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 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Iowa City, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-06-05	1991-06-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on June 5, 1991.	Boggess, Rebecca Clay	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Iowa City	10 Oak Park Lane, Iowa City, IA 52240 (fence line of back yard)	Open field bordered by woodlands	The documentation form by Becky Boggess is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Boggess, Vernon Clay, and Myra Clay. \| Elimination of similar species: Tail spread in flight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 19:15:00/19:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	73
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Northern Oriole at Davenport, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-12-13	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Baltimore Oriole at Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 13, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Baltimore Oriole	Davenport	1019 W. Rusholm St. Davenport, IA	backyard feeder in spruce tree	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Edith Kadlec. \| Elimination of similar species: about 2 1/2" longer than nearby House Sparrows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:55:00/08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Nevada, 1990	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-05-21	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Nevada in Story County, IA on May 21, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Abbott, Bill	Black-headed Grosbeak	Nevada	1031 H. Ave. Nevada, Iowa 50201		The documentation form by Bill Abbott is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The fact this bird was sighted on May 21 and 22 makes it very unlikely an immature Rose breasted grosbeak. The red patch shown on the shoulder of an immature grosbeak was not observed. The breast on the bird observed was not as spotted or steaked [sic] as shown on the female rose breasted grosbeak. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:00:00 on May 21 and 07:00:00 on May 22.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lesser Goldfinch at Rockford, 1999	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-08-05	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Goldfinch at Rockford in Floyd County, IA on August 5, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, photographs, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Montgomery, Ellen S.	Lesser Goldfinch	Rockford	1105 200th St, Rockford, IA - Floyd Co. Rockford Township Sec 5	Scattered oak trees, open pasture, brush-along Winnebago R.	The documentation form by Ellen S. Montgomery is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Barb McKinstry. \| Elimination of similar species: American goldfinch - bird was smaller, entire crown was black, had yellow undertail coverts. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:35:00/17:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	17
Rare bird documentation form for Varied Thrush at Mason City, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-02-25	1995-03-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Varied Thrush at Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on February 25, 1995.	Goranson, Rita	Varied Thrush	Mason City	115 Lakeview Dr, Mason City, Ia	back yard with open field next to it	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Andrea Goranson. \| Elimination of similar species: Robin - Robin has white around eye not an orange stripe Robin doesn't have banding on breast Robin solid color on back - \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:02:00 and 12:30:00/12:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Mason City, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-11-27	1994-12-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on November 27, 1994.	Goranson, Rita	Northern Goshawk	Mason City	115 Lakeview Drive, Mason City Iowa	a backyard with trees in between a wooded park and a wooded private lot	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-tailed hawks live close here - I've had them in my backyard also - this one hunted different - acted different. Cooper hawks come through here quite often - This one was larger, thicker, tail was equal to wings not longer. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:16:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Painted Bunting at Bettendorf, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-01-06	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Painted Bunting at Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on January 6, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Painted Bunting	Bettendorf	1213 Broadlawn, Bettendorf, Scott Co. IA	urban yard near woods	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ann Barker was submitted later. Other observers include Brian Blevins, Corey Blevins, Betty Hunt, Gil Sandvick, and Leah Levin. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing is similar in anyway. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for House Finch at Mason City, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-09-01	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a House Finch at Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on September 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of the review, a letter from Mildred Moore to Ross Silcock, and another letter from Mildred Moore to Ross Silcock forwarded to Tom Kent.	Moore, Mildred L.	House Finch	Mason City	1225 N. Jefferson Ave., Mason City, Iowa		A letter from Mildred Moore to Ross Silcock forms the basis of this record.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	15
Rare bird documentation form for Swainson's Thrush at Des Moines, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-11-14	1996-11-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Swainson's Thrush at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on November 14, 1996.	Cecil, Robert I.	Swainson's Thrush	Des Moines	1315 41st St. Des Moines, IA	Urban Residential	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The uniformity of color on the bird's upper parts in conjunction with the conspicuous eyering [sic] eliminates all other thrushes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:18:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	8
