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

Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Winterfeld Park, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1998-12-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Winterfeld Park in Sioux County, IA on December 2, 1998.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Surf Scoter	Winterfeld Boat and Fish Area	Winterfeld Park along the north side of Rock Valley in Sioux County		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I rule out any possible confusions, as follows: - White-winged Scoter has white in the wing and lacks sharp contrast between crown and face - Black Scoter has rounded forehead and lacks pale head patches - Ruddy Duck is smaller, has differently shaped bill and dark line across cheek - Female Scaups have white in the wing, differently shaped white patch at base of bill, and little contrast between crown and face. \| The original documentation form event occurred for around 20 minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eurasian Tree Sparrow at West Branch, 1987	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-03-14	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Eurasian Tree Sparrows at West Branch in Cedar County, IA on March 14, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and eight documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Veal, Sally	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	West Branch	in my backyard in West Branch		The documentation form by Sally Veal is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by James Sandrock, Carl Bendorf, Thomas Kent, James Fuller, Peter Petersen, Thomas Staudt, and Francis Moore were submitted later. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Walter Zuurdeeg, Ann Barker, Mary Lou Petersen, and Gerry White. \| Elimination of similar species: As I was filling my bird feeders I noticed two birds in the silver maple behind the house that at first glance appeared to be house sparrows. I was struck by the neat appearance and greater activity of these particular birds and by the fact that they were not associating with the flock of house sparrows near the bird feeders. Even without binoculars I was able to see the black spots on the birds faces. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00 through the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Iowa City, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-02-04	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on February 4, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Hoary Redpoll	Iowa City	Ken Lowder backyard and feeder north of Iowa City (Johnson County).		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ken Lowder, Jim Scheib, and John Daniel. \| Elimination of similar species: Comparisons to Common Redpoll are made by utilizing the field characteristics described in an article by Czaplak in December, 1995 "Birding". Undertail coverts: This bird showed two very short streaks (almost dots) on longest covert, whereas a Common typically has wide bold streaking. The brightest adult male Commons may have only one medium width streak, but this bird had no red or pink on breast, and so was not an adult male Common. Rump: The rump was white with faint streaking. Most Commons have extensive streaking. Bright adult Commons can have no streaking, but the rump is pinkish-red. Mantle: The ground color of the back of the Common is described as warm brown, or sometimes paler grayish-brown. This bird had grayish feather edgings, with whitish-gray in the middle of the mantle and toward the back. Flank Streaking: Common typically has thick brown streaking. This bird had more wispy gray-brown streaking, which extended back to the base of the tail. Breast and Rump Color: Common has pinkish-red to bright red breast. This bird was buffy under chin, and the rest of the breast was white. Size & Structure: Common has a less bulky neck and greater slope to forehead. This bird has a steep forehead slope and what appeared to be a bulky "no-neck". Bill shape: The bill was short on this bird. The width at the base of the bill appeared to be the same dimension as the length. Common typically has longer bill. Head: This bird showed a buffy wash to the face, sides of the nape, and upper breast, which Common typically does not have. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Norwalk, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-02-03	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll at Norwalk in Warren County, IA on February 3, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, several photographs, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Hoary Redpoll	Norwalk	Feeding station at 532 120th Avenue, Norwalk, Warren County, IA		The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and thels, one an adult male and the other a probable adult female, were present on the same day. Oftentimes all three birds were on the feeder concurrently which allowed for a number of comparisons. Characteristics which differentiated this bird from the Common Redpolls and identified it as a Hoary Redpoll: underlying color was lighter than the warmer, darker brown of the Commons, More extensive white feather edgings to the secondaries, tertials, and scapulars than shown on Commons, Broad white edge to the greater coverts, Buffy face and strong white supercilliary, Smaller red cap, Broken and shorter flank streaking, Short, triangular bill with resulting pushed in face, Nearly white undertail covers (Although brightly colored adult male Common Redpolls may have diminished markings on their undertail coverts, this bird had no red except for the cap.) \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00 and periodically throughout the day. one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Sinclair, Stephen Dinsmore, and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include Rick Trieff and Jane Fuller . \| Elimination of similar species: The only species this bird could be confused with is Common Redpoll. Two individua	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Greater Prairie-Chicken at Little Spirit Lake, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-08-27	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of around six Greater Prairie-Chickens at Little Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on August 27, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Baker, Warren L.	Greater Prairie-Chicken	Little Spirit Lake Wildlife Management Area	South end - west side Little Spirit Lake, Iowa	- cut field, next to lake	The documentation form by Warren L. Baker is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Karen Baker were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Sharpe [sic] Tailed grouse \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Le Conte's Sparrow at Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-02-25	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Le Conte's Sparrow at Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Jasper County, IA on February 25, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and field notes submitted to the committee.	Friedrick, Denise	Le Conte's Sparrow	Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge	[...] along Walnut Creek	[...] "Grass-riparian" area	The field notes by Denise Friedrick were the only ones submitted and form the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:52:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	37
