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 Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-04-28	1991-04-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park in Van Buren County, IA on April 28, 1991.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Golden Eagle	Lacey-Keosauqua State Park	Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, Van Buren Co., Iowa	Over forested area of Des Moines River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: Osprey, Turkey Vulture, and immature Bald Eagle are all eliminated by the distribution of white. The size and profile was typical of Golden Eagle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Laughing Gull at Saylorville Lake, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-06-29	1987-06-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Laughing Gull at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on June 29, 1987.	Thompson, Dennis	Laughing Gull	Saylorville Lake	New Beach (sw of marina) Saylorville Lake Polk Co. Ia	Sandy beach	The documentation form by Dennis Thompson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's gull - bird had a completely different build. I had the advantage of a direct comparison with ring-billed. This bird was smaller, but still larger than a Franklin's. I would say it was half-way between a Ring-bill + Franklin's in size. White was almost non existent [sic] in the wing-tips, both at rest + in flight. The most obvious difference was the structure of the bird. As soon as I saw it, I knew it wasn't a Franklin's. The long neck, size, long legs, long bill, + pot-bellied look caught my eye immediately. I guess another way to describe it was upright-looking. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:30:00/06:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	31
Birds: verifying documentation of an extraordinary sight record submitted by Richard Hollis, June 26, 1987	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-06-26	1987-06-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A form documenting the sighting of a Laughing Gull at Hawkeye Wildlife Area in Johnson County, IA submitted by Richard Hollis on June 26, 1987.	Hollis, Richard Jule	Laughing Gull	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	31
Details for rare bird sightings by James Fuller, Fall 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-08-10	1999-09-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Details for rare bird sightings by James Fuller for August and September 1999. Includes sighting of a Laughing Gull at Babcock Access in Johnson County, IA on August 10, 1999.		Marbled Godwit Western Sandpiper Laughing Gull	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area Casey Barrow Landing Babcock Access				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	31
Rare bird documentation form for Laughing Gull at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-08-10	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Laughing Gull at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on August 10, 1999.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Laughing Gull	Babcock Access	Babcock Access, Coraville Res., Johnson Co., Iowa	Open, wide part of reservoir with mud flats.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: 1st year Franklin's Gull has more pattern to wings and more extensive tail band. 2nd year Franklin's would have less black in outer wing and more of a half-[illegible]. This bird was not close enough to see the bill well on details on the tail band. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:05:00/18:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	31
Rare bird documentation form for Laughing Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-04-16	1999-04-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Laughing Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on April 16, 1999.	Thompson, Dennis	Laughing Gull	Saylorville Dam	Below Saylorville Dam, Polk Co. Ia		The documentation form by Dennis Thompson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's + this bird were swimming side by side. Bill longer, bulkier. No white in the wing tips while resting. Stretched its wings once, with no white visible in the primaries nor any white bar separating the gray wing from the black primaries. White spots + bar visible in nearby Franklin's. Direct size comparison noted above. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	31
Rare bird documentation form for Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Recreation Area at Saylorville, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Laughing Gulls at Sandpiper Recreation Area at Saylorville in Polk County, IA on May 22, 1999.	Engebretsen, Bery	Laughing Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville, parking lot at Sandpiper		The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I could see both Laughing + Franklin's standing side by side. Laughing were clearly 20-25% larger, as was bill. A more prominent 'gonys' made the bill appear somewhat more hooked. In flight, the wing tips were black + more extensive than Franklins, both above + below. I looked carefully for any trace of white between tip + rest of wing, as well as for any white on the head, and there was none. The eye ring was broken on the front, less so in the back. The Franklin's had a rounder appearance to the head than did the Laughing. In flight, the Laughing's tail was pure white. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:05:00/08:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at IA 17 bridge over the Des Moines River, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-20	1999-01-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at IA 17 bridge over the Des Moines River in Polk County, IA on December 20, 1998.	Healy, Kevin	Golden Eagle	High Bridge	e. side of the Des Moines River about 1/2 mile n. of the IA 17 bridge.		