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 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 Mississippi Kite at Waubonsie State Park, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-05-14	1980-06-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Mississippi Kites at Waubonsie State Park in Fremont County, IA on May 14, 1980.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Mississippi Kite	Waubonsie State Park	Waubonsie S.P.	The Loess Hills. Dry woodland with some open areas on the slope of Loess Hills.	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Male Marsh Hawk. Has a white rump patch and tail isn't black. Does not fly like a kite. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:00:00/19:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at George Wyth State Park, unknown year	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	N/A	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mississippi Kite at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on April 12 in an unknown year.	Stone, Tom, Jr. Stone, Tom	Mississippi Kite	George Wyth Memorial State Park	George Wyth State Park	Lowland river bottoms with Deciduous Woodland	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. and Tom Stone is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Male Marsh Hawk which has a white rump patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at Ledges State Park, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-05-13	1990-05-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mississippi Kite at Ledges State Park in Boone County, IA on May 13, 1990.	Sinclair, Jim	Mississippi Kite	Ledges State Park	Ledges St. Pk. - Pea's Creek	wooded valley	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include David Youngblut. \| Elimination of similar species: Too large and uniform in color for a kestrel or Merlin. Wings and tail too broad for one of the larger falcons. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:17:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-05-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mississippi Kite at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on May 19, 1990.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Mississippi Kite	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Babcock Access, Johnson Co., IA	wide part of reservoir with open mud flats	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The pointed wings indicate a kite or falcon. The gliding flight was that of a kite not a falcon. The white body and head also eliminates all falcons. The lack of white rump as well as the flight pattern eliminate Northern Harrier. Swallow-tailed Kite would have a forked tail and different flight pattern. Black-shouldered Kite has a white tail and black shoulder. The lack of white patches in the secondaries and brownish tail indicate a subadult (first year bird). I looked for bands in the tail but could not appreciate them. Failure to see bands could be due to the lighting and distance or, as noted by Clark and Wheeler, to the fact that "A few immatures have solid, unbanded dark brown tails." The prominent light and dark underwing puzzled me, but Dunne says "Immature has body and underwing coverts buffy, with dark streaking and spotting of variable density; may be lighter or darker than illustrated." The underwing coverts and body appeared about the same shade to me. The lighting and distance may have precluded my appreciating any streaking. This bird appeared lighter than the bird I saw at Dudgeon Lake last year, especially the underwing coverts. The profile and flight characteristics allowed me to immediately recognize the bird as a Mississippi Kite. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:35:00/13:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at Clive, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-06-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Mississippi Kites at Clive in Polk County, IA on June 20, 1993.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Mississippi Kite	Clive	Clive (7600 Harbach), Polk County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randy Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at Olivet Church in Polk County, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-07-14	1996-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mississippi Kite at Olivet Church in Polk County, IA on July 14, 1996.	Allen, Pam	Mississippi Kite	Olivet Baptist Church	Polk Co., Windsor Heights, 73rd Street north of University Ave., behind Olivet Church		The documentation form by Pam Allen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Reid Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: White-tailed Kite has a white tail and black shoulder patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at Ledges State Park, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-07-25	1996-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mississippi Kite at Ledges State park in Boone County, IA on July 25, 1996.	Allen, Pam	Mississippi Kite	Ledges State Park	Boone Co., Ledges State Park		The documentation form by Pam Allen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Reid Allen, Eloise Armstrong, and Eugene Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: White-tailed Kite has a white tail and black shoulder patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at Ledges State Park, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-05-22	1997-05-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for a Mississippi Kite at Ledges State Park in Boone County, IA on May 22, 1997.	Hemesath, Lisa M.	Mississippi Kite	Ledges State Park	Ledges St. Park	edge between woods + grassy field	The documentation form by Lisa Hemesath is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bruce Ehresman. \| Elimination of similar species: Male northern harrier (?) Kite has black tail, no white rump patch, and was sitting in a tree - a behavior unusual for a northern harrier. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00 until the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Rare bird documentation form for Bald Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-08-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bald Eagle at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on August 4, 1979.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Bald Eagle	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir Iowa	over wide area of reservoir - area with many dead trees - seen from sand point - 1 mile north of Swan Lake, Johnson Co, IA	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Nick Halmi and Tom Shires. \| Elimination of similar species: Location of white areas do not fit immature Golden Eagle. Bald Eagles are commonly seen here in season. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	21
Rare bird documentation form for Bald Eagle at Hawkeye Wildlife Area, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-08-04	1979-08-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bald Eagle at Hawkeye Wildlife Area near Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on August 4, 1979.	Shires, Thomas K.	Bald Eagle	Coralville Lake Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	Coralville Reservoir (Hawkeye Wildlife Area)	Large flooded area (reservoir) filled with dead trees	The documentation form by Thomas K. Shires is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent and Nicholas Halmi. \| Elimination of similar species: Habitat, absence of strong white patch at base of upper primaries make it unlikely for it to be a Golden Eagle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:30:00/06:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	21
