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 Merlin east side of Sweet Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-16	1983-04-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin east side of Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 16, 1983.	Moore, Francis L.	Merlin	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co.	Open disked field along road, river bottom, mixed deciduous woods near-by	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 Russell Hays. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine Falcon is larger with dark facial pattern Peregrine breast is also barred not streaked. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:25:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Sweet Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-16	1983-04-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 16, 1983.	Myers, Robert K.	Merlin	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh - Bremer Co.	Brushy edge and open field along east side of marsh	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 Russell Hays. \| Elimination of similar species: American Kestrel would show reddish back and tail and would not show the heavy bands on tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:25:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur east of Larson Marsh, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-17	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for eight or more Smith's Longspurs east of Larson Marsh in Story County, IA on April 17, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Martsching, Paul	Smith's Longspur	Larson Marsh	pothole one eigtth [sic] mile east of Larson Marsh in Story County, Iowa	General: near pothole in cornfield. Specific: grassy areas along waterfilled roadside ditch	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Fred Whitford. \| Elimination of similar species: Lapland longspur - has less white on tail edges, much whiter below; male reddish patch on back of neck & fairly heavy black streaks on sides - most of the males were more or less changed to breeding plumage, altho few had completely changed. Vesper Sparow does not have orange tan breast + belly or white shoulder patch. [...] had more or less black faces \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:40:00/11:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Colo Ponds, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-18	1983-05-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Scaup at Colo Ponds in Story County, IA on April 18, 1983.	LaGrange, Ted	Greater Scaup	Colo Bogs Wildlife Management Area	2 miles east of Colo (Colo ponds) Story County	flooded fields	The documentation form by Ted LaGrange is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. The form was typed by James Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Observed the bird feeding with about 30 Lesser Scaup. Obtained a good size compariosn [sic] between it and the Lesser Scaup, especially for the head and bill. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Cedar Rapids, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on April 23, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of review, correspondence about bird sightings, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walton, Robert	Mississippi Kite	Cedar Rapids	2.3 miles west of junction 218 on hiway 30 ( approx. 24 miles west of Cedar Rapids)	wet cropland (corn stubble field with water puddles)	The documentation form by Randy Walton is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Sandy Walton. \| Elimination of similar species: Shape and size of bird was similar to prairie and peregrine falcons. The lack of any facial markings, the grayish coloration and presence of the black dorsal wing tips eliminate the falcons. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:15:00/17:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-legged Kittiwake at Lake Manawa, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-legged Kittiwake at the dredge ponds near Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on April 23, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, a summary of the review, and a documentation submitted to the committee.	Otto, Rebecca Otto, William	Black-legged Kittiwake	Lake Manawa State Park	[...] at the dredge ponds near Lake Manawa, Council Bluffs, Iowa.		The documentation by William and Rebecca Otto is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] We eliminated the possibility of the gull being an immature Bonaparte's gull by the following criterion: 1. Leg color. The gulls legs and feet were entirely black. Bonaparte's gull have reddish legs. This was apparent at great distance on the immature Bonaparte's gulls present. 2. Primary feathers. The gull had black outer primaries and gray inner primaries. Immature Bonaparte's having some obvious white inner primaries.) 3. Behavior. Although this may seem rather unscientific, the gull not joining the groups of feeding or loafing gulls present seems significant to me. \| The original documentation form event lasted around 30 minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	10
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
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
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 Smith's Longspur southeast of Hills, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-27	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for thirty-three Smith's Longspurs southeast of Hills in Johnson County, IA on April 27, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of record, a summary of the review, field notes, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Smith's Longspur	Hills	East Johnson Co. (I'll defer to you for exact location Tom)		The documentation form by Thomas Staudt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Field notes by Thomas Kent were also submitted. Other observers include James Huntington and John Cordell. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Polk City, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-27	1983-04-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for six Greater Scaups at Polk City in Polk County, IA on April 27, 1983.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Greater Scaup	Polk City	3 mi East of Polk City, Polk Co., Iowa	Flooded corn field - almost 40 acres of water-near Large Reservoir	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Scaup ducks compared directly with Lesser Scaups. When directly compared the three were larger, whiter on back and side, and rounder-headed than the Lesser Scaup. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
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
Mary R. Musgrove letter to Thomas H. Kent regarding spring bird sightings, April 29, 1983	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Weather Country life	1983-04-29	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Mary R. Musgrove to Thomas H. Kent regarding spring bird sightings, April 29, 1983. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of spring 1983.	Musgrove, Mary R.	Bald Eagle Ring-billed Gull Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Goldeneye Snow Goose Bufflehead Canada Goose Lesser Scaup Greater White-fronted Goose Tundra Swan Common Merganser Mallard	Des Moines Forneys Lake Glenwood Saylorville Dam Bays Branch State Wildlife Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	20	7
