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 Glossy Ibis at Louisa National Wildlife Refuge, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-06-11	1984-07-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Glossy Ibises at Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Louisa County, IA on June 11, 1984.	Hovell, Leroy E. Stanley, A. Wayne	Glossy Ibis	Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Louisa Division	northeast corner of Moist Soil Unit number one, Louisa National Wildlife Refuge, Louisa County, Iowa		The documentation form by Wayne Stanley & Leroy Hovell is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Chuck H. Bartenhagen, Philip R. Earnest, Sarah M. Cross, Ramona R. Haight, Ginger A. Malcolm, Chris Weyrick, and Bill Knapp. \| Elimination of similar species: All characteristics matched Glossy Ibis including the blue skin at the base of the curved bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Allamakee County, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-11-14	1981-11-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles along Highway A-26 in Allamakee County, IA on November 14, 1981.	Myers, Robert K.	Golden Eagle	Allamakee County	Northeast Iowa - along HWY A-26 in Allamakee County	hilly, forested area of northeast Iowa - birds were apparently catching updrafts along rocky ridges	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore and Darwin Koenig. \| Elimination of similar species: Imm. bald eagle is somewhat similar but appears more mottled with white and does not have white tail with undetermined black band as in imm. golden. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Allamakee County, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-11-14	1981-11-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles along county road A26 in Allamakee County, IA on November 14, 1981.	Moore, Francis L.	Golden Eagle	Allamakee County	Along county road A26 in Allamakee County	Limestone bluffs and hills topped with hardwood and conifer trees	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers and Darwin Koenig. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle as described above. The bird was not mottled in appearance as an immature Bald Eagle would be but was a rather uniform dark brown overall except for the white in the upper retrices and wing linings which was noted before. As we watched the bird through our binoculars and a 20x telescope another large bird appeared from the East and this too was another Eagle. The second bird was an overall dark brown except for a very small amount of white to whitish color at the base of the retrices. This bird had a lighter brown color to the back of the head and on the nape. There was no mottled effect as would be shown in an immature Bald Eagle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Allamakee County, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-11-21	1982-11-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles on County Road A26 in Allamakee County, IA on November 21, 1982.	Moore, Francis L.	Golden Eagle	Allamakee County	County Road A26 in Allamakee County, Iowa	Limestone bluffs near upper Mississippi River in Iowa	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers, Joe Schaufenbuel, John Robinson, Peter Petersen, Hank Zaletel, and many other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Bald Eagle has a more massive looking bill and are more mottled with white or light colored areas on the upper and lower surfaces of the wings. These birds did not have this characteristic.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Ames, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-03-17	1985-03-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Ames in Story County, IA on March 17, 1985.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Golden Eagle	Ames	Ames, Story County - flying over	migrating over town	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Other hawks eliminated by size and dark color, white tail with dark terminal band. Immature Bald Eagle eliminated by all dark color contrasting with white tail that was sharply cut off by a dark terminal band.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Ames, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-10-19	1986-10-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Ames in Story County, IA on October 19, 1986.	Gritters, Scott A	Golden Eagle	Ames	2 mi South Ames - gravel road	Open pasture on top of dead tree	The documentation form by Scott Gritters is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Kevin Timmer. \| Elimination of similar species: Upon sighting of the bird in the tree we eliminated hawks by large size and black over whole body. At first his head appeared to be black headed - so I thought it was an immature bald eagle. This also cleared it from being a Turkey Vulture. Finally the bird turned its head toward us as it was getting 'nervous' - this revealed a golden crown. \| 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 Argyle, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-04-06	1985-04-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Argyle in Lee County, IA on April 6, 1985.	Cecil, Robert I.	Golden Eagle	Argyle	Argyle, Iowa, s.w. Lee County	Open country, 2 miles from Des Moines River	The documentation form by Robert I. Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Imm. Bald Eagles splotchy white underneath--have seen this many times. Tail pattern similar to Rough-leg, but size, overall profile wrong, as was body coloration (although I've not seen dark phase Rough-leg.) Proportionately small head wrong for all Buteos. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00/11:20:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Babcock Access at Coralville Lake, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-07-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Babcock Access at Coralville Lake in Johnson County, IA on July 28, 1979.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Golden Eagle	Babcock Access	n. of Babcock L. access, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co.	reservoir tail waters after dead trees in west and of Coralville Reservoir floodplain	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Buteo: size, profile. Bald Eagle, imm: distribution of white feathers, notably white tail base much more distinct and [illegible] in golden. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:25:00/14:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Badger Creek State Park, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-10-30	1987-10-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Badger Creek State Park in Madison County, IA on October 30, 1987.	Myers, Robert K.	Golden Eagle	Badger Creek State Recreation Area	Badger Creek State Park	Timbered area around small man-made lake	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Imm. Bald Eagle is eliminated by the tail pattern, by the lack of white spots on wing linings, and by the golden sheen seen on the birds neck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:15:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Booth Township in Palo Alto County, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-02-03	1988-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Booth Township in Palo Alto County, IA on February 3, 1988.	Knight, Calvin A.	