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

Draft Constitution of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union, November 15, 1984	Administrative records	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-11-15	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Draft Constitution for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union includes eleven articles followed be several numbered sections outlining the proposal.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	15
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Volga River Recreation Area, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Volga River Recreation Area in Fayette County, IA on November 16, 1984.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Merlin	Volga River State Recreation Area	Volga River Rec A	artificial lake, mixed woodland + rock	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel - no red, breast heavily streaked. no kestrel face pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Bell's Vireo north of Iowa City, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bell's Vireo north of Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on November 19, 1984.	Fuller, James L	Bell's Vireo	Iowa City	Yard of Home - N. of Iowa City (Johnson Co)	Shrubbery and trees in yard	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Ruby Crowned Kinglet - Too large, yellow on sides + buffy wing bars. White eyed Vireo - Dark eye Orange Crowned Warbler - eye ring, wing bars and white of breast and throat Chestnut sided warbler (imm.) - Yellow wing bars + sides back color gray-green not green. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	77
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-legged Kittiwake at Saylorville Reservoir Dam, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-11-21	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Saylorville Reservoir Dam in Polk County, IA on November 21, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Thompson, Dennis	Black-legged Kittiwake	Saylorville Dam	Below dam at Saylorville Res. Polk Co. Iowa	General: outlet below the dam. Feeding in the fast-moving water directly Specific: below the dam.	The documentation form by Dennis Thompson forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis L. Moore, Beth Proescholdt, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Margaret Brooke, Pauline Mooney, and Richard Mooney. \| Elimination of similar species: Similar in shape + actions to Bonaparte's. No direct comparison was available, but seemed larger, I'd say half-way in size between Bonaparte's + Ring-billed. Black legs, black half-collar, and lack of carpal bar helped eliminate Bonapartes. Gray back took care of Sabine's, white head, Franklin's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	10
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Willow Slough, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-23	1984-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on November 23, 1984.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Golden Eagle	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Mills County, Iowa, near Willow Slough		The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Young Bald Eagles are similar but usually mottled with light feathers. They have white on the under wing coverts, not the bases of the flight feathers, & they do not have the neat tail pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull east of Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull east of Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on November 25, 1984.	Newlon, Michael C.	Glaucous Gull	Sand Point	1 mi E of Sand Pt, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co IA	reservoir	The documentation form by Mike C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: immaculate primaries + bill diagnostic.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	37
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Red Rock Dam, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on November 25, 1984.	Sinclair, Jim	Northern Goshawk	Red Rock Dam	Tailwater area - Red Rock Dam	Deciduous bottomland	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include David Youngblut and Paul Felsing. \| Elimination of similar species: accipiter shape - rounded wings, long tail, strong direct flight - wing shape and tail length eliminated buteo - size was too great for Coopers. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Snowy Owl in North Marshall County, 1984	Field notes	Bird banding Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-28	1984-11-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Snowy Owl in North Marshall County, IA on November 28 - 29, 1984.	Proescholdt, Beth	Snowy Owl	Marshall County	n. Marshall County		The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Garry Brandenburg, Jon Stravers, and Carl Kurtz.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	50
Bluestem Flyer, Volume 19, Number 4, December 1984	Newsletters	Bird surveys Bird watching Local government and environmental policy Ornithology--Societies, etc Wildlife conservation Meetings	1984-12-01	1984-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 19, Number 4, December 1984. Highlights of the newsletter include details on upcoming meetings and events including the Christmas Bird Count, reports of the last society meeting as well as other meetings and activities, and notes on observations of arriving winter birds along with a sighting of an immature Black-legged Kittiwake.	Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa) van der Linden, Judy	Snowy Owl Black-legged Kittiwake Pine Siskin	Ames Saylorville Lake				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	3
