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 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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Port Neal, 1991	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-04	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Port Neal in Woodbury County, IA on May 4, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Huser, Bill F.	Mississippi Kite	Sioux City	Iowa Public Service Port Neal Woodbury County, IA	non climax riparian woodland	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Art Huser, Bill Vust, and Bob Moritz. \| Elimination of similar species: N. Harrier Male - broader, more rounded wings. More predominate head. Rather labored wing beats. More buteo-like shape. This bird very un-buteo-like. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Riverside Township in Fremont County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-03-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Riverside Township in Fremont County, IA on March 19, 1978.	Silcock, W. Ross	Merlin	Riverside Township	Riverside Twp Fremont Co, Iowa	Nishnabotna River Bottom, Corn stubble fields (frozen)	The documentation form by W. Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Accipiters- Wings were pointed, not rounded, and bird did not sail, but flew with rapid, continuous strokes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:30:10.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Jemmerson Slough, 1996	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-06-23	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Jemmerson Slough in Dickinson County, IA on June 23, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Black-headed Gull	Jemmerson Slough Wildlife Management Area	Jemerson [sic] Slough, Dickinson County	Newly restored wetland with mudflats and raised island	The documentation form by Lee Schoenewe is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Harold White, Ed Thelen, and Tom Stone. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's Gulls by close comparison; Bonaparte's by head color + dark underwing \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Rare bird documentation form for Semipalmated Sandpiper at Coralville Reservoir, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-08-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Semipalmated Sandpipers at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on August 3, 1985.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Semipalmated Sandpiper	Coralville Lake	Coralville Res, Johnson Co, IA	nearly dry backwater with mud flats	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Black legs exclude least. Uniformity of coloration, dark hood, and small bill exclude western. The lack of contrast between mantle and upper scapulars with the wing favors Semipalmated over Rufous-necked Stint. The contrasting facial pattern also favors Semipalmated. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:24:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	17
Rare bird documentation form for Osprey at Montrose, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-12-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Osprey at Montrose in Lee County, IA on December 27, 1992.	Roberts, Barb	Osprey	Montrose	Mississippi River - near Montrose, IA (south of Montrose)	near patch of open water - on ice near water	The documentation form by Barb Roberts is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Zelma Williams, Kathy Dehn, and Ruth Iutzi. \| Elimination of similar species: Im. bald eagles were in area, not adjacent. This bird's head marking were very distinctive. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	19
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Sweet Marsh, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-09-15	1985-09-16	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Merlins at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on September 15 and 16, 1985.	Moore, Francis L.	Merlin	Sweet Marsh	One South side of Sweet Marsh and One North side of Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co., IA	Near open marsh sitting in top of dead tree.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Robert Myers. \| Elimination of similar species: The Am. Kestrel and Peregrine are differently colored. This was a falcon and not one of the other two species of falcons. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Big Creek, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-11-17	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Big Creek in Polk County, IA on November 17, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Northern Goshawk		Big Creek - Polk Co, Iowa	near marsh with small bunches of trees around & pasture-like areas.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: much too big for Sharp-shinned & Coopers; Coopers doesn't have lite eye line. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:00:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Loess Hills, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-04-28	1985-04-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Loess Hills in Fremont County, IA on April 28, 1985.	Moore, Francis L.	Peregrine Falcon	Fremont County	1/2 mi. N. of Hwy 2 on W. side of Loess Hills, Fremont Co., Iowa	Near Loess Hills flying over open land of Missouri River bottoms	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ross Silcock and Robert Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: Prairie Falcon would have been much lighter sandy color than this bird. Merlin would have been smaller. \| The original documentation form event occurred at 07:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for White-rumped Sandpiper at Sandpiper Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-08-07	1988-10-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-rumped Sandpiper at Sandpiper Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on August 7, 1998.	Overton, Michael D.	White-rumped Sandpiper	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Iowa, Polk co., Saylorville Reservoir, Sandpiper Recreation Area	Near lakeshore of large manmade lake in mixed hardwood forest, agricultural cropland. Wet mudflat in deep ditch (outflow channel from small pond along entrance road to parking lot).	