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

Report form for selected species in spring	Checklists	Bird watching Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Blank standardized checklist form for reporting selected bird sightings in Iowa. Includes instructions on how to fill out the form. Completed forms are to be mailed to T. H. Kent in Iowa City, Iowa.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	1
Report form for selected species in spring	Checklists Field notes Surveys (documents)	Bird watching Birds of prey Birds--Counting Tyrannidae \| Flycatchers Charadriiformes \| Shore-birds, Gulls, and Auks Fringillidae \| Finches Water birds Troglodytidae \| Wrens	1985-08-01	1985-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A checklist of birds sighted by Ray Cummins. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1985.	Cummins, Raymond L.		Allamakee County Appanoose County Dallas County Fremont County Guthrie County Polk County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	1
Report for Winter 1985-86 season, Peter Petersen	Field notes	Bird watching	1985-12-01	1986-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	An annotated list of birds sighted by Peter Petersen and others in the Davenport area. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Winter 1985-1986.	Petersen, Peter C.	Bald Eagle Ring-billed Gull Turkey Vulture Ring-necked Duck White-throated Sparrow Common Redpoll Black-legged Kittiwake Wood Duck Glaucous Gull	Credit Island Davenport Le Claire Lock and Dam 15				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	2
Report for selected species in spring, contributed by Raymond L. Cummins, spring 1987	Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification Laridae \| Gulls and Terns	1987-03-01	1987-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of bird sightings contributed by Raymond L. Cummins. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of spring 1987.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Double-crested Cormorant Willow Flycatcher Gray-cheeked Thrush Loggerhead Shrike American White Pelican Cattle Egret White-crowned Sparrow Common Loon Sora White-rumped Sandpiper Golden-crowned Kinglet Northern Harrier	Appanoose County Kossuth County Van Buren County Wayne County Woodbury County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	7
Report for Iowa Bird Life, Birds Seen in Iowa City Area August 19-August 20, 1976	Field notes	Bird watching Tyrannidae \| Flycatchers	1976-08-19	1976-08-20	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Bird sightings list for the Iowa City area between August 19-20, 1976. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of Summer 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Red-tailed Hawk Black-and-white Warbler Ruby-throated Hummingbird Canada Warbler	Hickory Hill Park Iowa City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	17
Report for American Birds and Iowa Bird Life for the period August 1, 1977 to November 30, 1977	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting	1977-08-01	1977-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report of bird sightings submitted by Rich DeCoster from August 1, 1977 to November 30, 1977. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of fall 1977.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Rough-legged Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Cooper's Hawk American Kestrel Semipalmated Sandpiper Double-crested Cormorant Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Phoebe Osprey Pectoral Sandpiper Golden-crowned Kinglet Belted Kingfisher Tufted Titmouse Nashville Warbler Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area Coralville Lake Hickory Hill Park Sugar Bottom Campground				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	3
Report for American Birds and Iowa Bird Life for the period 1 March, 1977 to 25 May, 1977	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting	1977-05-28	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report of bird sightings submitted by Rich DeCoster from March 1 to May 25, 1977. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of spring 1977.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	White-eyed Vireo Le Conte's Sparrow White-winged Scoter Connecticut Warbler Hairy Woodpecker Prairie Warbler	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area Coralville Lake Hickory Hill Park Lake MacBride Hancher Auditorium				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	1
Report for "American Birds" Midwestern Prarie Region: 1 August - 30 November 1976	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research	1976-08-01	1976-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report for "American Birds" Midwestern Prarie Region" contributed by Rich DeCoster. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Red-shouldered Hawk Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow Black-legged Kittiwake Le Conte's Sparrow Peregrine Falcon Northern Shrike	Coralville Lake Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area Hickory Hill Park F W Kent County Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	18
Rene Laubach letter to Thomas Kent regarding summer sightings, Summer 1983	Correspondence Field notes	Bird banding Bird watching	1983-06-01	1983-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter contains a list of birds sighted by Rene Laubach and mentions that he misses Iowa after moving to Massachusetts. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Summer 1983.	Laubach, René	American Kestrel Upland Sandpiper Cedar Waxwing Swainson's Thrush Hooded Warbler	Des Moines Kalsow Prairie State Preserve				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	20	8
Rene Laubach letter to Thomas H. Kent regarding bird sightings, November 25, 1980	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching	1980-11-25	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rene Laubach letter includes an annotated list of uncommon birds sighted by himself and two others in Polk and Guthrie counties. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1980.	Laubach, René	Swainson's Thrush Canada Warbler Red-breasted Nuthatch Mourning Warbler Winter Wren	Des Moines Ashworth Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	19	5
