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 Golden Eagle at Johnson County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-19	1978-03-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Johnson County, IA on February 19, 1978.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Golden Eagle	Johnson County	4.9 mi west of jct. of F20 and W48 in Johnson Co. Iowa. The bird was in trees between F20 and the Iowa River bed.	The bird was perched on the north edge of a stand of trees bordering the Iowa River. Snow covered cornfields were n. of trees.	The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Michael Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Dark phased rough-legged hawk lacks the white wing patches on upper wing surface and is not twice the length of common crow. Also usually has dark upper tail surface. Immature Bald Eagle lacks prominent white wing patches and base of bill not yellow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:45:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation for Merlin at Calamus, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-02-06	1978-03-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for a Merlin at Calamus in Clinton County, IA on February 6, 1978.	Bryant, Robert R.	Merlin	Calamus	1/3 mi. north of Calamus, Ia.	open country-cornfields, grass ditches, one wooded ditch. Sitting on wire over fence line between snowcovered road ditch and cornfield.	The documentation form by Bob Bryant is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - eliminated because of size and lack of rufous coloring and black facial pattern. Sharp-shinned Hawk - eliminated because tail not long, not near any large wooded area. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at De Soto Wildlife Refuge, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-24	1978-03-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at De Soto Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on February 24, 1978.	Duda, Dorothy Ruth	Peregrine Falcon	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	De Soto Wildlife Refuge	Seen in refuge in an area between a lake that has some open water and the Missouri River which was open and filled with Mallards (plus a few Mergansers)	The documentation form by Dorothy Duda is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jerry Runice and Julie Schroeder. \| Elimination of similar species: because of size could only be a prairie falcon, but observers were certain they saw no black axillars at base of wing nor was the wing white near the body. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle near Waukon, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-26	1978-03-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle near Waukon in Allamakee County, IA on March 26, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Golden Eagle	Waukon	Ten miles North of Waukon, on Highway 76, Allamakee County, Iowa	The general area under the soaring bird was a bluff, covered mostly with Oak, Maple, Birch and scattered Junipers. The bluff rises about 150 feet from the floodplain of the Upper Iowa River. There are many other bluffs similar to the one briefly described here, that surround the area of sighting.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Alan Branhagen. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle; my bird was not mottled as an immature Bald is, also my bird had totally dark under wing coverts. The distinct demarcation of light to dark on my bird also was rather un-Baldlike. Since an on the spot size comparison was made with a buteo, and the latter was found to be much smaller, I feel safe to say all others of this genus can be rolled out. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Ames Audubon Society March Newsletter, 1978	Newsletters	Bird watching Ornithology--Societies, etc Wildlife conservation Wildlife habitat improvement	1978-03-01	1978-03-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Ames Audubon Society, March 1978. Highlights of the newsletter include details of the next program of the society which is a public presentation on the proposed Skunk River Green Belt plan, an article on birding in Story County by Barney Cook, and a list of the twenty-three species of birds observed during February 1978.	Cook, Barnett C. Ames Audubon Society	Cedar Waxwing Hoary Redpoll Sharp-shinned Hawk Eastern Screech-Owl	Ames Skunk River				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	2
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Sweet Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-16	1978-04-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 16, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Peregrine Falcon	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh, which is located 1 mile East of Tripoli, Bremer County, IA.	The area of Sweet Marsh, where bird was first perched is a grazed grassy pasture. Which after much rain in recent weeks, is partially flooded, and often had attracted shorebirds of several species.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cooper's and Goshawk do not have pointed wings, and never perch in open. Merlin is much to [sic] small, size of a big Blue Jay, my bird was larger than a Crow. Prairie Falcon, the falcon I saw was grey not dull olive. [start handwritten annotation] ? (brown, NSH) [end handwritten annotation]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for White-faced Ibis at Churdan, 1978	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-21	1978-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four White-faced Ibises at Churdan in Greene County, IA on April 21, 1978.	Dinsmore, James J.	White-faced Ibis	Churdan	1 mile North, 2 1/4 miles East of Churdan, Iowa	Creek pasture, non-timbered, no trees for 1/4 mile, creek bayou (old bed); some vegetation along edges	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Stephen Dinsmore and Dan Towers. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Blue Heron; this Great Blue Heron is the only other bird I've ever seen around here that even comes close to resemblance, and it's not even close. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Rare bird documentation form for Snowy Egret at Lake Manawa, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-23	1978-04-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form with handwritten annotations for a Snowy Egret at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on April 23, 1978.	Brown, Larry D.	