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 Pacific Loon at Sabula, 1895	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Rare birds Fowling Zoological specimens Taxidermy	1895-11-16	1998-04-11	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records committee review for a Pacific Loon at Sabula in Jackson County, IA on November 15, 1895. Includes a record review document with votes, photographs of a specimen, correspondence about the sighting from Ronald Goetz to Tom Kent, comments by the IOU Records Committee on the bird sighting, notes about the specimen, an article in Iowa Bird Life about the specimen, the original sighting record found in the publication Iowa Ornithologist 2:73. by H.J. Giddings seen by W. Eldridge, and referenced by six other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Pacific Loon	Sabula				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Heard on the Birdline, December 15, 1997-March 15, 1998	Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching Laridae \| Gulls and Terns Rare birds Dial-a-message telephone calls	1997-12-15	1998-03-15	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Summary of the Iowa Birdline update for December 15, 1997-March 15, 1998. Highlights of the update include sightings of two Ross's Gulls, an adult Black-legged Kittiwake, and seven different Snowy Owl observations in December. Very unusual reports of a Common Raven and a Sprague's Pipit were reported in February. Other interesting observations were of a mid-winter sighting of a Summer Tanager in January and February as well as a continued winter presence of White-winged Crossbills.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Prairie Falcon Ross's Gull Summer Tanager Sprague's Pipit Varied Thrush White-winged Crossbill Snowy Owl Long-tailed Duck Black-legged Kittiwake Common Raven Hoary Redpoll Northern Saw-whet Owl	Decorah Dickinson County Dubuque Hamilton County Iowa City Lake Red Rock Lake Manawa Red Rock Dam Scott County Sioux City West Branch Wright County Fort Madison O'Brien County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	40	18
Big Bluestem Flyer, Volume 33, Number 3, January/February 1998	Forms (documents) Newsletters	Bird feeders Bird surveys Bird watching Birds--Counting Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1998-01-01	1998-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 33, Number 3, January/February 1998. Highlights of the newsletter include reports from several recent field trips, details from many bird sightings including a rare observation of a Ross's Gull, and the results from the Ames, Saylorville Reservoir, and Boone County Christmas Bird Counts. Also included is the 1998 Winter Bird Feeder Survey with instructions and a documentation form to complete.	Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa) Shivvers, Rebecca A.	Ross's Gull	Ames Red Rock Dam Saylorville Lake Boone County				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	6
Winter Birds 97-98	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-01	1998-02-25	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of birds and locations contributed by Aaron Brees. Includes a note to Thomas H. Kent.	Brees, Aaron	Thayer's Gull	Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for American White Pelican at Oakville, 1997	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-23	1998-01-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an American White Pelican at Oakville in Louisa County, IA on December 23, 1997.	Ohde, Bill	American White Pelican	Oakville	Iowa River, 1 mile NW of Oakville, Louisa County, Iowa	large shallow river with sandbars, forested shorelines.	The documentation form by Bill Ohde is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ron Cross. \| Elimination of similar species: Our first thought was swan when we saw the the [sic] large white bird in the water. We first used binoculars and immediately saw the huge orange bill. Then I got out the spotting scope to take a close look. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	16
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Andover, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-27	1998-01-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Andover in Clinton County, IA on December 27, 1997.	Blevins, Brian L.	Merlin	Andover	Andover, IA. Jackson Co. Iowa	Open country, the bird was in only tree at farm house were he was watching smaller birds at a pole birdfeeder.	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Corey Blevins and Ann Barker. \| Elimination of similar species: Eliminate Kestrel by size and coloring. Eliminate Peregrine by size and lack of dark head cap. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:23:00/09:24:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Baltimore Oriole at Bettendorf, 1997	Field notes	Bird feeders Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1997-12-12	1998-01-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Baltimore Oriole at Bettendorf in Scott County, IA from December 12, 1997 to December 27, 1997.	McKay, Kelly Statser, Jack L.	Baltimore Oriole	Bettendorf	1515 29 Street Bettendorf, Scott County, IA.	suburban yard surrounded by a wooded ravine.	The documentation form by Kelly McKay and Jack Statser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vera Blevins. The documentation form was written by Kelly McKay from a phone conversation with Jack Statser. \| Elimination of similar species: Orchard Oriole - smaller; much darker red-orange underparts; all dark tail. American Redstart - very much smaller; all black with orange restricted to spots on sides, wings, and tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	79
Rare bird documentation form for Tundra Swan at Thomson Causeway, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-27	1998-01-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for over two hundred Tundra Swans at Thomson Causeway in Carroll County, IL on December 27, 1997.	McKay, Kelly	Tundra Swan	Thomson	Mississippi River out from Thomson Causeway; Carroll County	open water in the middle of the river, surrounded by iced-over stump fields.	The documentation form by Kelly McKay is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pat Carlson, Fred Lesher, and Carol Rogers. \| Elimination of similar species: Mute Swan - has knobbed bill which is pinkish-orange. Trumpeter Swan - most have wing or neck bands, tend to occur in lesser numbers. Also, no curve from bill to forehead. Snow Goose - much smaller, with black primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	1
