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 Great Crested Flycatcher at Effigy Mounds National Monument, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-08	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Crested Flycatcher at Effigy Mounds National Monument in Allamakee County on November 8, 1993.	Carter, Dennis L.	Great Crested Flycatcher	Effigy Mounds National Monument	Effigy Mounds National Monument, Allamakee County, Iowa	railroad tracks at base of river bluff (wooded) and ajacent [sic] to Mississippi River " right-of-way bordered by brushy growth	The documentation form by Dennis Carter is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I considered the possibility that this might be an Ash-throated Flycatcher, a species that was recorded in Minnesota in Nov., 1990. The bird I saw lacked the pale coloration and slim appearance of Ash-throated. I feel that the bright yellow belly, contrasting with the dark gray chest eliminates Ash-throated. At no time during my observation, did I feel that this bird might be an Ash-throated Flycatcher. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	71
Rare bird documentation form for Great Horned Owl northeast of Green Mountain, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-03-02	1983-03-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Horned Owl northeast of Green Mountain in Marshall County, IA on March 2, 1983.	Proescholdt, Beth	Great Horned Owl	Green Mountain	northeast Marshall County, north + east of Green Mountain	open farmland deciduous grove around farmstead	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carl Kurtz, Judy Levings, Ramona Sommerlot, Carol McMillan, John King, Mark Proescholdt, and Phyllis Harris. \| Elimination of similar species: Snowy owl - this owl had ear tufts + facial discs making it a Great Horned Owl \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	49
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Blue Lake, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-03-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Great-tailed Grackles at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on March 20, 1994.	Ernzen, Peter	Great-tailed Grackle	Blue Lake	South Blue Lake in Monona County	marshywith [sic] several trees flooded	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Both sp. of grackle were present for comparison, up to 11 birds were seen in subsequent days, and 5 nests were observed as well. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 12:00:00/13:00:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Crawford Creek Recreation Area, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-02	1992-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle at Crawford Creek Recreation Area in Ida County, IA on May 2, 1992.	Ernzen, Peter	Great-tailed Grackle	Crawford Creek County Recreation Area	Crawford Creek Recreational Area ICCB.	open park land, lake with cattails	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Grackle, not as long, more irridescent, [sic] common grackle with in [sic] 20 ft. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:27:00/09:29:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Finn Pond in Greene County, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birds--Nests Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-31	1984-06-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for six Great-tailed Grackles at Finn Pond in Greene County, IA on May 31, 1984.	Dinsmore, James J.	Great-tailed Grackle	Finn Pond Wildlife Area	Finn Pond (2 miles west of Jefferson, Greene Co)	freshwater marsh	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Grackle-size Boat-tailed Grackle- range and eye color \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Forney's Lake, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-07-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two to three Great-tailed Grackles at Forney's Lake in Fremont County, IA on July 22, 1985.	Myers, Robert K.	Great-tailed Grackle	Forneys Lake	Forney Lake - Freemont [sic] County	Grassey [sic] islands in lake and bushes at lake's edge.	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ross Silcock and Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Much larger + longer biled [sic] than common grackle Range would probably rule out Boat-tailed Grackle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 08:05:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Forney's Lake, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-07-13	1985-07-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle at Forney's Lake in Fremont County, IA on July 13, 1985.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Great-tailed Grackle	Forneys Lake	Forney's Lake, Fremont Co.	on mudflat area in middle of marsh	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt and Mark Proescholdt. \| Elimination of similar species: Eliminated from Common Grackle by larger size (twice the size of other nearby grackles), longer tail and flatter crown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:00:00/20:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at MidAmerican Energy Ponds, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1993-06-20	1993-06-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for at least five Great-tailed Grackles at MidAmerican Energy Ponds at Pottawattamie County, IA on June 20, 1993. There are details of another sighting of another Great-tailed Grackle near Osceola in Clark County, IA on June 26, 1993 on the documentation form.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Great-tailed Grackle	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	South IPL pond, Pottawattamie County, Iowa (4+ males, 1 female); along Hwy. 2 in Nebraska City bridge area, Fremont County, Iowa (1 male)	[...] Observed in cattails at edge of IPL pond in Pottawattamie County [...]	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Otter Creek Marsh, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1990-04-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Great-tailed Grackles at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on April 27, 1990.	Fuller, James L	Great-tailed Grackle	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Otter Creek Marsh - Tama County	Cattails in marsh	The documentation form by James Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Grackle is smaller with different call Boat-tailed Grackle male has dark eye \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:45:00/15:47:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	67
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Wapello Township in Louisa County, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-04-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle at Wapello Township in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1992.	Ohde, Bill	Great-tailed Grackle	Wapello Township	SE 1/4 of section 19, T74N, R4W, Louisa County, Iowa	Rural farmstead on edge of large timber block. In tall (15') backyard shrubs.	The documentation form by Bill Ohde is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common grackle - this bird was nearly crow-sized, longer tailed, with the peculiar whistles and rattles. Boat-tailed grackle - song was wrong. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 23, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Great-tailed Grackle	Council Bluffs	Off I-29 at south Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa.		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) with more rounded crown, characteristic call notes, much less likely to occur in Iowa. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) much smaller, different call notes, female lacks rich brown foreparts and superciliary stripe. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00/09:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Black-backed Gull between Lock and Dam 15 and Lock and Dam 14, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-08	1992-02-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Greater Black-backed Gulls between Lock and Dam 15 and Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on February 8, 1992.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 14 Lock and Dam 15	Mississippi River between lock 15 & 14	I saw a total of four adult Greater Black-backed gulls between lock 15 & 14. Two were seen briefly and in rather poor light setting with Herring Gulls above lock 15. This was around 9AM and they flew off to the north. The fourth was just above the e. Moline bridge on the Iowa side at 12AM. The third was seen across the river from Campbells Island around 10AM. This bird I saw standing, spreading it's wings, and flying. It is the bird described below.	The documentation form by Ray Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Peter C. Petersen and Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: The very large size eliminates the others possible Black-backed Gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Prairie Chicken south of Pisgah, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-02-07	1979-03-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Prairie Chicken south of Pisgah in Harrison County, IA on February 7, 1979.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Greater Prairie-Chicken	Pisgah	Three miles south of Pisgah, Harrison County, Iowa.		The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Darwin Koenig. \| Elimination of similar species: The close reative [sic] the Lesser Prairie Chicken is smaller, paler and lacks distinct markings. It is also rare, and has never occurred in Iowa. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:20:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	38