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Big Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-29	1983-04-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Big Marsh in Butler County, IA on April 29, 1983.	Myers, Robert K.	Merlin	Big Marsh Wildlife Area	Big Marsh - Butler Co.	Marsh	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrels Tails do not have the bold black bands, and show reddish on tail + back (NOT overall blue-gray). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for House Finch at Davenport, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-01	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a House Finch at Davenport in Scott County, IA on May 1, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	House Finch	Davenport	235 McClellan Blvd. Davenport, IA 52803	wooded urban yard - at feeder	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Mary Lou Petersen. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple Finch - red different shade none on back and streaked sides on this bird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:14:00/16:16:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Whimbrel at Hendrickson Marsh, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-04	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Whimbrel at Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on May 4, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes and seven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Beth	Whimbrel	Hendrickson Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Hendrickson's Marsh, s.e. Story Co., Iowa	muddy clover field, vegetation only few inches, some water	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Mark Proescholdt, Romona R. Sommerlot, Paul Martsching, Hank Zaletel, Joe Schaufenbuel, and James Dinsmore were submitted later. Other observers include Phyllis Harris, Ed Savage, Betty Savage, Jim Maish, Dorothy Maish, Dick Mooney, Ted LaGrange, Eugene Armstrong, and other unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Hudsonian Godwit (this had decurved bill, no rusty breast & no white & black flight pattern); Long-billed Curlew (much shorter bill & prominent stripes on crown); Willet (different flight colors in wings & much browner & also decurved bill). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	23
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-04	1983-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on May 4, 1983.	White, Gerald	Yellow Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Field on East and end of North dike at Cone Marsh	Wet, grassy field (10" grass)	The documentation form by Gerald White is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tim Dwyer. \| Elimination of similar species: No other rail has white on the wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:00:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Clark's Grebe at Cone Marsh, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-05	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Clark's Grebe at Cone Marsh in Louise County, IA on May 5, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting from Bruce Peterjohn to Thomas H. Kent, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sandrock, James P., 1929-	Clark's Grebe	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh (Louisa County)	Marsh; open pond.	The documentation form by James P. Sandrock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer includes James G. Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was significantly larger than Pied-billed Grebe; Eared Grebe; and Horned Grebe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	9
Rare bird documentation form for King Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-06	1983-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a King Rail at Sweet Marsh at Bremer County, IA on May 6, 1983.	Myers, Robert K.	King Rail	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh	marsh - cattails	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I thought about Virginia rail at first but because the look was so brief I didn't note the gray cheeks or lack of or any other marks. Basically on size impression I called bird a King Rail. I had been flushing many Soras (about Virginia size) and this bird was at least 2X larger than the Soras. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41
Rare bird documentation form for King Rail at Doolittle Prairie, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-06	1983-05-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for King Rail at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on May 6, 1983.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	King Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie, Story Co.	flushed from upland burned prairie - flew to short grass marsh	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joe Schaufenbuel. \| Elimination of similar species: Least Bittern - no rusty wing patches, decurved bill Other Rails - large size, heavier bill \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/07:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41
Rare bird documentation form for King Rail at Doolittle Prairie, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-06	1983-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a King Rail at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, IA on May 6, 1983.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	King Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie, Ames, Iowa	Wet prairie, pothole fringe.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: See above. In size the bird was easily larger than a Virginia Rail and about the size of a halfgrown pheasant. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41
Rare bird documentation form for Sandhill Crane at Sweet Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-06	1983-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sandhill Crane at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 6, 1983.	Myers, Robert K.	Sandhill Crane	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh - Bremer Co.	marsh	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Great blue herons don't fly with neck extended, do not give the call I heard and have entirely different plumage. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher at Sioux Center, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-06	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on May 6, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Vermilion Flycatcher	Sioux Center	In approximately the center of Harry Kuhl's farm, located at the east end of Sioux Center, Sioux Co., Iowa. The specific area in which we found the bird consists of wet bottomlands with creek and tall willows and many broken branches, snags, and stumps. The bird used snags and branches near and over the creek as perch. The lighting, provided by partly cloudy skies which gradually clouded over completely as the afternoon wore on, was excellent, as the sun was largely behind us. We observed the bird from distances varying between 20 feet and 60 yards.	[...] a section of tall trees, extensive shrub area, open fields, and in the center, surrounded by pasture land and agricultural fields, an area of wet bottomlands transversed by a creek (beaver occurs here) through a fairly open stand of tall black willows; broken limbs and snags are scattered throughout the area (see enclosed photographs).	The documentation form by John Van Dyk forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Gordon Brown was submitted. Other observers include Ken Venhuizen, Mike Van Dyk, Jan Van Dyk, and John Kevin Van Dyk. \| Elimination of similar species: This category hardly applies since a male Vermilion Flycatcher is quite unmistakable. If there is any bird with which it might possibly be confused -- perhaps at great distance -- it would be a Scarlet Tanager. However, our bird was much smaller, had no red on its back, had black patchy line through its eye, had a thin dark flycatcher bill instead of a light-colored tanager bill, and behaved like a flycatcher. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/17:00:00 on May 6, 1983 and 06:30:00/07:00:00 on May 7, 1983.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at IPL Ponds, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-07	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 7, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, an article in the Illinois Audubon Bulletin, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Laughing Gull	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa Power + Light Settling Pond		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tanya Bray, Babs Padelford, and Loren Padelford. \| Elimination of similar species: Differs from Franklin's Gull only in lack of white line between black primaries + gray mantle. I saw one Franklin's this spring with a very narrow white band in the primaries. If this isn't a Laughing Gull, it's an aberrant Franklin's. It seemed to be in a very neat breeding plumage, not a young bird. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon for around two minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie State Preserve, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-08	1983-05-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie State Preserve in Story County, IA on May 8, 1983.	Armstrong, Eugene	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie north of Ames, Iowa	prairie marsh	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong and Dennis Thompson. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora. smaller, yellow, white wing patches. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39