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 Boreal Chickadee at Osage, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-11-24	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Boreal Chickadees at Osage in Mitchell County, IA on November 24, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Woolfries, Andy	Boreal Chickadee	Osage	Osage, Iowa Home Feeder board	Home bird feeder - back yard - shrubs and trees.	The documentation form by Andy Woolfries is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Associated with other chickadees but noticable [sic] because of distinctive brown cap. There appeared to be only two. They were positively identified at least 20 times from a distance of about six feet. Reference: "Birds of North America". \| The original documentation form event occurred at least 20 times over November 24 to 26, 1978.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	49
Rare bird documentation form for American Tree Sparrow at Sweet Marsh, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1991-05-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an American Tree Sparrow at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 18, 1991.	Johnson, Ann	American Tree Sparrow	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co., IA	marsh	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: Lark Sparrow - no facial pattern; rusty cap Swamp Sparrow - breast spot Song Sparrow - no streaking on underparts Chipping Sparrow - breast spot; song different \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:20:00/10:21:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	48
Rare bird documentation form for Common Barn Owl at Shenandoah, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Common Barn Owls at Shenandoah in Fremont and Page Counties, IA on April 24, 1983.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Barn Owl	Shenandoah	Shenandoah, Fremont Co., IA	city edge, open farmland	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Call, and size separated birds from Screech Owl. Size, flight style, and lack of underpart markings was distinctly different than Great Horned. Short-eared Owl would have some markings & call differently. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 04:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Owl near Fort Atkinson in 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Zoological specimens	1981-12-16	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Owl near Fort Atkinson in Winneshiek County, IA on November 28, 1981.	Jenison, Art	Barn Owl	Fort Atkinson				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Owl at Eden Township in Marshall County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-10-29	1978-10-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Owl at Eden Township in Marshall County, IA on October 29, 1978.	Jones, Greig D.	Barn Owl	Eden Township	Rhodes Farm, Iowa, Marshall Co., Eden Twnsp, T82N, R20W, Sec 20	pastured farmland scattered with woodlots, several ponds, & 1 main stream Perched in a dead cottonwood located along a run of trees which bounded a moist grassy travelway for cattle	The documentation form by Greg D. Jones is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The Barn Owl is a fairly distinctive species. Its uniformly cream breast, short neck, and dual face eliminate other species of owls & hawks commonly found in central Iowa farmlands. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:05:20.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form and field checklist for Barn Owl at Mount Ayr State Wildlife Area in 1983	Checklists Field notes	Birds--Identification Captive wild birds Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation Wildlife reintroduction	1983-04-29	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation and field checklist for a Barn Owl at Mount Ayr State Wildlife Area in Ringgold County, IA on April 29, 1983.	Moe, Mel	Barn Owl	Mount Ayr State Wildlife Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form for Common Barn Owl at Jackson Township in Boone County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-07-08	1983-07-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Barn Owl at Jackson Township in Boone County, IA on July 8, 1983.	Ehresman, Bruce	Barn Owl	Jackson Township	Boone County, Jackson Township (T-84N, R-25W) Sec. 11 + 14	Corn/Beans/oats - grassy roadside	The documentation form by Bruce Ehresman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marlene Ehresman. \| Elimination of similar species: Barred owl is larger and gray. Great Horned Owl is larger, has ear tufts, and not pure white on all underparts. Short-eared owl has darker face and black wrist patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:50:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form for Common Barn Owl west of Red Rock Reservoir, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-05	1984-05-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Barn Owl west of Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on May 5, 1984.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Barn Owl	Lake Red Rock	1 mile west of Red Rock Reservoir, Marion County, Ia.	a grove of deciduous trees with some old buildings adjacent to the floodwaters of the RR Reservoir.	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Nolan, Mark Dixon, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and Hank Zalatel. \| Elimination of similar species: Separated from other hawks and owls by the cinnamon-colored back contrasting with pure white underparts and a heart shaped white face with dark borders. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:45:00/15:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form for Common Barn Owl at Worth Township in Boone County, 1984	Field notes	Bird banding Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Barn Owl at Worth Township in Boone County, IA on May 30, 1984.	Ehresman, Bruce	Barn Owl	Worth Township	Boone County, Worth Township (T-83N, R-26W) Sec. 21	Deciduous woodland edge (Wildlife Research Station)	The documentation form by Bruce Ehresman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rick Dietz. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form for Common Barn Owl at Smith's Slough, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-10-16	1988-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Barn Owl at Smith's Slough in Clay County, IA on October 16, 1988.	