Golden Eagle	Booth Township	W ctr. Section 20, Booth Township (T 94N, R 34W) Palo Alto Co., Iowa	Open Field (snow blown clear) near frozen Marsh	The documentation form by Calvin A. Knight is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bernie Knight and Ron Reese. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle (immature) underwing markings & tail eliminated bald eagle. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Claybanks Preserve, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-11-23	1997-12-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles at Claybanks Preserve in Cerro Gordo County, IA on November 23, 1997.	Goranson, Rita	Golden Eagle	Claybanks Forest	on Wren ave - at Claybanks Preserve, Cerro Gordo Co	wooded & river	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Curt Nelson, Carolyn Fischer, and Jan Walter. \| Elimination of similar species: later we saw (white head white tail) adult eagles = not the coloring of the first one. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 16:10:00/16:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-10-28	1975-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 28, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, NW of Iowa City, IA	Coralville Res. - wooded ridge to N., extensive water and bare grassy flats in Res. area, then farmland to S.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: imm. Bald Eagle; proportions of head, neck and tail, no white in wing-linings black r-l hawk: lack of any white in primaries and secondaries, large size. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-02-11	1979-02-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on February 11, 1979.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Coralville Lake	farm country between Rt. 6 and the Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co IA	An area of mixed cropland and timber south of the Iowa River; just to the north is an extensive area of public land, with mixed fields and woods; to the south are farms on flatter land, with much less timber.	The documentation form by Mike Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rick Hollis and Carl Bendorf. \| Elimination of similar species: large size and slow wingbeat rule out buteos, as do the dark primaries and secondaries (melanistic redtails and roughlegs have white in the flight feathers). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:10:00/11:11:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-03-26	1988-03-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 26, 1988.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Golden Eagle	Coralville Lake	Coralville Res., near DuPont Bridge, Johnson Co., IA	Upper area of reservoir - open areas	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The pattern of white was too restricted for a dark phase Rough-legged Hawk and too specific for other dark phase buteos. An immature Bald Eagle would have patchy white on wing coverts, axillars, and tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Forney Lake, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-03-28	1986-04-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Forney Lake in Fremont County, IA on March 28, 1986.	Cecil, Robert I.	Golden Eagle	Forneys Lake	Forney Lake, Fremont Co., Iowa	Cattail marsh next to lake. Sat on muskrat house	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Imm. Bald Eagle has splotchy undersides, dark (not golden) head. Too massive for melanistic buteos. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:10:00/10:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Grammer Grove Wildlife Area, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-10-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Grammer Grove Wildlife Area in Marshall County, IA on October 18, 1990.	Proescholdt, Beth	Golden Eagle	Grammer Grove County Wildlife Area	Grammer Grove WA, n. Marshall County, central Iowa	fields adjacent to wooded ridge paralleling Iowa River	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Rough-legged Hawk - explained above. Seeing white on the tail I thought 'Rough-leg'. But this bird had absolutely flat wings as it approached head-on, not with the Rough-legs' 'up-and-out' wing pattern. Three spots of white on an otherwise dark bird - no splotchiness as on a Bald Eagle, no dihedral as in a Turkey Vulture and I knew I was seeing an immature Golden Eagle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:10:00/14:12:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Hanover Township in Allamakee County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-11	1978-12-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles at Hanover Township in Allamakee County, IA on November 11, 1978.	Koenig, Darwin	Golden Eagle	Hanover Township	Allamakee County, Hanover Twp.	rugged hills with open fields and timber interspersed. Soaring along a long ridge which rises about 200 ft above the Upper Iowa River valley	The documentation form by Darwin Koenig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Rough-legged Hawk (dark phase) --smaller, different proportions (long, narrow, tapered wings, small head, and bill), underwings usually have more white and the white patches rarely show on the upper wing surface. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Hawkeye Wildlife Area, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-03-10	1985-03-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Hawkeye Wildlife Area in Johnson County, IA on March 10, 1985.	Hollis, Richard Jule	Golden Eagle	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	Hawkeye Wildlife Area, Johnson Co	sky	The documentation form by Richard Hollis is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The above description eliminates Bald Eagle imm & Turkey Vul. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Holland, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-10-06	1990-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle southwest of Holland in Grundy County, IA on October 6, 1990.	Proescholdt, Mark	Golden Eagle	Holland	Western Grundy County - southwest of Holland	corn fields and bean fields	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Bald Eagles have white in different areas and lack the white areas in the wings of a Golden Eagle. Harlan's Redtails do not have the white spots in the wings or the definite white in the tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:10:00/17:12:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at IA 17 bridge over the Des Moines River, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-20	1999-01-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at IA 17 bridge over the Des Moines River in Polk County, IA on December 20, 1998.	Healy, Kevin	Golden Eagle	High Bridge	e. side of the Des Moines River about 1/2 mile n. of the IA 17 bridge.		The documentation form by Kevin Healy is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Karl Jungbluth. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was soaring above the river in the vicinity of two adult Bald Eagles. We saw a large dark buteo similar in size to the Bald Eagles. Head projected less than 1/2 the length of the tail, noticeably less than that of the adult Bald Eagles in view at that time. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:50:00/12:53:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
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