The documentation form by Michael D. Overton is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Other Calidris sp. except Baird's eliminated by amount of primary extension beyond tail on standing bird. Eliminate Baird's Sandpiper by white uppertail coverts. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-02-29	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on February 29, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Iceland Gull	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	Near boat marina on shore and swimming with Ring-billed Gulls at wide part of reservoir.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Bob Cecil was submitted. Other observers include John Cecil, Bob Myers, and Maridel Jackson. \| Elimination of similar species: The small size, small head and bill, and all dark bill exclude Glaucous Gull. The lack of any dark in the wing or tail exclude Thayer's Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 12:30:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Gyrfalcon in Hanover Township in Crawford County, 1993	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-10-17	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Gyrfalcon at Hanover Township in Crawford County, IA on October 17, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter about reporting the sighting from Jim Fuller to Dan Eiten on October 29, 1993, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Eiten, Dan	Gyrfalcon	Hanover Township	Hanover Twp Crawford County IA 6 1/2 NW Denison	Near Bean field on Field Fencepost	The documentation form by Dan Eiten is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Arlan Gierstorf. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Rare bird documentation form for Hooded Warbler at Turkey Creek Wildlife Area, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-07-22	1982-07-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hooded Warbler at Turkey Creek Wildlife Area in Cass County, IA on July 22, 1982.	Hensley, R. Craig	Hooded Warbler	Turkey Creek	Turkey Creek Wildlife Area	Near an oxbow, dominant trees were elm, silver maple, cottonwood. along the edge of the woods.	The documentation form by Craig Hensley is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The only species that I believed was similar was the yellow warbler, in fact, when I first saw it without binoculars, I thought that it was a yellow warbler. However, this bird lacked the red streaks from its body. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	41
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Gray-cheeked Thrush at Waubonsie State Park, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-24	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Gray-cheeked Thrush at Waubonsie State Park in Fremont County, IA on April 24, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about bird sightings and documentations, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Scott, Charlotte	Gray-cheeked Thrush	Waubonsie State Park	Waubonsie State Park	Near a trail through a high wooded section	The documentation form by Charlotte Scott is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Dick Scott. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I had time to observe a smaller than robin-sized, plump-looking bird--evenly brown-gray. I had my glasses on him long enough to check that there was not a distinct eye ring and that the splotches on his breast were distinct and separate--not blurry--and fairly bold. [...] There was no question in my mind but that he was a thrush, but I thought this bird more brown on his back than I remembered Gray-cheeked to be. I considered Veery, but stayed with my original call. \| The original documentation form event occurred from approximately 09:45:00/09:45:15.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eastern Wood-Pewee at Waubonsie State Park, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-24	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Eastern Wood-Pewee at Waubonsie State Park in Fremont County, IA on April 25, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Scott, Charlotte	Eastern Wood-Pewee	Waubonsie State Park	Waubonsie State Park	near a trail in a wooded section of fairly tall trees	The documentation form by Charlotte Scott is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Dick Scott. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I ruled out Empidonax flycatchers immediately because of his lack of an eyering and what I considered--smaller size. I ruled out Eastern Phoebe because of the distinct wing bars, the yellow lower mandible and the fact that he did not flick his tail. Also I considered this to be better habitat for a Pewee. 90% of the Phoebes I see are near a bridge and stream or deserted buildings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Yellowthroat at Iowa City, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-12-09	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Yellowthroat at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on December 9, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Common Yellowthroat	Iowa City	my backyard	Near a seep at base of bluff along Iowa River	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Jim Scheib. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow vent eliminates most other similar warblers. Female Yellow is generally lighter on head and back and lacks face pattern \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:15:00/15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	27
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Yellowthroat at Montrose Cemetery, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-26	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Yellowthroat at Montrose Cemetery in Lee County, IA on December 26, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Common Yellowthroat	Montrose Cemetery	At edge of Cemetery on North side of Montrose, Lee County, Iowa	Natural spring wetland that empties into Missisippi at Montrose	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was John Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: Nashville Warbler has grayish head with bold white eyering. Pine Warbler has dark streaks on the sides and white belly and undertail coverts. Female Yellow Warbler is paler on upper surfaces. All of these also have black legs unlike this bird. Wilson's Warbler auricular area is yellowish. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:20:00/15:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	27