Kanago, Dixie	Barn Owl	Smiths Slough	Smith's Slough - clay [sic] County - Dewey Pasture Area	Forest-edge-slough near by lake within 1/4 mi.	The documentation form by Dixie Kanago is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Judy Knight, Alice Kehoe, and Wayne Souer. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] An owl - larger than screech - but smaller than gt. horned owl. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:30:00/18:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Field reports form for submitting seasonal observations of Iowa birds, summer 1993, Douglas Harr	Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1993-06-01	1993-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field reports by Douglass Harr for birds sighted during the summer of 1993. It features the Barn Owl south of Larchwood in Lyon County, IA on July 27, 1993.	Harr, Douglas C.	Barn Owl Cattle Egret Hooded Merganser	Larchwood Sioux Center Spirit Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Owl north of Adair in 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-08-08	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Owl north of Adair in Adair County, IA on August 8, 1994.	Ernzen, Peter	Barn Owl	Adair				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Raven at Lake Manawa State Park, 1998	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-02-05	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Raven at Lake Manawa State Park in Pottawattamie County, IA on February 5, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Bunnimit, Manit	Common Raven	Lake Manawa State Park	[...] Lake Manawa State Park, near Council Bluffs, IA. [...] was travelling south on the road that follows the west edge of Lake Manawa.		The documentation letter by Manit Bunnimit is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It flew for most of the time by soaring with its wings held very flat, only twice flapping its wings momentarily (shallow wingbeats) and once folding its wings rather tightly and gliding. All of the crows I have seen flap steadily, gliding only occasionally. [...] It could not have been mistaken even for the tails of the occasional American Crows that appear quite rounded. The sheer size of the bird and the wedge-shaped tail were enough to distinguish it from any of the crows, but what about the Chihuahuan Raven? Fortunately, as it flew by, the bird made two brief call notes that were very hoarse (sounding much more like grrrawgk than the gaw of the American Crow), and much deeper than the Chihuahuan Raven that I heard in northern Texas. However, because it has been a few years since I had seen or heard the Chihuahuan, I decided to double check the calls on a tape I had at home. The tape and I agree that the call was that of a Common Raven. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:10:00/11:11:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	47
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Common Raven west of Mason City, 1966	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1966-12-28	1994-11-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Raven west of Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on December 28, 1966. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Roosa, Dean M.	Common Raven	Mason City	[...] driving from Clear Lake to Mason City		The documentation article by Dean M. Roosa forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Paul Bailey. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Its flight pattern, size, and rounded or wedge-shaped tail distinguished it from nearby Crows.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	47
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Raven at Dubuque, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-12-17	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Raven at Dubuque in Dubuque County, IA on December 17, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, a summary of review, and a documentation submitted to the committee.	Herrman, William	Common Raven	Dubuque	Location was about three miles south of Dubuque city limits, in narrow valley with scattered cedar trees, with bird in a leafless tree		The documentation by William Herrmann is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Feller and John Stampe. \| Elimination of similar species: One half larger than a dozen Am. crows about 100 feet away from the raven at same distance \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	47
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Glenwood, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-11-04	1990-11-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Glenwood in Mills County, IA on November 4, 1990.	Rose, Douglas L.	Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Glenwood	in my backyard, 108 Hillcrest Ave Glenwood, Iowa 51534	borders open field, a few tall weeds	The documentation form by Doug Rose is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Black-billed Cuckoo - yellow on lower mandible and reddish primary. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	47
Rare bird documentation form for Black-billed Cuckoo at Hickory Hill Park, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-05-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-billed Cuckoo at Hickory Hill Park in Johnson County, IA on May 3, 1988.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black-billed Cuckoo	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill P., Iowa City, Johnson Co, Ia	Wooded edge, heavy bushes	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-billed - bill, lack of rufous, lack of tail spots. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:20:00 estimated.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	46
