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 Wood Thrush at Eden Valley Refuge, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-12-18	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Wood Thrush at Eden Valley Refuge in Clinton County, IA on December 18, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kaufman, Sharon	Wood Thrush	Eden Valley County Refuge	West Valley at Eden Valley Refuge (Lost Nation CBC)	Shrubs at hardwood timber edge	The documentation form by Sharon Kaufman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Jack Wohlstadter. \| Elimination of similar species: Hermit and Grey Cheeked Thrush. This bird had more conspicuous eye, larger and more numerous breast spots. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	8
Records Committee review for rare bird Sighting of Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-03	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 3, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Pacific Loon	Lake Red Rock	Whitebreast Boat Ramp, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Open lake	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, and Chris Edwards were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The apparent size differential, bill size and clean line to the neck eliminated Common and Yellow-billed Loon. Red-throated is approximately the same size but the bill appears upturned because of the angular shape of the lower edge. Red-throated also has a head lighter than the body. A chinstrap would not be seen on any other species. Grebes were eliminated by thickness of neck and general jizz. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of a Great Black-backed Gull at Whitebreast Point in Red Rock Reservoir, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-12-17	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Whitebreast Point in Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 17, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Great Black-backed Gull	White Breast Creek	Whitebreast Point, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Flying over open water and ice	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer includes Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: Large size (larger than Herring) eliminated most others. White head and black and white checkering eliminate Lesser Black-backed and Herring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:40:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Whitebreast Recreation Area at Red Rock Reservoir, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-19	1995-07-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mew Gull at Whitebreast Recreation Area at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 19, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentations submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Mew Gull	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Whitebreast Recreation Area, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Sandy area at edge of open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Russ Widner and Jim Fuller were submitted. Other observers include Dick Tetrault and Roy Godwin. \| Elimination of similar species: Size eliminated any gull larger than a Ring-billed. Although structurally the bird more closely represented one of the larger hooded gulls, they were eliminated by the lack of any hood or auricular spot. Furthermore, most hooded gulls with a tail band would also show a strong carpal bar. Laughing Gull could be eliminated by the more diminuative [sic] bill and leg color. Although some individuals seem to carry a vestige of their more motley juvenile plumage into first winter, Ring-billed Gull was eliminated by size, head and bill structure, and clear-cut as opposed to more diffuse tail band. I originally identified this bird as a Mew Gull based on my experience studying structural differences between Ring-billed and Mew gulls on the west coast. I have never seen a first-year Mew Gull, however. In researching the Mew on my return home, I concluded that the bird in question was not dark enough, nor brown enough, to be of the west coast sub-species. By virtue of its strong similarity to a Ring-billed Gull, this bird was most likely the European sub-species known as the Common Gull. Although according to Grant the bill description comes closer to L.c. brachyrhynchus, I assume that this bird's bill coloration was still changing from juvenile plumage. Apparently the Common Gull appears on occasion on the east coast and is therefore probably as likely a vagrant to Iowa as is the western form. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Least Flycatcher at Whitebreast Recreation Area in Red Rock Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-12-16	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Least Flycatcher at Whitebreast Recreation Area in Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 16, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Least Flycatcher	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Whitebreast Recreation Area, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Primarily open edge and grassy area with pine tree plantings	The documentation form by Ann Johnson forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Tim Schantz was submitted. Other observers include Roy Godwin and Jim Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: Body and bill shape and behavior identified this bird as a flycatcher. The size, eye-ring and wing bars eliminated all but Empidonax flycatchers. Because of the late date on this bird, it is difficult to get an understanding of molt sequences which may or may not be helpful. From what I can find on molts, however, the following is based on best available information. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:40:00/11:55:00 and approximately 13:30:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Yellow-throated Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-05-09	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Yellow-throated Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine County, IA on May 9, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thornburg, Robert E.	Yellow-throated Warbler	Wildcat Den State Park	Wildcat Den State Park	uppermost pine branches often to the very tips of the branches	The documentation form by Robert Thornburg is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-throated Vireo, Northern Parula Warbler Magnolia Warbler. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/07:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Yellow-throated Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-05-03	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Yellow-throated Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine County, IA on May 3, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Yellow-throated Warbler	Wildcat Den State Park	Wildcat den State Park	General: dense forest and stream bottom Specific: 1 mile from Mississippi R.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include T.K. Shires, Carl Bendorf, and Tom Staudt. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:15:00/11:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for an Eurasian Collared-Dove at Willow Creek Park, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-08-20	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Eurasian Collared-Dove at Willow Creek Park in Osceola County, IA on August 20, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Eurasian Collared Dove	Willow Creek Fen - Wetlands Area	Willow Creek Park, Osceola County		The documentation form by Babs and Loren Padelford is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ed Thelen was submitted later. Other observers include Linda Thelen and unidentified Thelen observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] A dove larger than Mourning Dove. [...] It was a series of "hoo's" - "hoo - hoo - hoo" without any bubbling notes associated with the song of the Ringed Turtle-Dove. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ross' Goose at Willow Slough, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-03-21	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ross' Goose at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on March 21, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Ross' Goose	Willow Slough Dam	Willow Slough, Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Snow Goose! Seemed to differ in size, head shape, bill shape, color of bill (darker in Ross' goose) and lack of black grin mark. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-faced Ibis at Willow Slough, 1981	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-05-19	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two White-faced Ibises at Willow Slough in Northeast Mills County, IA on May 19, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wilson, Barbara L.	White-faced Ibis	Willow Slough Dam	Willow Slough, N.E. Mills County, Iowa	Wading in pool behind beaver dam in marshy slough. No large vegetation there; Eleochoris at edges.	The documentation form by Barbara L. WIison is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: That large, dark with decurved bill it must be a Glossy or White-faced Ibis. Complete, wide white stripe around the face indicates White-faced. Perhaps soft-parts color tells too but I don't know. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:30:00/07:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur at Anderson Township in Mills County, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-02-19	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Smith's Longspur at Anderson Township in Mills County, IA on February 19, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Smith's Longspur	Anderson Township	Wilson farm, NE Mills County, Iowa	flying over open fields near woods.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lapland Longspurs should have white bellies rather than buffy ones. The voice makes me think it is an open - field bird + not a sparrow or something like that \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Pine Grosbeak at Saylorville Lake, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-12-22	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pine Grosbeak at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on December 22, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Oesterreich, Wolfgang	Pine Grosbeak	Saylorville Lake	woods at end of NW 100th St @ Big Creek Lake T81N R25W NE 1/4 sec. 21	She was perched at the top of a deciduous tree (locust?) in a small wooded area, dominated by deciduous trees. Some conifers were present. Kevin stated that when he first saw the bird it flew like a woodpecker (undulating) and landed in the tree.	The documentation form by Wolfgang Oesterrichis the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Kevin Healy. \| Elimination of similar species: Coloration and size eliminated the other finches. Too large and wrong coloration for Goldfinches. Coloration, bill shape, size not like crossbills. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:50:00/07:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Little Swan Lake, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-07-14	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Little Swan Lake in Dickinson County, IA on July 14, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, a letter from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harr, Douglas C.	Black-headed Grosbeak	Christopherson Slough / Little Swan Lake Wildlife Management Area	Woods, N. edge Little Swan Lake, Dickinson Co., Iowa (near Superior)	General: woodlands near lakeshore. Specific: bare branch understory of plum thicket (deep shade), at edge of planting of 25 ft. Austrian pines and black walnut trees.	The documentation form by Douglas C. Harr is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Rose-breasted grosbeak (female)--little or no yellow-tan color to breast & more heavily spotted or streaked. Blue Grosbeak (female)--a more uniform, unstreaked brown or tan. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:22:00/13:23:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher at Rice Lake, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-05-13	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher at Rice Lake in Worth County, IA on May 13, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Anderson, Gerald	Vermilion Flycatcher	Rice Lake	Worth County North Shore Rice Lake	Edge of Timber and marsh	The documentation form by Gerald Anderson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Curt Rector. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Smaller than cardinal \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Bullock's Oriole at Elk Horn, 1999	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-12-17	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Bullock's Oriole at Elk Horn in Shelby County, IA on December 17, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Bullock's Oriole	Elk Horn	Yard of Randy and Rhea Leete, Elk Horn, Iowa (Shelby County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Thomas H. Kent was submitted later. Other observers include Karole Fuller, Mike Overton, Dixie Overton, and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: This is the only orange oriole that exhibits a large white wing patch, and a dark eye line on an otherwise orange face. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:20:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Des Moines, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-14	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on May 14, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Black-headed Grosbeak	Des Moines	Yard of Vern Faber, 5021 SW 16th Place, Des Moines (Polk County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Vern Faber. \| Elimination of similar species: Differences between this bird and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks has been described. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:35:00/07:35:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Yellow River State Forest, 1978	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-07-01	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Warbler at Yellow River State Forest in Allamakee County, IA on July 1, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of record, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Prairie Warbler	Yellow River State Forest	Yellow River State Forest	The bird was at the edge of a pine plant with blackberry bushes very thick, deciduous Saplings and fellow trees at edge of Pine plant.	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers were Russ Hayes and Tom Stone, Sr. \| Elimination of similar species: Male Cape May Warbler has rusty cheek patch. The Pine Warbler does not have a distinct cheek patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brewer's Blackbird at Zirbel Slough, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-09-08	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Brewer's Blackbird at Zirbel Slough in Cerro Gordo County, IA on September 8, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bangma, Jim Johnson, Ann	Brewer's Blackbird	Zirbel Slough	Zirbel Slough, Cerro Gordo Co., IA	Marsh	The documentation form by Jim Bangma and Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Rusty Blackbird ruled out by solid black color, deeper call note, bill shape. Grackles ruled out by tail length, bill size and shape and call note. Cowbirds ruled out by eye color, tail length and head/bill shape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	8