References for early and late dates of Iowa birds	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Geographical distribution Birds--Migration Gruiformes \| Cranes, Rails, and Coots Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Podicipediformes \| Grebes Falconiformes \| Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, Osprey, and Vultures Ciconiiformes \| Herons, Bitterns, Egrets, Ibises, and Storks Migratory birds Passeriformes \| Perching-birds and songbirds Charadriiformes \| Shore-birds, Gulls, and Auks Strigiformes \| Owls Apodiformes \| Swifts and Hummingbirds Cuculiformes \| Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis Caprimulgiformes \| Nighthawks and Nightjars	2001-10-03	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Printout of a spreadsheet dated October 3, 2001. The spreadsheet lists early and late bird sightings organized by species and listing season, date, location, and citation.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	47	8
Red-shouldered Hawk sighting notes	Field notes Research notes	Bird watching Birds--Geographical distribution Birds--Research	1970-01-01	1971-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Red-shouldered Hawk sighting notes compiled by Woodward H. Brown. The handwritten notes include research data covering multiple states from 1970-1971.	Brown, Woodward H.	Red-shouldered Hawk	Iowa				Woodward Hart Brown Papers \| MS 502	4	3
Red Rock Reservoir spring migration, May 29, 1974	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Habitat Birds--Migration Habitat (Ecology)	1974-05-29	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report from Gladys Black, reporting on the 1974 spring migration at Red Rock Reservoir and describing the impact of flooding on bird habitat. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of spring 1974.	Black, Gladys		Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	13
Red Rock Lake, Red Rock Refuge, Iowa, spring 1973	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Nests Birds--Research Environmental monitoring	1973-03-01	1973-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report from Gladys Black regarding birds sighted at Red Rock Lake and the Red Rock Refuge during the spring of 1973. Much of her report was about nesting failures of Great Blue Herons and investigation into whether this was caused by pesticides. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of spring 1973.	Black, Gladys	Great Blue Heron	Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	12
Red Rock fall migration, 1977	Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching Birds--Migration Birds--Research	1977-08-01	1977-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall migration report for Red Rock, Iowa contributed by Gladys Black. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of fall 1977.	Black, Gladys	Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Turkey Vulture Blue-winged Teal American White Pelican Harris' Sparrow White-winged Crossbill Evening Grosbeak Cattle Egret White-crowned Sparrow Common Loon Osprey Caspian Tern Bonaparte's Gull	Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	3
Red Rock fall migration, 1976	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1976-08-01	1976-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall migration report for Red Rock, Iowa contributed by Gladys Black. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1976.	Black, Gladys		Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	18
Records Committee review rare bird sighting of Arctic Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-28	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Arctic Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 28, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, and a documentation form in the form of a letter from Ken Lowder to Thomas H. Kent with Geri Langham receiving a copy as well on September 16, 1994 submitted to the committee.	Lowder, Ken	Arctic Loon	Saylorville Dam	I saw the bird at the dam at Saylorville Lake		The documentation letter by Ken Lowder is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Daniel. \| Elimination of similar species: It acted differently from the Common Loons. When it dove, it "reared back" its head, as though it were "winding up" for the dive. The Common Loons did not do this. In the Walsh article, this behavior is discussed. On page 26 of his article, Walsh states that "both Pacific and Artic Loons have similar diving motions." I do not believe our bird was a Pacific Loon. I base this judgement on overall body size, bill size, and the distribution of white coloration in the head/neck, waterline, and flank areas. Our bird was essentially similar size-wise to the accompanying Common Loons. The bill was also similar to Common Loon. It was not upturned and this as I would have expected with Red-throated Loon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	6