The documentation form by Kevin Healy is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Karl Jungbluth. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was soaring above the river in the vicinity of two adult Bald Eagles. We saw a large dark buteo similar in size to the Bald Eagles. Head projected less than 1/2 the length of the tail, noticeably less than that of the adult Bald Eagles in view at that time. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:50:00/12:53:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Oak Grove Park, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-11-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Oak Grove Park in Sioux County, IA on November 6, 1998.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Golden Eagle	Oak Grove State Park	Oak Grove Park area in western Sioux County		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at YMCA Camp northwest of Boone, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-01-01	1998-01-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at YMCA Camp northwest of Boone in Boone County, IA on January 1, 1998.	Healy, Kevin	Golden Eagle	Y Camp	YMCA Camp northwest of Boone IA	Soaring above Des Moines River	The documentation form by Kevin Healy is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Turkey Vulture: similar in size, but flight different (i.e., this bird did not rock back and forth despite fairly stiff winds during time of observation). Also, wings were held flatter than what I expect for a Turkey Vulture. Harlan's Hawk: Breast and belly solid in color, no barring on tail, wing shape unlike that of Red-tailed Hawk. Size difference. Dark phase Rough-legged Hawk: No speckling on breast or belly, tail longer with thinner terminal band. Size difference. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/11:48:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Claybanks Preserve, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-11-23	1997-12-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Golden Eagles at Claybanks Preserve in Cerro Gordo County, IA on November 23, 1997.	Goranson, Rita	Golden Eagle	Claybanks Forest	on Wren ave - at Claybanks Preserve, Cerro Gordo Co	wooded & river	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Curt Nelson, Carolyn Fischer, and Jan Walter. \| Elimination of similar species: later we saw (white head white tail) adult eagles = not the coloring of the first one. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 16:10:00/16:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Rock Falls, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-10	1992-05-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Rock Falls in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 10, 1992.	Walter, Janice L.	Golden Eagle	Rock Falls	About 3/4 mi w. of S-62, 1 1/2 mi. n. of B-20, Rock Falls, Iowa	Plowed field and pasture with stream through it	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. \| Elimination of similar species: Small head, longer tail, absence of any white in plumage eliminated Bald Eagle. Size much larger than common, familiar Red-tailed Hawk eliminated dark morph buteos as did lack of strong contrast between flight feathers and under wing linings. It did not have the 2-toned under wings, strong dihedral or rocking flight of the Turkey Vulture. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Details of identification for Northern Goshawk and Golden Eagle by Bob Cecil, spring 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-03-31	1991-04-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes written by Bob Cecil for a Northern Goshawk citing on March 31 and a Golden Eagle sighting on April 29, 1991.	Cecil, Robert I.	Northern Goshawk Golden Eagle	Lacey-Keosauqua State Park Shimek State Forest Wildlife Management Area - Croton Unit				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Martin Grant letter to Philip DuMont regarding identification key, May 17, 1937	Correspondence Instructional materials	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Study and teaching	1937-05-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Martin Grant to Philip DuMont dated May 17, 1937. In this letter Grant asks DuMont to look over the key he is using to teach students to identify bird species in the lab. Included with this letter is an edited copy of "A Key to and synopsis of the orders and families of Iowa birds."	Grant, Martin L.		Iowa				Philip A. Dumont Papers \| MS 153	1	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Riverton Wildlife Refuge, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-04-05	1980-06-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Riverton Wildlife Refuge in Fremont County, IA on April 5, 1980.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Golden Eagle	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton Wildlife Refuge, North End.	Open marshland with some wet woodland and dry cultivated fields nearby.	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: immature Bald Eagle has some grayish white areas underwings. And does not have golden feathers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:05:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at New Albin, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-11-24	1979-11-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three or four Golden Eagles at New Albin in Allamakee County, IA on November 24, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Golden Eagle	New Albin	Upper Iowa River Valley inland from New Albin IA	High bluffs with rock outcroppings - Upper Iowa River on County Road #26 west and east of Iowa #76	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joe Schaufenbuel, Darwin Koenig, Carl Bendorf, and Mike Malier. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle - A mature (perched) and immature (flying) bald eagle were seen in same area for comparison. The immature bald eagle was larger, broader in wings and tail and had more massive head. White was blotchy in wings and body. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Babcock Access at Coralville Lake, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-07-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Babcock Access at Coralville Lake in Johnson County, IA on July 28, 1979.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Golden Eagle	Babcock Access	n. of Babcock L. access, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co.	reservoir tail waters after dead trees in west and of Coralville Reservoir floodplain	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Buteo: size, profile. Bald Eagle, imm: distribution of white feathers, notably white tail base much more distinct and [illegible] in golden. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:25:00/14:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-02-11	1979-02-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on February 11, 1979.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Coralville Lake	farm country between Rt. 6 and the Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co IA	An area of mixed cropland and timber south of the Iowa River; just to the north is an extensive area of public land, with mixed fields and woods; to the south are farms on flatter land, with much less timber.	The documentation form by Mike Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rick Hollis and Carl Bendorf. \| Elimination of similar species: large size and slow wingbeat rule out buteos, as do the dark primaries and secondaries (melanistic redtails and roughlegs have white in the flight feathers). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:10:00/11:11:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
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 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
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 form for Golden Eagle at the Dupont Bridge in Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at the Dupont Bridge in the Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in Johnson County, IA on February 19, 1978.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	1/2 mile south of Johnson Co. Rd. F-20, 4.9 mi. w. of the crossroad leading to the Dupont Bridge.	General: border between an extensive tract of riverbottom forest and a half-mile stretch of corn and soybean fields (with large patches of unharvested beans). At the north edge of the fields was a road, followed by a wooded ridge. Specific: Perched at the edge of a narrow screen of trees that extended out from the forest, between two fields. [drawing]	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: The three species with which confusion is most likely are the bald eagle (imm) and red-tailed and rough-legged hawks (dark-phase). Several points rule out these species. (1) Size: the body length of the bird was 2&1/2-3 times that of a crow that perched in the same tree; the two hawks are not nearly this large. (2) tail pattern: imm. bald eagles sometimes show tails that are darker at the tip than at the base, but all such individuals that I have seen have had a gradual transition from dark to light, rather than the sharp boundary that this bird showed. Adult melanistic redtails usually have red tails; imm birds should show dark tails crossed by darker bands. (3) Wing pattern: imm bald eagles have white in the wing, but this is usually in the wing-lining rather than the primaries and secondaries; dark-phase rough-legs usually have the primaries and secondaries entirely white. (4) build: bald eagle has longer neck, and more massive head and bill, than golden; this bird had the general proportions of a buteo. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Kent Park, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-12-06	1975-12-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Kent Park in Johnson County, IA on December 6, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	F W Kent County Park	Kent Park, ~10 miles west of Iowa City IA	soaring over area of stubble fields, old fields growing up to brush, farms	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: 'ringed' tail, proportion of head, neck, bill; lack of any white in wing-lining on body plumage: all eliminate imm. bald eagle. great size, lack of white in primaries eliminate black rough-leg. \| The original documentation form event occurred between 13:30:00/14:35:00 (seen twice) (total ~ 20 minutes).	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-10-28	1975-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 28, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, NW of Iowa City, IA	Coralville Res. - wooded ridge to N., extensive water and bare grassy flats in Res. area, then farmland to S.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: imm. Bald Eagle; proportions of head, neck and tail, no white in wing-linings black r-l hawk: lack of any white in primaries and secondaries, large size. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Macbride Recreation Area, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-03-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Macbride Recreation Area northeast of North Liberty in Johnson County, IA on March 19, 1975.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Golden Eagle	Macbride Nature Recreation Area	over Univ. of Iowa Macbride Campus, NE of North Liberty, Iowa	over park with deciduous woods and clumps of planted conifers, between Coralville Reservoir and Lake Macbride	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Much larger than dark-phase Rough-legged Hawk. White on wing the reverse of that in imm. Bald Eagle. Tail larger in relation to body than in Bald Eagle, not mottled but distinctly banded. General plumage lighter than that of imm. Bald Eagle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:10:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31