Rare bird documentation form for Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Carolina Wren in Cherokee County, IA on January 30, 1983.	Brewer, Marion M.	Carolina Wren	Cherokee County	13W, 1 N of cherokee	Farm yard grove with a few Evergreens	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Bierman and Charles Krekow. \| Elimination of similar species: None \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:05:00/15:08:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	88
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Three-toed Woodpecker north of Iowa City, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-13	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Three-toed Woodpecker north of Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 13, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thompson, Joan	Three-toed Woodpecker	Iowa City	14 Woodland Heights North of Iowa City IA, off N Dubuque St, off Stewart Road	suet feeder in heavily wooded lot with much woodpecker activity of all common Iowa species.	The documentation form by Joan Thompson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I have not seen any similar species. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	29
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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher near Holstein, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-05-24	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher near Holstein in Ida County, IA on May 24, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Rector, Curtis L.	Vermilion Flycatcher	Holstein	1531 Harvest Avenue Holstein, Iowa 51025-8117		The documentation letter by Curtis L. Rector is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include his parents and nephew. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] But I could see right away that it wasn't a cardinal, as it lacked a crest, and it had dark feathers. [...] At this point, I thought it could be a Scarlet Tanager. [...] As I watched it, the bird was taking off from the grass, flying into the air to snatch an insect, then landing on a nearby fence. From this, I could tell it had to be a species of Flycatcher. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38
Rare bird documentation form for Lincoln's Sparrow at West Des Moines, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1989-03-26	1989-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lincoln's Sparrow at West Des Moines in Polk County, IA on March 26, 1989.	Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene	Lincoln's Sparrow	West Des Moines	1601 Pleasant Street, West Des Moines	Shrubs in a yard - Brushy ravine feeding into yard	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Reid Allen and Pam Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: no question \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	61
Rare bird documentation form for Lincoln's Sparrow at West Des Moines, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1989-04-15	1989-06-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lincoln's Sparrow at West Des Moines in Polk County, IA on April 15, 22, and 23, 1989.	Allen, Reid I.	Lincoln's Sparrow	West Des Moines	1601 Pleasant Street, West Des Moines, IA	Suburban yard, with wooded area behind home consisting of large trees and brushpiles	The documentation form by Reid Allen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pam Allen, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Song sparrow has center dot and no buffy upper breast streaking. Savannah has white dotted breast. Vesper sparrow has white out tail. Mostly distinguished because of its song which was sung two or three times and Reid played a tape and it came right up to us as we were sitting and waiting for the Armstrongs to come to our house. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	61
Rare bird documentation form for Varied Thrush at Waterloo, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-04-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Varied Thrush at Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on April 11, 1982.	Myers, Robert K.	Varied Thrush	Waterloo	1640 Cornwall, Waterloo, Iowa	Residential area with several feeders	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore, Russell Hays, Thomas Stone, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Robin does not have dark breast band or orange eye stripe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:20:00/06:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Hoary Redpoll at Waterloo, 1980	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-12-27	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Hoary Redpoll at Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on December 27, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from Tom Kent to Kim Eckert, a letter from Kim Eckert to Tom Kent, a letter from the IOU Records Committee to Francis Moore, Tom Stone Jr., Tom Stone, and Bob Myers, a Christmas Bird Count compilation, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Stone, Tom	Hoary Redpoll	Waterloo	1727 Plymouth St. Waterloo	Residential neighborhood white birtch tree		Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	16
