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 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
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 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 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
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
Rare bird documentation form for Rehead at Willow Slough in 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-06-30	1978-07-13	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for seven Redhead at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on June 30, 1978.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Redhead	Willow Slough State Game Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	8
Rare bird documentation form for Hooded Merganser at Willow Slough, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-06-04	1978-07-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hooded Merganser at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on June 4, 1978.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Hooded Merganser	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Anderson Twp., Mills Co., Iowa	Lake, out near the middle, where there where tops of drowned weeds sticking out of the water.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Only mergansers have thin bills (of the ducks, that is). Only Hooded Mergansers have yellow bills or unpatterned heads. Shape and bill color eliminate the grebes. Size eliminates the loons. I really can't think of anything else it could be.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	15
Rare bird documentation form for Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-08-13	1978-08-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Little Blue Heron at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on August 13, 1978	Newlon, Michael C.	Little Blue Heron	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co, IA	large shallow, algae-filled pond; part of a much larger area of marsh, ponds, river bottom woods and fields.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rich DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: Small size, bill & leg color rule out great egret (large, yellow bill, black legs); Snowy egret (smaller black bill, black legs & yellow feet), cattle egret (thicker neck, yellow bill), great white heron (much larger, yellow bill + legs), white phase reddish egret (bulkier neck, pink bill & dk tip, pink legs). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00 - 10:30:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	20
Rare bird documentation form for Western Kingbird at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-09-03	1978-09-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Western Kingbird at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on September 3, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Western Kingbird	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh - 1/2 mile east of bridge	General: flat farmland. Specific: along gravel road with corn field on one side and melon field on other side	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Eastern Kingbird and Crested Flycatcher are the only remotely similar species that could occur in the area \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	72
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
Rare bird documentation form for Barn Owl at Eden Township in Marshall County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-10-29	1978-10-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Barn Owl at Eden Township in Marshall County, IA on October 29, 1978.	Jones, Greig D.	Barn Owl	Eden Township	Rhodes Farm, Iowa, Marshall Co., Eden Twnsp, T82N, R20W, Sec 20	pastured farmland scattered with woodlots, several ponds, & 1 main stream Perched in a dead cottonwood located along a run of trees which bounded a moist grassy travelway for cattle	The documentation form by Greg D. Jones is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The Barn Owl is a fairly distinctive species. Its uniformly cream breast, short neck, and dual face eliminate other species of owls & hawks commonly found in central Iowa farmlands. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:05:20.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	48
Rare bird documentation form for Least Tern at Willow Slough, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-08-02	1978-11-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Least Tern at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on August 2, 1978.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Least Tern	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough in NE Mills County, Iowa	a shallow lake. It was feeding near water plants.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: All other White Terns are bigger than Black Terns. The Least Tern differed from the Black Terns in size, color, + most of all behavior - rate of wing beats, the way it done.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Little Wall Lake, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-18	1978-11-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on November 18, 1978.	Dinsmore, James J.	Surf Scoter	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake, Hamilton County, Iowa	fresh water lake, open water near center of lake	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark and Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Most ducks - general dark color and the heavy bill. White-winged Scoter-no white on wing. Black Scoter-head not 'two-toned' (dark above, light below). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Hanover Township in Allamakee County, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-11	1978-12-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles at Hanover Township in Allamakee County, IA on November 11, 1978.	Koenig, Darwin	Golden Eagle	Hanover Township	Allamakee County, Hanover Twp.	rugged hills with open fields and timber interspersed. Soaring along a long ridge which rises about 200 ft above the Upper Iowa River valley	The documentation form by Darwin Koenig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Rough-legged Hawk (dark phase) --smaller, different proportions (long, narrow, tapered wings, small head, and bill), underwings usually have more white and the white patches rarely show on the upper wing surface. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at George Wyth State Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-23	1978-12-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on November 23, 1978.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Black-legged Kittiwake	George Wyth Memorial State Park	Waterloo, Iowa George Wyth State Park G.W.S.P.	Deciduous woodland with manmade lake with island in middle, woodland is thick all around lake. Cedar River 1 qtr. mile away from lake. It is a very good migration route for gulls.	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The Ring-billed Gull and Herring Gull have much larger wingspread. The Franklin Gull does not have black feet and the Franklins feet extend almost to the tip of the tail. The Kittiwakes feet extended only to the underwing. Bonaparte's Gull does not have gray nape in winter. Both Franklin and Bonapartes have dark gray backs in winter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull at Lake Manawa in 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1978-12-06	1978-12-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 6 and 7, 1978.	Kovanda, James, Jr. Kovanda, Sandra	Glaucous Gull	Lake Manawa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38