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Bays Branch, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-03-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Scaup at Bays Branch in Guthrie County, IA on March 21, 1980.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Greater Scaup	Bays Branch State Wildlife Area	Bays Branch Guthrie Co IA	narrow open lake near upper bridge at Bays Branch	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser scaup. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/07:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Big Creek State Park, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-10-05	1987-10-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Greater Scaups at Big Creek State park in Polk County, IA on October 5, 1987.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Greater Scaup	Big Creek State Park	Big Creek State Park, Polk Co.	swimming on large lake	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Roger Sedlacek. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup eliminated above. Both birds had smoothly rounded heads, not peaked like Lesser Scaup. Both birds seemed to have larger, heavier bills than Lesser Scaup. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Big Creek State Park, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-05-17	1988-05-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for one to two Greater Scaups at Big Creek State Park in Polk County, IA on May 17, 1988.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Greater Scaup	Big Creek State Park	Big Creek State Park, Polk Co.	with other ducks near muddy area at north end of lake	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Andrew Fix. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup eliminated above. The birds were bigger than nearby Blue-winged Teal, but smaller than a Mallard. Identified the bird as a Greater Scaup by the very large, almost spatulate bill, very wide bill nail, large size compared to a Mallard (the bird wasn't much smaller than the Mallard), rounded head (not peaked like a Lesser Scaup), and white wing stripe extending on to the primaries (seen when the bird preened). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:05:00/10:22:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Big Spirit Lake, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-11-19	1998-12-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Greater Scaups at Big Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on November 19, 1998.	Thelen, Ed	Greater Scaup	Spirit Lake	South shore of Big Spirit Lake - Dickinson County	Large Natural Lake	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup eliminated for the reasons stated above. Observed a flock of eleven scaup on Spirit Lake. 3 of the birds appeared larger than the rest. The following characteristics were noted - larger size with head and bill the most pronounced. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Cedar Lake, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-04-12	1982-04-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Greater Scaups at Cedar Lake at Nashua, in Chickasaw County, IA on April 12, 1982.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Greater Scaup	Cedar Lake	Cedar Lake at Nashua, Chickasaw County, Iowa	Man-made 700 acre lake, with average depth of four ft.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lynn Barth. \| Elimination of similar species: Directly compared with numerous Lesser Scaups. The Lesser Scaups appeared smaller, peaked-headed, and duller on sides than the Greaters. Both of the females had a light colored area behind the eye that none of the female Lesser Scaup possessed. When the male Greater stretched the extensive amount of white in wings was strongly evident more so than the Lesser Scaups wing stripe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
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
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Cone Marsh, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-04-06	1980-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Greater Scaups at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 6, 1980.	Petersen, Peter C.	Greater Scaup	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh - S. E. area	pond-marsh, shallow pond edge	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Clark Scott. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup - those nearby had smaller bill [illegible]. They were not closely associating with the Greaters. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:20:00/07:25:00 and 08:30:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-03-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Scaup at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 20, 1976.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Greater Scaup	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa, just NE of Mehaffey Bridge (rd F28)	swimming in water of reservoir, near the shore, in shallow water, then flew off into deeper central water	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup - several pairs nearby; Female in same scope field as gr. scaup: differences evident - L. Scaup showed purplish, not green, head gloss, slightly peaked head, daintier proportions, finer bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:50:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Coralville Reservoir, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-03-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Scaup at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 22, 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Greater Scaup	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., about 1/2 mile above dam	fresg\h water - reservoir lake	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaups (several in same scope field): contrast in head shape, bill size, neck thickness clear; some of Lesser Scaups in vicinity had grayish smudged flanks rather than pure white of Greater Scaup. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Coralville Reservoir, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-03-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Scaup at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 23, 1986.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Greater Scaup	Coralville Lake	Dupont Bridge Rd., Coralville Res., Johnson Co., IA	backwater	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: All features that I look for on male Greater Scaup were seen well over 15 minutes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-02-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for eleven Greater Scaups at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on February 24, 1983.	Bray, Tanya	Greater Scaup	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge		The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Sandy Kovanda and Babs Padelford. \| Elimination of similar species: These bird were determined to be Greater rather than Lesser Scaup on the following characteristics: Rounded heads with large, very broad bills. Pure white sides and pale gray backs. Almost size of Mallards.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at George Wyth State Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-25	1978-06-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for fifteen Greater Scaup at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on March 25, 1978.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Greater Scaup	George Wyth Memorial State Park	George Wyth State Park	open water in river with woodland bordering.	The documentation form by Tom Stone Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis L. Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup has short white wing line. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10