Beth Proescholdt letter to Michael C. Newlon regarding a Northern Shrike sighting, December 1, 1984	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1984-12-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Beth Proescholdt to Michael C. Newlon adding a Northern Shrike sighting to the fall report on December 1, 1984. The shrike was seen on November 30 in northern Marshall County, IA.	Proescholdt, Beth	Northern Shrike	Marshall County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Sand Point in Hawkeye Wildlife Area, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-12-02	1984-12-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Sand Point in Hawkeye Wildlife Area in Johnson County, IA on December 2, 1984.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Peregrine Falcon	Sand Point	Hawkeye Wildlife Area - Sand Point Road	woodline edge opening to reservoir back water	The documentation form by Thomas J. Staudt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Facial pattern eliminates other falcons. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-03	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam in Marion County, IA on December 3, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Res., Marion Co. Iowa.	Des Moines River below Red Rock Reservoir dam.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis L. Moore, Robert K. Myers, Beth Proescholdt, Thomas J. Staudt, Peter C. Petersen, Dennis Thompson, Carl J. Bendorf, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted. Other observers include Hank Zaletel, Phyllis Harris, Gil Sandvick, Carol McMillen, Pauline Mairs, Gladys Black, Jim Fuller, Darwin Koenig, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, John Bowles, and other unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Size and yellow legs exclude Great Black-backed, Western, and Slaty-backed Gulls. Size excludes Yellow-footed Gull. Mantle to [sic] dark for California Gull and leg color too yellow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Rare bird documentation form for Varied Thrush at Titonka, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-12-05	1984-12-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Varied Thrush at Titonka in Kossuth County, IA on December 5 to 8, 1984.	Klasse, Clara	Varied Thrush	Titonka	Titonka, Iowa	Eating on apples left on a tree/ground in back yard	The documentation form by Clara Klasse is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Guthrie. \| Elimination of similar species: Robin	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Rathbun Lake Fish Hatchery, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-12-15	1984-12-16	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Rathbun Lake Fish Hatchery in Appanoose County, IA on December 15, 1984.	Heusinkveld, Bill	Long-tailed Duck	Rathbun Fish Hatchery	Settling pond below Rathbun Lake Fish Hatchery	On water	The documentation form by Bill Heusinkveld is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ray Cummins, Mark Hoffman, Marjorie Heusinkveld, Bill Cummins, Jim Ellis, and Paul Egeland. \| Elimination of similar species: No similar species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:10:00/13:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Greater Yellowlegs south of Saylorville Dam, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-15	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Greater Yellowlegs at Sayloville Dam in Polk County, IA on December 15, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Greater Yellowlegs	Saylorville Dam	Des Moines River, Just S. of Saylorville Dam	DSM river, sandbar	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser has smaller, thinner bill and no upturn \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	21
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at George Wyth State Park, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-12-16	1984-12-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on December 16, 1984.	Myers, Robert K.	Merlin	George Wyth Memorial State Park	George Wyth State Park, Black Hawk County, Iowa near Cedar Falls, Ia.	Mature riverbottom timber on one side of river and golf course on other	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel would show rusty color on back, wings and tail. Kestrel would have darker more prominent facial markings. The overall color of a kestrel would not be as dark as this bird was. A sharp-shinned hawk would have shorter more rounded wings and a much longer tail than this bird had. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:35:00/08:38:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Yellowthroat north of Keokuk, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-20	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Yellowthroat north of Keokuk in Lee County, IA on December 20, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Common Yellowthroat	Keokuk	Along bank of Mississippi River, 1 mile N. of Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa	On small, thin peninsula jutting into river, covered with low marsh grass interspersed and supported by taller weeds. Some short willow saplings. Some thin ice bordering shore.	The documentation form by Robert I. Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I feel that combination of posture, incl. cock of tail, clear yellow throat and yellowish undersides, and most importantly, trace of emerging mask ruled out all other Warblers. Mask, although faint, was clearly noticable. [sic] Was not Kentucky warbler--saw several this summer and early fall. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:00:10.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	27
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Solitary Vireo northwest of Lost Nation, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-20	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Solitary Vireo northwest of Lost Nation in Clinton County, IA on December 20, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Blevins, Brian L.	Blue-headed Vireo	Lost Nation	3 1/4 miles Northwest of Lost Nation	General: Small gulley with oaks, osage-orange, shage-bark Hickory, walnut, and a lot of multiflora Rose. Small dried creek. Specific: Leafs were off of the trees except the Bur oaks. Multiflora rose was quite concentrated Very light snow cover, with moderate Breeze.	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Bryant and Julie Hasenmiller. \| Elimination of similar species: Warbling and Red-eyed vireo was eliminated by distinct eye-ring and call. Yellow-throated vireo was eliminated by dark blue-gray head and distinct call. All warblers were eliminated by heavy bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:38:00/11:41:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	40
