...] It could not have been mistaken even for the tails of the occasional American Crows that appear quite rounded. The sheer size of the bird and the wedge-shaped tail were enough to distinguish it from any of the crows, but what about the Chihuahuan Raven? Fortunately, as it flew by, the bird made two brief call notes that were very hoarse (sounding much more like grrrawgk than the gaw of the American Crow), and much deeper than the Chihuahuan Raven that I heard in northern Texas. However, because it has been a few years since I had seen or heard the Chihuahuan, I decided to double check the calls on a tape I had at home. The tape and I agree that the call was that of a Common Raven. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:10:00/11:11:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	47
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Common Raven west of Mason City, 1966	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1966-12-28	1994-11-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Raven west of Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on December 28, 1966. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Roosa, Dean M.	Common Raven	Mason City	[...] driving from Clear Lake to Mason City		The documentation article by Dean M. Roosa forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Paul Bailey. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Its flight pattern, size, and rounded or wedge-shaped tail distinguished it from nearby Crows.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	47
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Raven at Dubuque, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-12-17	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Raven at Dubuque in Dubuque County, IA on December 17, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, a summary of review, and a documentation submitted to the committee.	Herrman, William	Common Raven	Dubuque	Location was about three miles south of Dubuque city limits, in narrow valley with scattered cedar trees, with bird in a leafless tree		The documentation by William Herrmann is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Feller and John Stampe. \| Elimination of similar species: One half larger than a dozen Am. crows about 100 feet away from the raven at same distance \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	47
Iowa Ornithologists' Union, field report compiled data, Belted Kingfisher, 1980-1983	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Research	1980-02-28	1983-06-21	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Compilation of sightings data for the Belted Kingfisher submitted to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union by members between the years 1980-1983. The document also includes the name of the observer, date, and location.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Belted Kingfisher	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	36	47
Lantern slide of a Whip-poor-will	Lantern slides	Bird watching	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A Whip-poor-will sitting in leaves and grass. Slide originally titled "Whippoorwill." The lantern slide is hand-colored.	Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	Eastern Whip-poor-will					Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	5	48