Rare bird documentation form for Least Tern at Marshalltown, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-08-19	1993-08-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Least Tern at Marshalltown in Marshall County, IA on August 19, 1993.	Stegmann, Mike	Least Tern	Marshalltown	18th Ave. and East Main Street, Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa.	Partially flooded bean field with exposed mud flats.	The documentation form by Mike Stegmann is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Gary Brandenburg. \| Elimination of similar species: Distinguished from Common and Foresters terns by size, bill color, and the presents [sic] of a white forehead. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/17:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur northwest of Red Oak, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-03-28	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for seven Smith's Longspurs northwest of Red Oak in Montgomery County, IA on March 28, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Smith's Longspur	Red Oak	2 1/2 mi W. of Red Oak, U.S. 34, then 2 mi North on gravel road near stream Montgomery Co.	wet short grass field	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lapland Longspur does not have buffy breast or buffy colored collar around side of throat on to nape. Lapland Longspur does not have as much white in tail (outer tail feathers) as these birds did. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:55:00/15:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Rare bird documentation form for Little Tern south of Westfield, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-06-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Little Tern south of Westfield in Plymouth County, IA on June 24, 1982.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Little Tern	Westfield	2 1/2 mi. S. of Westfield, Plymouth Co., IA (NW quarter Sec. 12, Sioux Township)	2 acre farm pond surrounded by ungrazed brome.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Other white, fork-tailed, black-capped terns are larger with deeper fork in tail, orange or red billed and have orangish colored feet. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:17:00/07:27:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Rare bird documentation form for Ibis species at Colo, 1978	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-09-29	1978-10-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an Ibis species at Colo in Story County, IA on September 29, 1978	Zaletel, Hank	Glossy Ibis	Colo	2 1/2 miles east of Colo on old highway 30 in a flooded field	flooded field marsh grass and mud flat	The documentation form by Hank Zaletel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Dinsmore and Woodward Brown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:30:00 on September 29 and 14:30:00/15:15:00 on October 1.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis species at Colo, 1978	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-09-24	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a bird (Ibis species) at Colo in Story County on September 24, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Zaletel, Hank	Glossy Ibises	Colo	2 1/2 miles east of Colo on old highway 30 in a flooded field	flooded field, marsh grass and mud flat	The documentation form by Hank Zaletel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Linda Zaletel, Jim Dinsmore and Woodward Brown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:30:00 and the second sighting on October 1 from 14:30:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-backed Woodpecker north of Boyden, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-12-23	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-backed Woodpecker north of Boyden in Sioux County, IA on December 23, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, two articles in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Stravers, Jay A.	Three-toed Woodpecker	Boyden	2 1/2 miles North of Boyden Iowa on east side of county highway L14	General: 3000 m farm grove in wide open (formerly prairie) gently rolling farm land. Specific: grove is a thick growth of shrubs, weedy plants, Ash trees, and American + Chinese Elms. many of the Elms are dead and fallen. There are 2 rows (closely spaced) of Ponderosa Pine on the North side of the grove. The grove is surrounded with mature honeysuckle shrubs. Ground covered with 0.5 m. of snow in the grove.	The documentation form by Jay Stravers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Loren Stravers, Henry O. Stegeman, and Aaron Stegeman. \| Elimination of similar species: There are really no other species that could be confused other than possibly a Pileated Woodpecker who is much too large + has 4 toes instead of 3 \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 13:00:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	30
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Harris's Hawk at South of Blairstown, 1989	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents) Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-09-10	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Harris's Hawk at South of Blairstown in Benton County, IA on September 10, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Harris's Hawk	Blairstown	2 1/2 miles South of Blairstown (Benton Co.) along I-56	Feedlot and open grazing land (hilly)	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Keith Carris, Carl Bendorf, Jim Fuller, and Ken Lowder. \| Elimination of similar species: Hawk at one time - appeared to be about the same size. White-tailed hawk has similar shoulder patch but breast is light. Dark phase Swainson's or red tail do not have white undertail or this tail pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:45:00/07:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	30
Rare bird documentation form for Blue Grosbeak at the Croton Unit in Shimek Forest, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-06-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Blue Grosbeak at the Croton Unit in Shimek Forest in Lee County, IA on June 15, 1984.	Cecil, Robert I.	Blue Grosbeak	Shimek State Forest Wildlife Management Area - Croton Unit	2 1/2 miles W. of Argyle, Ia, at Croton Unit, Shimek F., S.W. Lee County	Gravel road surrounded with open areas spotted with brush and small trees.	The documentation form by Robert I. Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I must admit that a few hours after the sighting and identification, I [sic] few doubts arose that maybe I had misidentified an Indigo Bunting. Upon reflection, I recalled that It had never occured [sic] to me that this might have been an Indigo Bunting as I was watching it, and I had seen several that morning. In addition to this bird's much larger size, it clearly lacked the brilliant blue of a June Indigo Bunting. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 07:00:00/07:00:005.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	70