Snowy Egret	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, southeast quarter of lake	Standing along shore of lake in shallow water near a muskrat den. Lake shore environment with some reeds and cattails along shore plus other vegetation growing in shallow water where bird was observed.	The documentation form by Larry D. Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include his wife and two other birders. \| Elimination of similar species: Approximately 10-15 feet to the west of the Snowy stood an American Egret which was identified by its yellow bill and much larger size. By comparing the field marks and size of both, they could both be identified. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Brookside Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1978-03-20	1978-04-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on March 20, 1978.	Johnson, Ellen J.	Merlin	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Story County, Iowa	park near Iowa State University. Deciduous woods with many trails - flew over Squaw Creek	The documentation form by Ellen Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ornithology Class (Pam Keigley, Pam White, John Hemphill, and Robin Bruegman). \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - too large for a kestrel. Sharp-shinned hawk - it had more pointed wings. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-29	1978-04-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on April 29, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh, which is located one mile East of Tripoli, Bremer County, IA.	The area of Sweet Marsh where the bird was flushed had a water depth of about two feet. Many large and small clumps of grass covered mounds of earth, there was a shallow marshy spot that was heavily vegitated. Otherwise the area surrounding sighting was similar. This type of habitat covered several acres. The grasses were mostly remanent [sic] of last years growth, with new sprouts over a foot in height. The water was slightly stagnant, and water level was slightly higher than normal because of recent rains.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I can think of no species of bird of similar size with a white patch on hind wing. Other rails would be uniform dark and larger. Perching birds such as a Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza gerogiana) have long tails. Extreme comparisons could be made with Common Snipe (Capella gallinago) which is long billed, has pointed wings, and has a rapid zig-zag flying style. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Ames Audubon Society April Newsletter, 1978	Newsletters	Bird watching Ornithology--Societies, etc Parks Emberizidae \| Sparrows	1978-04-01	1978-04-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Ames Audubon Society, April 1978. Highlights of the newsletter include details of the next program, "Big Bend National Park" presented by Bob Jefferson and Joan Jefferson, information on an upcoming field trip to Soper's Mill to walk the Green Belt Trail, notes on observations and banding of a Hoary Redpoll, and a list of the forty-six species of birds observed during March 1978.	Cook, Barnett C. Ames Audubon Society	Hoary Redpoll	Ames Sopers Mill Access Area				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	2
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-08	1978-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Long-tailed Duck at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 8, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Long-tailed Duck	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co, Iowa	pond with marshy borders, surrounded by woods and cropland	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard Hollis. \| Elimination of similar species: No other N. Am. Duck, or duck-like bird, has a white head with a black face-patch, and a black chest. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation form for Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-15	1978-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 15, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Little Blue Heron	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co, Iowa	large marsh, bordered by wooded river bottoms, woods, cropland.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol S. Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Uniform dark-blue coloration rules out other herons: neck folded back on shoulders indicates that this bird was a tern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	20
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-30	1978-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Yellow Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co., Iowa	alfalfa field bordered to w. and s. by ledges + more fields; to n, second-growth woods; to e., extensive area of woods and marsh.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent, Thomas Staudt, Rich DeCoster, Nicholas Halmi, Carol Newlon, and Thomas Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora-like build, yellow-ochre underparts, white patch on wings, eliminate all other rails. Imm. sora would lack yellow beneath + white wing patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-04	1978-05-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-throated Warbler at Brookside Park in Ames in Story County, IA on May 4, 1978.	Fredricks, Gary	Yellow-throated Warbler	Brookside Park	Brookside Park, Ames, Iowa	General: open woods on edge of thick woods. Specific: found in hackberry tree (celtis occidentalis.)	The documentation form by Gary Frederick is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Magnolia Warbler - no white belley [sic] Blackburnian " - no yellow throat \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	28
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Credit Island Park in Davenport, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-13	1978-05-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-throated Warbler at Credit Island Park in Davenport in Scott County, IA on May 13, 1978.	Petersen, Peter C.	Yellow-throated Warbler	Credit Island Park	Credit Island Park, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa	General: Bottomland forest, understory cleared. Specific: dead tree (sp?), and oak just leafing out	The documentation form by Peter Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Elton Fawks. \| Elimination of similar species: written eve. of 5/13 -> [...] Blackburnian - no orange or yellow stripe through eye. No single, long wing bar Graces - This [arrow to "no yellow stripe"] also eliminates this species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	28