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great-tailed Grackle at Mills County, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-22	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great-tailed Grackle in Mills County, IA on December 22, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Padelford, Loren	Great-tailed Grackle	Mills County	2.8 miles south of the intersection of Iowa 370 and U.S. 275. Mills Co., Iowa.	Deciduous trees near farmstead.	The documentation form by Loren J. Padelford is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ross Silcock was submitted later. Another observer was Jerry Toll. \| Elimination of similar species: The only other species similar in appearances the boat-tailed grackle. I was not close enough to observe eye color but the length of the tail in relation to body length rules out that species. The great-tailed grackle has been expanding its range into southern Iowa and Nebraska in recent years with documented nesting success in both states. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:00:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Mountain Bluebird northeast of Lamoni, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-22	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird northeast of Lamoni in Decatur County, IA on December 22, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and ten documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Livingston, Jeffrey R.	Mountain Bluebird	Lamoni	1 mile east and 3 miles north of Lamoni Iowa	A small grove of cedar trees around a farmhouse and a mostly frozen pond in a pasture across the road. The cedar trees have many berries.	The documentation form by Jeffrey R. Livingston forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis L. Moore, Thomas H. Kent, Eugene Armstrong, Robert K. Myers, Peter C. Petersen, Jim Fuller, Carl J. Bendorf, Raymond Cummins, and Barbara L. Wilson were submitted. Other observers include Tom Johnson, Don Gillaspey, Eloise Armstrong, Betsy Myers, Dennis Thompson, Jim Gillaspey, Dan Long, Mary Lou Petersen, Corey Blevins, Brian Blevins, Lewis Blevins, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird at one glance was definitely a bluebird. The Eastern and Western Bluebirds both have rust markings on their breast and neck. The Eastern Bluebird has a more stocky shape than the Mountain Bluebird. I had a chance to compare as I had just seen a flock of Easterns about 5 min. before. The immature Eastern has a soeckled breast, this bird had none. The long thin bill eliminates the Shrikes as does the bright blue and the small size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Otter Creek Marsh, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on December 23, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an article from Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Ferruginous Hawk	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Otter Creek M., Tama Co., Iowa	large, wide riverbottom marsh with scattered woods.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: According to Eckert, the upper wing patches are diagnostic if the location is right. He gives the following example as an acceptable documentation: 'On the upper surface of each wing there was a rectangular or oval white patch on the flight feathers. This patch was on the inner primaries, and perhaps faded a bit into the secondaries and outer primaries.' This description fits the bird I saw. Eckert gives two other diagnostic marks that I did not see (feathered legs, rufous back and shoulders), but only one of these three marks is needed. The white tail is not diagnostic, but coupled with the light underparts and generally dark upper wing surface, tends to exclude Krider's and Harlan's Hawks which would have light upper wings and dark underparts, respectively. An ordinary Red-tailed Hawk would not ordinarily have an all white-tail nor such prominent upper wing patches. The raised wings in flight in the absence of wind favor Ferruginous Hawk over Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks. Rough-legged Hawk is excluded by the lack of prominent black and white pattern to body, wing and tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/14:57:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Otter Creek Marsh, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of three Trumpeter Swans at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County on December 23, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence over the sighting, photos from Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Trumpeter Swan	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Otter Creek M., Tama Co., IA	large riverbottom marsh, central drainage open, ponds partly free of ice. Birds were in pond near east end of south dike.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Gladys Black. \| Elimination of similar species: Bill shape and voice exclude Tundra Swan. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:40:00/16:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing north of Redfield and north-northeast of Lamoni, 1984 and 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1984-12-24	1985-03-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for one or more Bohemian Waxwings north of Redfield in Dallas County, IA on December 24, 1984 and a Bohemian Waxwing north-northeast of Lamoni in Decatur County, IA on January 20, 1985.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Bohemian Waxwing	Lamoni Redfield	(1) Cedar Grove 1 1/2 mi N of Redfield, Iowa Dallas Co / (2) 4 mi NNE of Lamoni, Iowa Decatur Co.	(1) Dense Cedar Ravine (2) Large Cedar Grove around a farmstead.	The documentation form by Raymond Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Johnson for the sighting on January 20, 1985. \| Elimination of similar species: Cedar Waxwing smaller w/ yellowish wash to breast \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:30:00 for December 24, 1984 and 09:00:00/09:15:00 for January 20, 1985.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Riverton Game Management Area, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-12-28	1985-01-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Greater Scaups at Riverton Game Management Area in Fremont County, IA on December 28, 1984.	Silcock, W. Ross	Greater Scaup	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton GMA, Fremont Co, IA	Lake	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ione Getscher. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup, Ringnecked Duck. ID as Greater Scaup but confirmed when birds flew and displayed very obvious white wingstripe extending to outer primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:20:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Ross' Goose at Riverton Game Management Area, 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-12-28	1985-01-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Ross' Geese at Riverton Game Management Area in Fremont County, IA on December 28, 1984.	Silcock, W. Ross	Ross' Goose	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton GMA, Fremont Co, IA	Lake; Roosting Area for Snow Geese	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ione Getscher. \| Elimination of similar species: Snow Goose -Bill Shape, Size & Color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:20:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	28