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher at Sioux Center, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-06	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on May 6, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Vermilion Flycatcher	Sioux Center	In approximately the center of Harry Kuhl's farm, located at the east end of Sioux Center, Sioux Co., Iowa. The specific area in which we found the bird consists of wet bottomlands with creek and tall willows and many broken branches, snags, and stumps. The bird used snags and branches near and over the creek as perch. The lighting, provided by partly cloudy skies which gradually clouded over completely as the afternoon wore on, was excellent, as the sun was largely behind us. We observed the bird from distances varying between 20 feet and 60 yards.	[...] a section of tall trees, extensive shrub area, open fields, and in the center, surrounded by pasture land and agricultural fields, an area of wet bottomlands transversed by a creek (beaver occurs here) through a fairly open stand of tall black willows; broken limbs and snags are scattered throughout the area (see enclosed photographs).	The documentation form by John Van Dyk forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Gordon Brown was submitted. Other observers include Ken Venhuizen, Mike Van Dyk, Jan Van Dyk, and John Kevin Van Dyk. \| Elimination of similar species: This category hardly applies since a male Vermilion Flycatcher is quite unmistakable. If there is any bird with which it might possibly be confused -- perhaps at great distance -- it would be a Scarlet Tanager. However, our bird was much smaller, had no red on its back, had black patchy line through its eye, had a thin dark flycatcher bill instead of a light-colored tanager bill, and behaved like a flycatcher. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/17:00:00 on May 6, 1983 and 06:30:00/07:00:00 on May 7, 1983.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Sandpiper near New Albin, 1946	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1946-05-12	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Purple Sandpiper near New Albin in Allamakee County, IA on May 12, 1946. Includes a record review document with votes, an account of the sighting in An Annotated List of the Birds of Iowa by Woodward H. Brown, and the original sight record of the Purple Sandpiper in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 16:70 by A.C. Stewart.	Stewart, C.A.	Purple Sandpiper	New Albin	[...] vicinity of New Albin, Allamakee County, in the extreme northeast corner of the state.	[...] About one-half mile from where the north fork opens into the Mississippi there is a low, rocky waterfall, surrounded by a sand flat.	The documentation form by Charles A. Stewart is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at West Okoboji, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-04-15	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at West Okoboji in Dickinson County, IA on April 15, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, an article of Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Thelen, Ed	Pacific Loon	West Okoboji Lake	N. End of West Okoboji - Dickinson County	3800 Natural Lake with developed shoreline	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Lee Schonewe, and Douglas Harr were submitted later. Other observers included Tim Waltz. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loons were also nearby and were larger with a flatter head, no chin strap and also white above the eye. Saw Loon fly only once. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:45:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Columbus Junction, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-04-25	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Columbus Junction in Louisa County, IA on April 25, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, an e-mail about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Columbus Junction	2 miles north of Columbus Junction, Louisa Co., Iowa	A backwater slough adjacent to highway 70 and close to the Iowa River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ted Allen, Bill Ohde, and Jim Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Fulvous Whistling-Duck lacks the gray face, orange bill, and white wing patch.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Marshalltown, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-12-21	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Marshalltown in Marshall County, IA on December 21, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Beth	Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Marshalltown	feeder at 1322 W. Linn, Marshalltown	a city backyard, feeder on clothesline	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ed Savage was submitted earlier, but was incomplete and not considered by the committee. Other observers include Don Maze, Carol McMillan, Pauline Mairs, and Jim Mairs \| Elimination of similar species: Other hummingbirds - but this was so distinctive. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:09:00/15:11:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-faced Ibis at Sheldon Basin, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-06-27	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for twelve White-faced Ibises at Sheldon Basin in Fremont County, IA on June 27, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	White-faced Ibis	Percival	Sheldon Basin - east of Percival - Fremont County	A shallow, marshy pond area	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt and Ross Silcock. \| Elimination of similar species: Glossy Ibis do not have the vivid white band around the eyes and do not have red eyes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:20:00/17:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mountain Bluebird northeast of Lamoni, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-22	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird northeast of Lamoni in Decatur County, IA on December 22, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and ten documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Livingston, Jeffrey R.	