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 Golden Eagle at Johnson County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-19	1978-03-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Johnson County, IA on February 19, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Golden Eagle	Johnson County	4.9 mi west of jct. of F20 and W48 in Johnson Co. Iowa. The bird was in trees between F20 and the Iowa River bed.	The bird was perched on the north edge of a stand of trees bordering the Iowa River. Snow covered cornfields were n. of trees.	The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Michael Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Dark phased rough-legged hawk lacks the white wing patches on upper wing surface and is not twice the length of common crow. Also usually has dark upper tail surface. Immature Bald Eagle lacks prominent white wing patches and base of bill not yellow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Kent Park, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-12-06	1975-12-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Kent Park in Johnson County, IA on December 6, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	F W Kent County Park	Kent Park, ~10 miles west of Iowa City IA	soaring over area of stubble fields, old fields growing up to brush, farms	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: 'ringed' tail, proportion of head, neck, bill; lack of any white in wing-lining on body plumage: all eliminate imm. bald eagle. great size, lack of white in primaries eliminate black rough-leg. \| The original documentation form event occurred between 13:30:00/14:35:00 (seen twice) (total ~ 20 minutes).	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-04-28	1991-04-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park in Van Buren County, IA on April 28, 1991.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Golden Eagle	Lacey-Keosauqua State Park	Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, Van Buren Co., Iowa	Over forested area of Des Moines River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: Osprey, Turkey Vulture, and immature Bald Eagle are all eliminated by the distribution of white. The size and profile was typical of Golden Eagle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Ledges State Park, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-03-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Ledges State Park in Boone County, IA on March 25, 1988.	Reeves, Doug	Golden Eagle	Ledges State Park	Ledges State Park, Boone County	Not applicable - bird was flying high over area	The documentation form by Douglas A. Reeves is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include K. Pat Schlarbaum and James Kienzler. \| Elimination of similar species: 1. Black Vulture is a. out-of-range and b. does not have white tail with black band- also white on wings is in primary feathers. 2. Immature bald eagles does not have such a distinct oval patch of white on under wings and does not generally have a white tail with a black terminal band. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Macbride Recreation Area, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-03-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Macbride Recreation Area northeast of North Liberty in Johnson County, IA on March 19, 1975.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Golden Eagle	Macbride Nature Recreation Area	over Univ. of Iowa Macbride Campus, NE of North Liberty, Iowa	over park with deciduous woods and clumps of planted conifers, between Coralville Reservoir and Lake Macbride	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Much larger than dark-phase Rough-legged Hawk. White on wing the reverse of that in imm. Bald Eagle. Tail larger in relation to body than in Bald Eagle, not mottled but distinctly banded. General plumage lighter than that of imm. Bald Eagle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:10:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Marshalltown, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-12-02	1983-12-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Marshalltown in Marshall County, IA on December 2, 1983.	Proescholdt, Beth	Golden Eagle	Marshalltown	Marshall County, Highway #14 along Iowa River at north edge of Marshalltown	thin edge of riverbottom woods + open fields, edge of town on other side of river	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: large buteos - this bird was huge compared to a Red-tail or Rough-legged, or Bald Eagle - no white head + tail for an adult, + this bird had dark wing linings, not white in wing linings as an immature Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture - this much bigger than vulture, + with eagle flight not the rocking flight of a vulture, or a dihedral. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:45:00/10:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Oak Grove Park, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-11-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Oak Grove Park in Sioux County, IA on November 6, 1998.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Golden Eagle	Oak Grove State Park	Oak Grove Park area in western Sioux County		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Pilot Township in Cherokee County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-03-05	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Pilot Township in Cherokee County, IA on March 5, 1983.	Bierman, Dick	Golden Eagle	Pilot Township	Cherokee County, Pilot Township T91 R40 Section 16	River bottom, wooded flooding, upload timber and pasture also.	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Dark phase redtail, immature bald eagle, dark phase rough legged hawk. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:35:00/11:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Rathbun Lake, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-03-20	1986-04-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County, IA on March 20, 1986.	