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Iowa State University Beef Farm, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-01	1978-05-16	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Iowa State University Beef Farm in Story County, IA on May 1, 1978.	Heagy, Patricia A.	Prairie Falcon	Story County	Iowa, Story County, T84N, R24W, Sec 30; ISU Beef Farm	wooded pasture, surrounded by grassy pasture, cropland, and woods. Open woodland pasture along Onion Creek	The documentation form by Patricia A. Heagy is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: American Kestrel - smaller and without dark axillar. They also have rusty backs, and do not have complete tail bands. Peregrine Falcon - has a darker face pattern and a slate-colored back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:40:00/09:41:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at Cardinal Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-29	1978-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mississippi Kite at Cardinal Marsh in Winnesheik County, IA on May 29, 1978.	Stone, Tom, Jr. Stone, Tom	Mississippi Kite	Cardinal Marsh State Wildlife Area	Cardinal marsh near Cresco	Marshy area bordered with Woodlands.	The documentation form by Tom Stone and Tom Stone, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russell Hays, Francis Moore, Eleanor Corvin, Lois Sherman, and Antoinette Camarata. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine Falcon: has black mustache and stoops unlike kite. Merlin - flys with steadily flapping and has smaller wingspan. Marsh Hawk - Has white rump patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:05:00/13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit in Missouri Valley, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-04-10	1978-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Marbled Godwits in Missouri Valley in Harrison County, IA on April 10, 1978.	Gochenour, Ruth A.	Marbled Godwit	Missouri Valley	3 miles North of Missouri Valley, Iowa, Harrison County	Wet meadow	The documentation form by Ruth A. Gochenour is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Naomi Svenningsen and Justin Gochenour. \| Elimination of similar species: Hudsonian Godwit. Extremely large shore bird - this bird was lacking white rump-and black tail, chestnut under parts - The cinnamon wing linings were easily seen. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Species on the Iowa Ornithologists Union checklist for which neither a known specimen nor a diagnostic photograph, motion picture or sound recording exists	Research notes	Ornithology--Methodology Photography of birds Rare birds	1978-03-01	1978-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Research notes by Nicholas S. Halmi containing a "list of species for which no tangible documentation in Iowa seems to exist." This document was used to inform bird watchers of what types of birds to photograph so that evidence of their presence in Iowa could be established. The list was created in cooperation with Woodward H. Brown and Peter C. Petersen. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of spring, 1978.	Halmi, Nicholas S.		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	18	5
Ames Audubon Society May Newsletter, 1978	Newsletters	Bird watching Ornithology--Societies, etc Turdidae \| Thrushes Societies--History, organization, etc	1978-05-01	1978-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Ames Audubon Society, May 1978. Highlights of the newsletter include the slate of society officer candidates to be voted on at the official annual meeting in May, information on an upcoming field trip to Ledges State Park to capture the peak of spring migration, an article on birding in Story County by Barney Cook, and a list of forty-three species of birds observed during April 1978.	Cook, Barnett C. Ames Audubon Society	Northern Flicker Purple Martin Chimney Swift Northern Saw-whet Owl	Ames Ledges State Park Brookside Park				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	2
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
Rare bird documentation form for Swainson's Hawk near Melvin, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-06-09	1978-06-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Swainson's Hawks near Melvin in Osceola County, IA on June 9, 1978.	Dinsmore, James J.	Swainson's Hawk	Melvin	along highway 59, 6 miles south of intersection with highway 9, or 4 miles north of Melvin, in Osceola County	Open farmland with nearly all row crops. Nest was in a small grove of cottonwoods (large trees) around a farm. Trees had no underbrush and was almost parklike	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Nigus. \| Elimination of similar species: Redtail-no red, no belly band. Roughleg-no bands on tail. Broadwing & red-shouldered - size and no bands on tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	28
Rare bird documentation form for Swainson's Hawk near Lake Mills and Rice Lake, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-06-03	1978-06-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Swainson's Hawk near Lake Mills and Rice Lake in Winnebago County, IA on June 3, 1978.	Dinsmore, James J.	Swainson's Hawk	Lake Mills Rice Lake	Winnebago County, 1 1/2 miles SE of Lake Mills (1 mile N of Rice Lake)	mixed oak savannah with farmland. Bird flew from area of oak woodlot out over farmland and circled over me	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: red tail-no belly band, no red on tail, shape seemed slimmer than most red-tails. roughleg-no white on rump, no tail bands. Broadwing and red-shoulder- too big and no tail bands. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:55:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	28
Rare bird documentation form for Stellar's Jay at Des Moines, 1978	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-07-05	1978-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Stellar's Jays at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on July 5, 1978. It was included with a Woodward H. Brown letter to Nick Halmi dated July 8, 1978 regarding the documentation form and sighting.	Brown, Woodward H. Collins, Paul B., Mrs.	Stellar's Jay	Des Moines	close to house; 1017 - 26th Des Moines Iowa	in adjacent yard	The documentation form by Mrs. Paul Collins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Blue Jay \| The original documentation form event occurred briefly around 15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	82