Mountain Bluebird	Lamoni	1 mile east and 3 miles north of Lamoni Iowa	A small grove of cedar trees around a farmhouse and a mostly frozen pond in a pasture across the road. The cedar trees have many berries.	The documentation form by Jeffrey R. Livingston forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis L. Moore, Thomas H. Kent, Eugene Armstrong, Robert K. Myers, Peter C. Petersen, Jim Fuller, Carl J. Bendorf, Raymond Cummins, and Barbara L. Wilson were submitted. Other observers include Tom Johnson, Don Gillaspey, Eloise Armstrong, Betsy Myers, Dennis Thompson, Jim Gillaspey, Dan Long, Mary Lou Petersen, Corey Blevins, Brian Blevins, Lewis Blevins, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird at one glance was definitely a bluebird. The Eastern and Western Bluebirds both have rust markings on their breast and neck. The Eastern Bluebird has a more stocky shape than the Mountain Bluebird. I had a chance to compare as I had just seen a flock of Easterns about 5 min. before. The immature Eastern has a soeckled breast, this bird had none. The long thin bill eliminates the Shrikes as does the bright blue and the small size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Clark's Nutcracker north of Pony Creek Park, 1996.	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-12-20	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Clark's Nutcracker north of Pony Creek Park in Mills County, IA on December 20, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, three photographs, an article in Field Notes, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Clark's Nutcracker	Pony Creek Park	residential area north of Pony Creek Park, Mills Co., Iowa	about a mile into the mixed wooded and open areas of the Loess Hills.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Stephen Dinsmore, and Peter C. Petersen were submitted. Other observers include Mary Lou Petersen, Brian Blevins, Roy Davis, Bobbie Davis, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: none. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:07:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	44
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Iowa City, 1992	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-06-13	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Iowa City on Johnson County, IA on June 13, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Berry, Robert	Mississippi Kite	Iowa City	The north edge of Iowa City, near the Rochester Hy-vee.	Above a wooded residential area.	The documentation form by Robert Berry is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Glorine Berry and Diane Amundson. \| Elimination of similar species: I consulted three books and Jim Fuller. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-tailed Kite at Norwalk, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-13	2000-11-29	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a White-tailed Kite at Norwalk in Warren County, IA on May 13, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee. The original documentation reports the bird as a Black-shouldered Kite	Johnson, Ann	White-tailed Kite	Norwalk	My home in northern Warren County, Iowa	Agricultural area with some riparian edges	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Size, shape and flight pattern initially eliminated buteos and accipiters. I seriously considered both Northern Harrier and Peregrine Falcon. Until the bird got close enough to see the underparts, Peregrine was the most likely candidate based on the straight trailing edge of the wing, although I have never seen a Peregrine glide so effortlessly with few wing strokes taken. The flight pattern and white head made me aware that this was probably a kite. Of the other possibilities for this bird, all were eliminated by the white tail with no markings. Only a Ferruginous Hawk would share this characteristic. The black carpal spots on white wing linings were somewhat reminiscent of an Osprey, but other patterns, size, and flight pattern are not consistent. Although Northern Harrier males look very white from below, their heads are dark not white, and only the outer primary tips are dark as opposed to this bird's entire primary area. The tundra race of the Peregrine Falcon would appear light colored on the head, but would also show more dark markings underneath than this bird had. Mississippi Kite looks fairly white headed at a distance, but the underparts and tail are gray. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:05:00/18:07:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Burrowing Owl at Union Township in Kossuth County, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-05-01	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Burrowing Owls at Union Township in Kossuth County, IA in May, June, and July, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Roberg, Craig C.	Burrowing Owl	Union Township	NW1/4 sec. 6 Union twp. Kossuth county	Alfalfa hay field - about 80 acres. Burrow on extreme west edge.	The documentation form by Craig Roberg is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Bob Moats. \| The original documentation form events lasted approximate one hour in the morning on several occasions through May, June, and July, 1980.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eurasian Collared Dove at Grinnell College Golf Course, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-02-26	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for three Eurasian Collared Doves at Grinnell College Golf Course in Poweshiek County, IA on February 26, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Eurasian Collared Dove	Grinnell Country Club	Grinnell - (Poweshiek County)	along a golf course on overhead wires	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Ringed Turtle Dove has different call. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 08:40:00/08:43:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Whimbrel north of Swan Lake, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-24	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Whimbrel north of Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on May 24, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Whimbrel	Swan Lake	Approx 3/4 mile north of Swan Lake, Johnson Co., IA	Along muddy shoreline of large flooded area. Some weed stubble.	The documentation form by Carl J. Bendorf is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by James P. Sandrock were submitted later. Other observers include Tom Staudt, James G. Huntington, John L. Cordell, Tom Kent, and Mike Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: According to Robbins, et al., Bristle-thighed Curlew should have a bright rusty tail. This was not observed. Robbins shows Eskimo Curlew with much more barring on flanks, smaller bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Cedar Rapids, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-12-01	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on December 1, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Millikin, Sara L.	Black-headed Grosbeak	Cedar Rapids	Usually on the ground where I had thrown seed	along railway right of way near my home and on ground near house and feeders	The documentation form by Sara L. Millikin is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pete Wickham, Lillian Serbousek, Roberta Appedahl, Fred Nissen, Weir Nelson, Karl Goellner, and Lucile Liljedahl. \| The original documentation form event lasted from at daylight to 16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mountain Bluebird at Emmetsburg, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-03-19	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird at Emmetsburg in Palo Alto County, IA on March 19, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thelen, Ed	Mountain Bluebird	Emmetsburg	North of Emmetsburg on blacktop N-40 in Palo Alto County	Along roadside- cultivated field, brushy tile nearby	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Linda Thelen. \| Elimination of similar species: Eastern Bluebird and Western Bluebird have rust on breast; this bird was all blue. Indigo Bunting- size is smaller and doesn't have white under the tail. Also a darker blue color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at East of Randall, 1991	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-22	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at east of Randall in Hamilton County, IA on May 22, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Mississippi Kite	Randall	Hamilton County just east of Randall	along Skunk River Valley - wooded river - open area near bridge	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Beth Proescholdt were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Harrier - tail was not right and long enough for harrier and bird was not right color underneath. Nighthawk - Our bird was much bigger than Nighhawk and had no white patches in its wings. Turkey Vulture or Eagle - Our bird was much smaller and had long, narrow pointed wings. Accipiters - Body shape was wrong and did not have extra long tail -look like accipiters have. Osprey - Wrong body shape for osprey and no white markings on our bird. Buteos - Wrong body shape again even for Swainson's Hawk which can appear to have pointed wings when seen overhead. Buteos have much broader wings and should show some white contrasting colors underneath. Falcons - Our bird was too big for a Kestrel or Merlin. I don't think Merlins ever have leisurely, slow flapping flight. This bird didn't fly right for a Peregrine and the body proportions were not right for a Peregrine. I've seen Peregrines fly in a slow, leisurely manner and this did not seem to suggest a Peregrine at all. A Peregrine or Prairie Falcon should show some light-colored areas underneath. Also, a Peregrine's tail tapers down to a rounded end and is not squared off and flared at the end. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:35:00/19:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Babcock Access, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1982-10-10	1982-12-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Babcock Access in Hawkeye Wildlife Area in Johnson County, IA on October 10, 1982.	Newlon, Michael C.	Peregrine Falcon	Babcock Access	Babcock lake Road, Hawkeye Wildlife Area, Johnson Co. IA	area of dead trees at edge of reservoir	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Dark bar through eye (wide), coloration, falcon shape eliminate Prairie Falcon, Gyrfalcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mountain Bluebird at Big Sioux River in Western Sioux County, 1979	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1979-04-07	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird at Big Sioux River in Western Sioux County in Sioux County, IA on April 7, 1979. Includes a record review document with votes, two articles in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Mountain Bluebird	Garfield Township	Along dirt road through dry hilly fields bordering the Big Sioux River in extreme western Sioux Co., appoximately 1 1/2 miles south-east of Hudson, S.D., and approximately 2 1/2 miles north of junction of Big Sioux and Rock Rivers.	Area of open dry rolling hills between Big Sioux and Rock Rivers.	The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Mike Van Dyk. \| Elimination of similar species: The blue of Eastern and Western Bluebird is much deeper than of this bird. Both these species show reddish or rusty on breast, and both exhibit a distinctive hunched position. There is no possibility of confusion with Blue Grosbeak (which occurs in our area in summer): its large conical beak and blue underparts exclude it. The Indigo Bunting is dark blue all over and has a sparrow-like bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur south of Nichols, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-03-09	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for twenty Smith's Longspurs south of Nichols in Muscatine County, IA on March 9, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Smith's Longspur	Nichols	4.7 miles south of Nichols, Muscatine Co. along HWY 70.	Area of short grass with partly frozen standing water at edge of larger cultivated fields	The documentation form by Carl J. Bendorf is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Other longspurs and Vesper Sparrow eliminated by distinct buff color of breast and by face pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:50:00/16:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42