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Yellowlegs at Cone Marsh, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Yellowlegs at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on December 18, 1998.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Greater Yellowlegs	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co., IA	natural marsh with mud flats	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: We immediately called it a Greater Yellowlegs based on size, legs, and bill. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	7
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Spirit Lake, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-11-09	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on November 9, 1997.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Thayer's Gull	Spirit Lake	South Shore of Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co.	Natural lakeshore	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull - Lack of dark color in primaries + tail; Glaucous-size; Iceland - overall gray-brown tinge	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at the Trickle Slough Area of Big Spirit Lake, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-10-13	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a California Gull at the Trickle Slough Area of Big Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on October 13, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	California Gull	Trickle Slough Area	Trickle Slough Area of Big Spirit Lake	Natural lake with point of land	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Thayer's Gull - head shape, bill size and leg color \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:40:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-14	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on April 14, 1984.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Red-necked Grebe	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake Hamilton Co. Iowa	natural lake in the middle of a farming area	The documentation form by Thomas J. Staudt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Bendorf, Tom Kent, and Hank Zaletel. \| Elimination of similar species: Western Grebe is similar in size but has a white neck and breast, black cap but no crest. Horned grebes were present, are smaller, much shorter billed and in breeding plumage have black cheeks. Loons are larger and have short thicker necks. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:20:00/07:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow-billed Loon at Little Wall Lake, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-12-02	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Yellow-billed Loon at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on December 2, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, a print of four photos, and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Yellow-billed Loon	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake, Hamilton Co., IA	Natural lake in glaciated area. All open water.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Chris Edwards, Jim Dinsmore, Stephen J. Dinsmore, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Kevin Healy, Dick Tetrault, Reid Allen, Pam Allen, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene Armstrong, Beth Proescholdt, Kay Niyo, Eric Haley, and Hank Zaletel. \| Elimination of similar species: The size and thick bill exclude Red-throated and Pacific Loons. The features that favor Yellow-billed over Common Loon include the bill shape, dark line to mid culmen, small eye, auricular patch, and the pattern of the foreneck and face (little extension of white and mottled color). The back pattern (wavy white lines rather than fuzzy white lines with dark bars) and paleness of the auricular patch indicate a juvenile. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sabine's Gull at Orleans Beach at Spirit Lake, 1996	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-10-02	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sabine's Gull at Orleans Beach at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on October 2, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, a photocopy of a photograph, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thelen, Ed	Sabine's Gull	Orleans Beach	South Shore of Big Spirit - Orleans Beach - Dickinson County	Natural Lake - sandy shore	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Black-legged Kittiwake has bar behind head and also black diagonal bar on inner part of wing \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/ sunset.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	9
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-02-11	1996-02-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on February 11, 1996.	Thelen, Ed	Thayer's Gull	Black Hawk Lake	Black Hawk Lake Sac County	Natural Lake - near open water from aerator	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rob Thelen and Peter Ernzen. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull has dark lesser coverts and dark feathers under the wing tips. More distinct tail band + larger bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Sandhill Crane at East Okoboji, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-11-28	1988-11-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sandhill Crane at East Okoboji in Dickinson County, IA on November 28, 1988.	Thelen, Ed	Sandhill Crane	East Okoboji Lake	N. End of East Okoboji, Dickinson county	Natural Lake - Frozen	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include three other fellow DNR employees. \| Elimination of similar species: straight neck eliminated Great Blue Heron and color eliminated Whooping Crane \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	1