Rare bird documentation form for Black-billed Cuckoo at Norwalk, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-04-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-billed Cuckoo at Norwalk in Warren County, IA on April 23, 1989.	Johnson, Ann	Black-billed Cuckoo	Norwalk	My Yard - small acreage in northern Warren County, IA	Mixed open woods and field edge with creek and many shrubs	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Was eliminated because of the black bill, red eye ring and lack of rust on wings \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow southwest of Oakville, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-11	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Fish Crow southwest of Oakville in Louisa County, IA on May 11, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Fish Crow	Oakville	1/2 mi SW Oakville, Louisa Co, IA	Bottomland Forest along Iowa River	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Brian Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Am. Crow - larger, different call, flight stronger. Due to late season no Am. Crows have fledged. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Cone Marsh, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-03-28	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Fish Crow in Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on March 28, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Fish Crow	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	In the woods along the edge of Cone Marsh (Louisa County.		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jane Fuller, Chuck Fuller, John Rutenbeck, Rick Hollis, and Jim Durbin. \| Elimination of similar species: The call this bird was making was not that of a Common Crow, and the bird making the call (as well as the other bird) appeared to have a smaller bill and was more glossy than I would expect a Common Crow to be. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:48:00/09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-21	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for four Fish Crows at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Louisa County, IA on April 21, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Fish Crow	Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Louisa Division	Louisa Refuge, Mark Twain NWR, Louisa Co., IA	Mississippi River bottoms	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Johnson and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Chuck Fuller, and Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: The Records Committee has not accepted two previous records of Fish Crow along the Mississippi River in Louisa County because of the difficulty in substantiating the identification. I was well aware of this, and like other committee members, I believed that they were likely present in this area. I can only say that I was watching the birds when I heard them, which eliminates the possibility that they were young American Crows. I would not want to rely on the morphologic features. I was impressed that this group stayed together in the flooded woods, which was unlike the behavior of the American Crows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:40:00/09:30:00 and 10:25:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Big Timber Unit of Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge , 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-25	1997-10-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Fish Crow at Big Timber Unit of Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Louisa County, IA on April 25, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	McKay, Kelly	Fish Crow	Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Big Timber Division	Big Timber Unit of Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge approx. 2.0 miles downstream of Kilpeck landing. This landing is located 8.0 miles South of Muscatine, Ia. on County Road X61.	Bottomland Hardwood Forest	The documentation form by Kelly McKay forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Peter C. Petersen was submitted. Other observers include Brian Blevins, Michael Bornstein, and Gerald White. \| Elimination of similar species: American Crow: different sounding calls; This bird was smaller than American Crows \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-08	1997-10-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Fish Crow at Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve in Muscatine County, IA on May 8, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brush, Tim	Fish Crow	Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve	Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve, extreme NE Louisa + SE Muscatine Counties - approximately on boundary	bottomland forest/pond	The documentation form by Tim Brush is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Calls eliminated American Crows, which were calling at the same time. I am familiar with both adult + young crow calls of both American + Fish Crows. The calls were identical to those of Fish Crows in New Jersey. The circling behavior is unique to Fish Crows + the upriver migration is typical of Fish Crows in NJ - overmigration \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:53:00/09:54:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie near Larchwood, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-10-06	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie near Larchwood in Lyon County, IA on October 6, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harr, Douglas C.	Black-billed Magpie	Larchwood	6 mi. W, 2 mi. S of Larchwood, Lyon County, Iowa	General: Hills bordering Big Sioux River Specific: Prairie hills, with some riverbottom & hillside timber, cropfields on tops of hills nearby.	The documentation form by Douglas Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Fribley and Paul Hagen. \| Elimination of similar species: Only similar groups would be crows, jays and blackbirds. Size, tail shape and unique color pattern dictate nothing else except Black-billed Magpie. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:04:00/14:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Rare bird documentation form for Ringed Turtle Dove at Cedar Falls, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-12-19	1982-12-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Ringed Turtle Dove at Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County, IA on December 19, 1982.	Moore, Francis L.	Ringed Turtle-Dove	Cedar Falls	2411 State Street, Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, IA Ethel Pohl residence	Back yard feeders	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russell Hays. \| Elimination of similar species: Mourning Dove is darker with a pointed tail that is longer than Ringed Turtle Dove. Ringed Turtle Dove has a dark band on the top of its neck and appeared to have a slightly larger body size than Mourning Dove. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	45