Rare bird documentation form for Field Sparrow north of Keokuk, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1997-12-22	1998-01-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Field Sparrow north of Keokuk in Lee County, IA on December 22, 1997.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Field Sparrow	Keokuk	along River Road about 4 mi north of Keokuk, Lee Co., IA	weedy area	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Sinclair and Gordon Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: The most similar species would be American Tree and Chipping Sparrows. The combination of white eyering, lack of a breast spot, and pink bill eliminates both of these species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:32:00/11:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	51
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-26	1998-01-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 26, 1997 and December 30, 1997.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA (below dam)	river below dam	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James J. Dinsmore, Kay Niyo, and many other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of size, dark gray mantle, yellow legs and bill pattern eliminates other gulls, especially Great Black-backed, California, and Slaty-backed. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:05:00/16:55:00 on December 26, 1997 and 13:40:00/16:05:00 on December 30, 1997.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Turkey Vulture at Eden Valley Refuge, 1997	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-19	1998-01-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Turkey Vulture at Eden Valley Refuge in Jackson County, IA on December 19, 1997.	Wickham, Walt	Turkey Vulture	Eden Valley County Refuge	1 1/2 miles south, 1 mile west of Eden Valley Refuge	mixed cropland and woods	The documentation form by Walt Wickham is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Chip Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: lack of head feathers, \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	26
Rare bird documentation form for American White Pelican at Bettendorf, 1997	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-21	1998-01-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a American White Pelican at Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on December 21, 1997.	McKay, Kelly	American White Pelican	Bettendorf	Bettendorf, IA. shoreline of Missisippi River, Scott County		The documentation form by Kelly J. McKay is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Kingman, Chris Kingman, Keith Blunt, Donna Blair, and Mary Foulk. \| Elimination of similar species: All swans - dark torsi and they all lack the lark dark punched bill and black primaries and secondaries. Snow Goose - much smaller and lacks the large pale punched bill and black secondaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/12:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	16
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 Prairie Falcon at St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned) in Sioux City, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-18	1998-01-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned) in Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on December 18, 1997.	Huser, Bill F.	Prairie Falcon	St. Joseph Hospital (historical)	St. Joseph's Hospital (abandoned), Sioux City, Woodbury, IA	tall brick buildings with broken windows providing roosting sites for hundreds of Rock Doves. Numerous perches and open space for flight.	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jerry Probst and Bob Moritz. \| Elimination of similar species: The distinct tear marks eliminated all hawks but falcons and also eliminated the Merlin. Long wings, relative to the tail, and body size eliminated Gyrfalcon. Size and direct comparison eliminated Kestrel. Lack of dark "helmet" eliminated Peregrine Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:45:00/16:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Crossbill at Logan Park Cemetery in Woodbury County, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-13	1998-01-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for thirteen White-winged Crossbills at Logan Park Cemetery in Woodbury County, IA on December 13, 1997.	Huser, Bill F.	White-winged Crossbill	Logan Park Cemetery	Logan Park Cemetery, Woodbury County, IA	savannah [sic] of conifer and deciduous trees, including fruiting white (?) spruce	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jerry Probst, Bob Moritz, and Bob Livermore. \| Elimination of similar species: The bright colored plumages eliminate Pine Siskins and all female Carpodacus finches. The male birds' rosy coloration was more extensive and uniform than that of male Carpodacus Finches. The crossed mandibles eliminate all finches including Pine and Evening Grosbeaks. The bold wing bars eliminate Red Crossbills. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	84
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-27	1997-12-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on December 27, 1997.	Proescholdt, Mark	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Red Rock Dam	Below dam at Red Rock - (Marion County)	Gravel Bar below dam and churning water	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dale Fye, Helen Fye, Pat Miller, and many others. \| Elimination of similar species: The other black mantled gulls (Great Black-backed, Slaty-backed, Western, and Yellow-footed) are all much larger than this gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:20:00/11:10:00 and 13:30:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lincoln's Sparrow at Brenton Slough, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-21	1997-12-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lincoln's Sparrow at Brenton Slough in Polk County, IA on December 21, 1997.	Sinclair, Jim	Lincoln's Sparrow	Brenton Slough	Brenton Slough	marsh edge	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: smaller, more compact bird than Song Sparrow. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	61
