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

General Information Concerning the Ames Audubon Society	Administrative records	Ornithology--Societies, etc Societies--History, organization, etc	1968-01-01	1968-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A summary of information about the Ames Audubon Society which was organized in April, 1968. Included are details about the society's objectives, activities, the cost and benefits of membership, meetings, the 1968 officers and directors, and an application of membership.	Ames Audubon Society		Ames				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	1	11
Walter Rosene, Jr. letter to Pam Allen regarding the nomination of the Goldfinch as the Iowa State bird, March 24, 1993	Correspondence	Ornithology--Societies, etc State birds Birds in art	1993-03-24	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Walter Rosene, Jr. letter to Pam Allen regarding the origin of how the Goldfinch became nominated for the Iowa State bird. The letter highlights a visit Walter Rosene, Jr. and his father made to Althea R. Sherman's house and how after seeing a very artistic painting of a Goldfinch by Althea's sister, his father said that the Goldfinch should be the state bird.	Rosene, Walter, 1912-	American Goldfinch	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	46	11
Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Administrative records Articles of incorporation	Ornithology--Societies, etc Articles of incorporation	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Includes six restated articles of incorporation that reflect the nonprofit status of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. James Dinsmore is noted as the Vice-President and Ann Barker is noted as the secretary of the organization.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	46	11
Present Articles of Incorporation of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Administrative records Articles of incorporation	Ornithology--Societies, etc Articles of incorporation	1972-01-01	1972-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Articles of incorporation of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union containing twelve articles with administrative information for the Union. The articles reflect items as published in Iowa Bird Life (v. 23, pages 49-40, 1953) and amendments to the articles that were enacted and filed in 1972.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	46	11
Addendum to the Cedar Falls, IA Christmas Bird Count - December 27, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1980-12-27	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Christmas Bird Count addendum featuring a Varied Thrush in the Cedar Falls area in Black Hawk County, IA on December 27, 1980. Also includes details about bird sightings of the Peregrine Falcon, Mallard, Brown Thrasher, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Grosbeak, and Hoary Redpoll.	Moore, Francis L.	Varied Thrush Pine Grosbeak Brown Thrasher Hoary Redpoll Peregrine Falcon Red-breasted Nuthatch Mallard	Black Hawk County Cedar Falls Cedar Hills Sand Prairie				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Winterfeld Park, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1998-12-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Winterfeld Park in Sioux County, IA on December 2, 1998.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Surf Scoter	Winterfeld Boat and Fish Area	Winterfeld Park along the north side of Rock Valley in Sioux County		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I rule out any possible confusions, as follows: - White-winged Scoter has white in the wing and lacks sharp contrast between crown and face - Black Scoter has rounded forehead and lacks pale head patches - Ruddy Duck is smaller, has differently shaped bill and dark line across cheek - Female Scaups have white in the wing, differently shaped white patch at base of bill, and little contrast between crown and face. \| The original documentation form event occurred for around 20 minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Green Island Wildlife Area, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1996-05-13	1996-05-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Green Island Wildlife Area in Jackson County, IA on May 13, 1996.	Petersen, Peter C.	Surf Scoter	Green Island Wildlife Management Area	Green Island W.A. - Jackson Co.	Marsh- pond area diked from river	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian Blevins and Don Moeller. \| Elimination of similar species: No whit [sic] on wing, eliminating wh-wg. Scoter. White much to limited for Black Scoter, also wings uniformly dark. Too large for Harlequin Duck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:15:00/06:16:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Big Spirit Lake, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1995-10-06	1995-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Surf Scoters at Big Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on October 6, 1995.	Thelen, Ed	Surf Scoter	Spirit Lake	West side of Big Spirit Lake in Dickinson County	Glacial Lake	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White-winged Scoter - how white-wing patch. Surf Scoter - white on side of head - these birds has 2 patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-08	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area in Dickinson County, IA on October 8, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hansen, James L.	Black Rail	McBreen Marsh	South end of a restored wetland on the north side of the McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area, 4 mi. NW of Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co.	Was in 3 20-30' diam. clumps of river bulrush surrounded by mudflats	The documentation form by James L. Hansen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jeffrey K. Hansen. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora and Virginia Rail - was smaller and different color (black) than these. Yellow rail - wrong color, also \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Dam, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1982-11-15	1982-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two White-winged Scoters at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on November 15, 1982.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	White-winged Scoter	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Dam, Polk Co., Iowa	Larger Reservoir, surrounded by wooded hills.	The documentation form by Joseph P. Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The uniform dark brown, with white eye and orange bill separates the birds from other two scoters. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/13:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Reservoir Dam, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1982-04-08	1982-04-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Reservoir Dam in Polk County, IA on April 8, 1982.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	White-winged Scoter	Saylorville Dam	By Saylorville Reservoir Dam, Polk Co., Iowa	Open Reservoir above dam.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other large species of Duck female is so uniformly brown with a white speculum. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Lake Anita State Park in 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1981-11-06	1981-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four White-winged Scoters at Lake Anita State Park in Cass County, IA on November 6, 1981.	Hensley, R. Craig	White-winged Scoter	Lake Anita State Park	Lake Anita State Park, one mile south of Anita, Iowa	Large, open lake	The documentation form by R. Craig Hensley is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The surf scoter and black scoter are similar. However, the specimans [sic] that I observed had the white wing patch that these two species do not have. In addition, two of the birds seen had white about their eyes, as neither of the other two have. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:20:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Little Wall Lake, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1979-11-10	1979-11-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three White-winged Scoters at Little Wall lake in Hamilton County, IA on November 10, 1979.	Dinsmore, James J.	White-winged Scoter	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake, Hamilton Co., IA	open water of freshwater 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: Black Scoter- these birds had white wing patches Surf Scoter- no evidence of white patch on back of head, also wing patches Double-crested Cormorant-wing patches, didn't hold bill up like cormorants do, coloration on head not like cormorant. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Iowa Ornithologists' Union board of directors, 1986	Photographs	Bird watchers Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-01-01	1986-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Photograph of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union's board of directors, 1986. The photograph was taken by Thomas H. Kent at Grinnell, Iowa.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-		Grinnell				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	6	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Zirbel Slough, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-05-15	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Zirbel Slough in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 15, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walter, Janice L.	Black Rail	Zirbel Slough	East-west dike n. side of Zirbel Slough, Cerro Gordo Co., Ia	Open pool of water between dike and dense marsh	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim B. Walter and Edna E. Peters. \| Elimination of similar species: Size; Rail shape, flight, and behavior eliminated near-by Blackbirds. It was too early in the year for a downy Rail chick in North Iowa. Also downy chicks would not be able to fly. Very small size and all black color eliminated other Rail species. Even though we did not see the reddish wash on the back, white speckling on the wings, or barring on the flanks; the black, not reddish, underparts eliminated the possibility of a small Virginia Rail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:13:00/19:13:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail near Dixon, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-05-11	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail near Dixon in Scott County, IA on May 11, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Black Rail	Dixon	1/2 mi. S. High Rock Bridge near Dixon, Scott Co.	grassy ditch along county road	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Don Moeller and Walter Zuurdeeg. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow Rail-no white wing patch. Sora & Virginia Rail-bird much too small, flight weaker than either. I had seen Soras several times in the preceeding [sic] two days. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 20:40:00/20:41:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Hendrickson Marsh, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-04-24	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on April 24, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Martsching, Paul	Black Rail	Hendrickson Marsh Lake	Hendrickson's Marsh, Story County, Iowa	General: marsh along shore of large shallow lake Specific: area with much old grass more or less bent down with new growth less than six inches. Was a little water under the grass where it flew up	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Paul Martsching (later time, but same bird) were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora - bigger,lighter, yellow beak. Virginia - bigger, lighter, long thin beak. Rail chick - too early in year - and was flying \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Cone Marsh, 1981	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-08-29	1993-08-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on August 29, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Louisa Co., Iowa	General: Marsh Specific: 50 paces from the W end of the dike and the same distance s. along a small water area	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: By shape and behavior the bird was a rail. The date is wrong for downy young of other species and the bird did not appear downy. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Blue Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-04-10	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Trumpeter Swan at Blue Lake in Monona County, Iowa on April 10, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Huser, Bill F.	Trumpeter Swan	Blue Lake	Blue Lake, Monona County, Iowa	marshy oxbow with open, but shallow, water	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Peter Ernzen was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Mute swans usually have a curved neck posture with the bill held below horizontal. Their springtime bill color is expected to be pink. Tundra Swans are expected to have a concave bill, a slight forehead and a smaller proportioned bill. The facial skin extending to the eye is less substantial. The neck posture is usually vertical without the 'kink' at the base. The feathered edge between the eyes forms a straight line. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Lake Manawa, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-13	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Trumpeter Swan at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 13, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Trumpeter Swan	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Babs Padelford and Loren Padelford. \| Elimination of similar species: Black bill without knob and neck posture eliminates Mute Swan. Tundra Swan eliminated by neck posture and lack of yellow on bill: darker plumage of juvenile. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Charles City, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents) Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-02-26	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Trumpeter Swan at Charles City in Floyd County, IA on February 26, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, three photocopied photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walter, Janice L.	Trumpeter Swan	Charles City	Cedar River at end of Maple St., Charles City, IA	Narrow stretch of open water along bank of frozen river	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim B. Walter and James L. Hansen. \| Elimination of similar species: Mute Swan by all black bill without knob at base; neck held straight not in S curve Tundra Swan by forehead slanting down to straight bill, black facial skin ending in broad point at eye, not sharp point in front of eye, and dipping down into a V on forehead, not extending straight across \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:10:00/17:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Ingham Lake, 1988	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-11-21	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Trumpeter Swan at Ingham Lake in Emmet County, IA on November 21, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Trumpeter Swan	Ingham Lake	Ingham L., Emmet Co., IA	Frozen glacial lake	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: About two hours later we found a Tundra Swan at Union Slough at closer range. The neck was straight at the base and the black did not come as sharply to the edge. It was seen head on and the black came across the forehead without a pronounced V and the upper mandible was not straight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Neotropic Cormorant at Otter Creek Marsh, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-05-04	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Neotropic Cormorant at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on May 4, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Neotropic Cormorant	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Otter Creek Marsh - Tama County	Big pond area	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Hank Zaletel. \| Elimination of similar species: D-cr. cormorant is much larger. I saw one fly as I drove out and it looked huge in flight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Neotropic Cormorant at Little River Recreation Area, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-04	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Neotropic Cormorant at Little River Recreation Area in Decatur County, IA on May 4, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Neotropic Cormorant	Little River Recreation Area	Little River Rec. Area	large reservoir with numerous dead snags	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: My only concern was to adequately eliminate Double-crested Cormorant, many of which were available for direct comparisons. The size, tail length, and throat patch pattern all eliminate this species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:25:00/15:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	12