Heusinkveld, Marjorie	Golden Eagle	Rathbun Lake	First bridge in Bridgeview area - Rathbun Lake - N. from Plano on County Rd 142	Open water with some ice - shoreline treed.	The documentation form by Marjorie Heuskinsveld is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Johnson. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Bald Eagle. There were 3 immature Bald Eagles 'playing' in area at same time. They were more mottled with white through wings - no white bands on tails, one was beginning to show white on neck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Riverton Wildlife Refuge, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-04-05	1980-06-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Riverton Wildlife Refuge in Fremont County, IA on April 5, 1980.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Golden Eagle	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton Wildlife Refuge, North End.	Open marshland with some wet woodland and dry cultivated fields nearby.	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: immature Bald Eagle has some grayish white areas underwings. And does not have golden feathers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:05:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Rock Falls, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-10	1992-05-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Rock Falls in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 10, 1992.	Walter, Janice L.	Golden Eagle	Rock Falls	About 3/4 mi w. of S-62, 1 1/2 mi. n. of B-20, Rock Falls, Iowa	Plowed field and pasture with stream through it	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim B. Walter. \| Elimination of similar species: Small head, longer tail, absence of any white in plumage eliminated Bald Eagle. Size much larger than common, familiar Red-tailed Hawk eliminated dark morph buteos as did lack of strong contrast between flight feathers and under wing linings. It did not have the 2-toned under wings, strong dihedral or rocking flight of the Turkey Vulture. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Rock Township in Cherokee County, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-02-27	1985-02-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Rock Township in Cherokee County, IA on February 27, 1985.	Brewer, Marion M.	Golden Eagle	Rock Township	Rock township sec 36, Cherokee County	Rolling hills with both pasture and crop land	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vernon Bierman. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle, white banded tail and white wing linings, dark head. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:45:00/13:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Sunken Grove State Park, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-11-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Sunken Grove State Park in Pocahontas County, IA on November 29, 1980.	Jardine, Wallace E.	Golden Eagle	Sunken Grove State Game Management Area	Sunken Grove, Pocahontas County	General: Woods around lake. Specific: edge of woods around lake	The documentation form by Wallace Jardine is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Sunken Grove State Park, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-09-28	1980-10-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Sunken Grove State Park in Pocahontas County, IA on September 28, 1980.	Harms, Ronald	Golden Eagle	Sunken Grove State Game Management Area	Sunken Grove State Park, Pocahontas Co.		The documentation form by Ronald Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pat Harms and Don Winkler. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:32:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at the Dupont Bridge in Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at the Dupont Bridge in the Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in Johnson County, IA on February 19, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	1/2 mile south of Johnson Co. Rd. F-20, 4.9 mi. w. of the crossroad leading to the Dupont Bridge.	General: border between an extensive tract of riverbottom forest and a half-mile stretch of corn and soybean fields (with large patches of unharvested beans). At the north edge of the fields was a road, followed by a wooded ridge. Specific: Perched at the edge of a narrow screen of trees that extended out from the forest, between two fields. [drawing]	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: The three species with which confusion is most likely are the bald eagle (imm) and red-tailed and rough-legged hawks (dark-phase). Several points rule out these species. (1) Size: the body length of the bird was 2&1/2-3 times that of a crow that perched in the same tree; the two hawks are not nearly this large. (2) tail pattern: imm. bald eagles sometimes show tails that are darker at the tip than at the base, but all such individuals that I have seen have had a gradual transition from dark to light, rather than the sharp boundary that this bird showed. Adult melanistic redtails usually have red tails; imm birds should show dark tails crossed by darker bands. (3) Wing pattern: imm bald eagles have white in the wing, but this is usually in the wing-lining rather than the primaries and secondaries; dark-phase rough-legs usually have the primaries and secondaries entirely white. (4) build: bald eagle has longer neck, and more massive head and bill, than golden; this bird had the general proportions of a buteo. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Upper Iowa River in Allamakee County, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-02-14	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Upper Iowa River in Allamakee County, IA on February 14, 1981.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Golden Eagle	Allamakee County	Upper Iowa River, Allamakee Co IA	Over high rocky hills and river valley - 5 mi east of #76 on county road #26 in Allamakee C.