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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting on Red-throated Loon at Cedar Lake, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-04-03	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Cedar Lake, IA on April 3, 1984. Includes a record review document, two articles in American Birds, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review of the committee, and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Red-throated Loon	Cedar Lake	Cedar Lake, Cedar Rapids, IA		The documentation form by Thomas J. Staudt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Carl J. Bendorf, Robert K. Myers, Francis L. Moore, Thomas H. Kent, and Peter C. Petersen were submitted later. Other observers include Jim Fuller and Jim Sandrock. \| Elimination of similar species: Horned grebes in winter plumage were present, they are about 1/2 the size of this loon, have a much shorter straight bill and the head shape is flatter. Common loon is much larger with a correspondingly large straight black bill, head held straight. Arctic loon in winter plumage would have less white in the facial area, a straight dark bill, less contrast from the facial area to cup/nape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:15:00/06:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow-billed Loon at Little Wall Lake, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-12-02	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Yellow-billed Loon at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on December 2, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, a print of four photos, and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Yellow-billed Loon	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake, Hamilton Co., IA	Natural lake in glaciated area. All open water.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Chris Edwards, Jim Dinsmore, Stephen J. Dinsmore, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Kevin Healy, Dick Tetrault, Reid Allen, Pam Allen, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene Armstrong, Beth Proescholdt, Kay Niyo, Eric Haley, and Hank Zaletel. \| Elimination of similar species: The size and thick bill exclude Red-throated and Pacific Loons. The features that favor Yellow-billed over Common Loon include the bill shape, dark line to mid culmen, small eye, auricular patch, and the pattern of the foreneck and face (little extension of white and mottled color). The back pattern (wavy white lines rather than fuzzy white lines with dark bars) and paleness of the auricular patch indicate a juvenile. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow-billed Loon at Clear Lake, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-04-18	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Yellow-billed Loon at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 18, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walter, Janice L.	Yellow-billed Loon	Clear Lake	North side of Clear Lake, Clear Lake, Iowa	Large open lake, no reeds or rushes in this area	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Curt Nelson, and Carolyn Fischer. \| Elimination of similar species: Color, plumage, and bill shape eliminated Cormorants. Size eliminated Red-throated and Pacific Loons. Basic and immature plumage. Common Loon eliminated by straight, yellow aulmen, very pale tannish face, brown auricular patch, overall pale appearance of head and neck, and brown, not black, body. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow Rail at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-07-13	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Yellow Rail at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Kossuth County, IA on July 13, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and two versions (typed and handwritten) of a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thompson, Carol A.	Yellow Rail	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge	Union Slough	Marsh	The documentation form by Carol Thompson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. A typed version of the other documentation form was compiled by Thomas H. Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Sora - I would not expect the Sora to be as small or as yellow. The bill should have been more yellow. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1980	Administrative records Field notes Maps (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-05-18	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 18, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes, a map of the sighting area, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	Bird was located on East side of Sweet Marsh, which is outside of Tripoli to the East. Observation was on a dike that comes off of and South of parking lot on second road going to the marsh as you proceed North from the Southern part of the Marsh. See map for location, at asterisk.	Habitat bird was found in was a grassy area about 2' to 2 1/2' tall about 2' from dike and extending approximately 50' from dike. All around this particular area was large concentrations of cattails and sedges. Water was approximately 2" to 4" deep in area of sighting with deeper water on 3 sides of the area and the dike on the fourth side.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Robert Myers and Joe Schaufenbuel. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-05-11	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 11, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh - Bremer Co. Iowa	The bird flushed in exactly the same place as one did May 26, 1979 for Francis Moore and me. The area has short grass (less than a foot high) and the water under the grass is about 4" or 5" deep. Francis flushed the bird again May 18, 1980.	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow Rail at Coralville Reservoir, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-04-28	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Yellow Rail near Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on April 28, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Glasson, Marilyn Smith	Yellow Rail	Coralville Lake	Marshy area about 1/2 mi. NE Swan Lake. Not Swan Lake Road S of Pine Stool	General: marsh Specific: noted no plant species - First flushed from drier grassy area (I didn't see) 2nd time flushed from water edge to dry grass area	The documentation form by Marilyn Smith Glasson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Thomas Staudt was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The sora is the only other bird that is similar. It has no white on its wings. I've never noticed back striping to be so evident. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 06:30:00/08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	11