Rare bird documentation form for Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Keokuk, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-22	1997-12-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Ruby-crowned Kinglets at Keokuk in Lee County, IA on December 22, 1997.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Keokuk	along River Road n of Keokuk, Lee Co., IA	brushy area along river edge	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Gordon Brown and Jim Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: The small size, greenish coloration, and shape identified the birds as kinglets. One of the birds was compared directly to Golden-crowned Kinglets, and was separated from that species by the eyering and lack of yellow on the crown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:06:00/08:19:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	4
Rare bird documentation form for Blue-winged Teal at Montrose, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-22	1997-12-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Blue-winged Teal at Montrose in Lee County, IA on December 22, 1997.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Blue-winged Teal	Montrose	Montrose, Lee Co., IA	shallow, muddy marsh	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Gordon Brown and Jim Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: The small size eliminates all other waterfowl except for Green-winged Teal. Green-winged Teal has a smaller bill, lacks white on the face, and has green and rust color in the speculum. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:35:00/15:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	5
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 Wilson's Phalarope at Coralville Reservoir, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-10-17	1997-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Wilson's Phalarope at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 17, 1997.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Wilson's Phalarope	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir (Greencastle Ave.), Johnson Co., IA	old backwater now without trees, narrow mud flats	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rita Goranson, Al Goranson, Jim Fuller, and John Rutenbeck. \| Elimination of similar species: At first I thought the bird was a Wilson's, but the date seemed odd. However, the size, lack of back streaks, lack of dark auricular patch, and long thin bill eliminate Red-necked and Red phalaropes, both of which would be more likely at this date. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	29
Rare bird documentation form for Wilson's Phalarope at Hawkeye Wildlife Area, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-10-17	1997-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a WIlson's Phalarope at Hawkeye Wildlife Area in Johnson County, IA on October 17, 1997.	Goranson, Rita	Wilson's Phalarope	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	Greencastle ave no. of F28 Johnson Co. Hawkeye Wildlife Area		The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Red necked Phalarope has a very distinctive black + gray + white coloring in winter Red Phalarope has a different bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	29
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Rockwell, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-10-16	1997-11-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Rockwell in Cerro Gordo County, IA on October 16, 1997.	Goranson, Rita	Northern Goshawk	Rockwell	2 miles so of Rockwell, Ia on Hwy 65 Cerro Gordo Co.	field - stubble creek near	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: not a peregrine as darker area horizontal through eye - not a vertical streak. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Heard on the Birdline, September 15-November 15, 1997	Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching Laridae \| Gulls and Terns Rare birds Dial-a-message telephone calls	1997-09-15	1997-11-15	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Summary of the Iowa Birdline update for September 15-November 15, 1997. Highlights of the update include a sighting of a large flock of Lark Buntings in September and a continued presence of Eurasian Collared Doves throughout the fall. Other interesting observations of note were a Pacific Loon sighting in October, several unusual gull reports in October and November, and a late Ruby-throated Hummingbird spotted at a feeder in November.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Red-shouldered Hawk White-faced Ibis Eurasian Collared Dove Ruby-throated Hummingbird Long-tailed Duck Western Grebe Pacific Loon Bohemian Waxwing Lark Bunting Northern Saw-whet Owl Spotted Towhee	Allamakee County Burlington Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area George Wyth Memorial State Park Grammer Grove County Wildlife Area Lake Macbride State Park Lock and Dam Number 18 Plymouth County Spirit Lake Bacon Creek Park Grinnell Country Club				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	40	18
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Gull Point at West Lake Okoboji, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-11-08	1997-11-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Gull Point at West Lake Okoboji in Dickinson County, IA on November 8, 1997.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Great Black-backed Gull	Gull Point	Gull Point - West Lake Okoboji, Dickinson Co.	Sand and rocky point on natural lake	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull by size and close comparison; Glaucous Gull by dark primaries and tail band \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:40:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38