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature bald eagle - location of white, head size and habitat for Golden Eagle. Known to winter in this area. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:42:00/11:46:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at White Pine Hollow, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-10-25	1989-11-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at White Pine Hollow in Dubuque County, IA on October 25, 1989.	Rouw, Mark	Golden Eagle	White Pine Hollow State Park	White Pine Hollow Dubuque County Iowa	Stream valley bordered by steep bluffs in woodland	The documentation form by Mark D. Rouw is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature bald eagle was eliminated because of this birds distinctive white patches and shorter beak. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:00:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Willow Slough, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-23	1984-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on November 23, 1984.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Golden Eagle	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Mills County, Iowa, near Willow Slough		The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Young Bald Eagles are similar but usually mottled with light feathers. They have white on the under wing coverts, not the bases of the flight feathers, & they do not have the neat tail pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at YMCA Camp northwest of Boone, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-01-01	1998-01-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at YMCA Camp northwest of Boone in Boone County, IA on January 1, 1998.	Healy, Kevin	Golden Eagle	Y Camp	YMCA Camp northwest of Boone IA	Soaring above Des Moines River	The documentation form by Kevin Healy is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Turkey Vulture: similar in size, but flight different (i.e., this bird did not rock back and forth despite fairly stiff winds during time of observation). Also, wings were held flatter than what I expect for a Turkey Vulture. Harlan's Hawk: Breast and belly solid in color, no barring on tail, wing shape unlike that of Red-tailed Hawk. Size difference. Dark phase Rough-legged Hawk: No speckling on breast or belly, tail longer with thinner terminal band. Size difference. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/11:48:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle in Cleark Creek Township, Jasper County, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-04-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle in Clear Creek Township south of the intersection of Iowa 330 with U.S. 65 in Jasper County, IA on April 30, 1990.	Proescholdt, Beth	Golden Eagle	Clear Creek Township	n.w. Jasper County, along #330, south of #65 intersection	above fields along highway	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: A Rough-leg dark-morph adult female has a similar tail, but does not have an all-dark body & the white on underwings in near wing tips. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:25:00/11:25:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle in Decatur County, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-11-25	1990-11-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle in Decatur County, IA on November 25, 1990.	Schlarbaum, Pat	Golden Eagle	Decatur County	Decatur County, Iowa ... at my parent's farm ... T69N R24W Sec. 17		The documentation form by Pat Schlarbaum is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Kathy Schlarbaum, Dale Schlarbaum, and Mildred Schlarbaum. \| Elimination of similar species: Considering the flat flight plane, size of bird, the white tail band, the white on the wings' undersides, we were convinced the bird was an immature golden eagle. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle in northern Harrison County, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-04-08	1991-05-16	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle in northern Harrison County, IA on April 8, 1991.	Johnson, Ann	Golden Eagle	Harrison County	Along I29 in northern Harrison Co., IA	Primarily agricultural land in Missouri River bottom	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Swainson's Hawk and other dark-morph buteos were eliminated by size and less contrast between flight feathers and underwing coverts. Turkey Vulture was eliminated by size, underwing contrast, feathered head and flight style. Bald Eagle was eliminated by lack of any white visible from below and the short head/long tail profile. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle in western Marshall County in 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-10-02	1984-12-02	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle in western Marshall County, IA on October 2, 1984.	Kurtz, Carl	Golden Eagle	Marshall County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle near Larrabee, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-10-08	1986-10-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle near Larrabee in Cherokee County, IA on October 8, 1986.	Brewer, Marion M.	Golden Eagle	Larrabee	4 east & 3 north of Larrabee	pasture & cropland	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald eagle, wing and tail pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle near Silver Creek in Cherokee County, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-10-03	1985-10-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle near Silver Creek, 1 mile north & 1 mile West of the intersection of highways 59 and 31 in Cherokee County, IA on October 3, 1985.	Brewer, Marion M.	Golden Eagle	Silver Creek	1 mile north & 1 mile West of hwy. 59 & 31	Rolling hills pasture, with some pine trees.	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vernon Bierman. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald eagle, white wing patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:25:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31