Rare bird documentation form for Bald Eagle at Sunken Grove, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-11-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bald Eagle at Sunken Grove in Pocahontas County, IA on November 29, 1980.	Jardine, Wallace E.	Bald Eagle	Sunken Grove State Game Management Area	Sunken Grove, Pocahontas County	Woods around lake, edge of woods around lake	The documentation form by Wallace Jardine is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	21
Rare bird documentation form for Bald Eagle at Cass County, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bald Eagle at Cass County, IA on December 30, 1981.	Hensley, R. Craig	Bald Eagle	Cass County	Farmland-Southeast corner of Cass County, Iowa	Cropland with scattered trees	The documentation form by Craig Hensley is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dennis Sierck and Ed Ritter. \| Elimination of similar species: Only the Golden Eagle is similar, that being when the bald eagle is immature. The mature bald eagle stands alone. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/13:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	21
Rare bird documentation form for Bald Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Bald Eagles at Babcock Access Rd. at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on May 30, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Bald Eagle	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir from Babcock Access Rd., Johnson Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Pinkston and Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Adult unmistakeable. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) the only other raptor of comparable size, immature with white restricted to base of primaries and base of tail, not usually expected in aquatic habitats. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:10:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	21
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Harrier at St. Lucas, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-06-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Harrier at St. Lucas in Fayette County, IA on June 1, 1986.	Dietzenbach, Mark A.	Northern Harrier	Saint Lucas	Section 20 nw. Two miles south of St. Lucas. 80 acre wet prairie pasture, west of W14 blacktop.	Open pasture, long grass, wet boggy areas, Open fields	The documentation form by Mark A. Dietzenbach is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other hawk species is pale gray and display a similar flight pattern or markings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:06:00/10:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	22
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Harrier at Brenton Slough, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-11-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Harrier at Brenton Slough in Polk County, IA on November 4, 1988.	Sinclair, Jim	Northern Harrier	Brenton Slough	Brenton Slough		The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: First impression was of a first year ring-bill gull! \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	22
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-shinned Hawk at Sugar Bottom Area in Coralville Reservoir in unknown year	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Sharp-shinned Hawk at Sugar Bottom Area in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on December 17, unknown year.	Newlon, Carol S.	Sharp-shinned Hawk	Sugar Bottom Campground				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	23
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-shinned Hawk at Croton Unit in Shimek State Forest in 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-06-06	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-shinned Hawk at Croton Unit in Shimek State Forest in Lee County, IA on June 6, 1986.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934- Cecil, Robert I.	Sharp-shinned Hawk	Shimek State Forest Wildlife Management Area - Croton Unit				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	23
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-shinned Hawk at Lucas County, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-06-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sharp-shinned Hawk at Lucas County, IA on June 16, 1988.	Ehresman, Bruce	Sharp-shinned Hawk	Lucas County	T-71N, R 23 W, Sec. 17 (NW Qtr)	Flying over bottomland deciduous timber 2 mi s. of Stephen's Forest	The documentation form by Bruce Ehresman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cooper's Hawk is larger and normally has rounded tail. I've never seen a Cooper's with a notched tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:10:00/13:13:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	23
Rare bird documentation form for Cooper's Hawk at Rush Lake, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-05-02	1980-06-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cooper's Hawk at Rush Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on May 2, 1980.	Jardine, Wallace E.	Cooper's Hawk	Rush Lake	Rush Lake, Laurens, Iowa	Woods bordering farm field + lake. Tree on slope. 30' high in a 40' tree.	The documentation form by Wallace E. Jardine is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ray Cummins. \| Elimination of similar species: Sharp-shinned. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:00:00/07:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	24
Rare bird documentation for Cooper's Hawk at Saylorville in 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-06-29	1985-07-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation for four Cooper's Hawks at Saylorville in Polk County, IA on June 29, July 13, and July 26, 1985.	Engebretsen, Bery	Cooper's Hawk	Saylorville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	24
Rare bird documentation form for Cooper's Hawk at Mill Creek State Park, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-09-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cooper's Hawk at Mill Creek State Park in O'Brien County, IA on September 19, 1985.	Harr, Douglas C.	Cooper's Hawk	Mill Creek State Park	Mill Creek State Park, 1 mi. w. of Paullina, O'Brien Co., IA	along edge of park woods & cornfield	The documentation form by Douglas C. Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Sharp-shinned Hawk - smaller, slimmer, squared tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:14:00/11:16:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	24
Rare bird documentation form for Cooper's Hawk at Story County, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-19	1998-12-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cooper's Hawk at Story County, IA on December 19, 1998.	Ehresman, Bruce	Cooper's Hawk	Story County	Story Co., T-82N, R-22W, Sec 6, NW 1/4	Indian Creek, woods on west	The documentation form by Bruce Ehresman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Liessa Thomas and Marlene Ehresman. \| Elimination of similar species: Was too large for sharp shinned hawk, did not have white rump patch of harrier. Too large to be Merlin and wing shape + flight pattern different than Merlin (this bird had rounded wings and flew in flap-flap glide pattern as it left the area). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	24
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk near Coralville Dam in 1972	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1972-11-17	1973-02-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk near Coralville Dam in Johnson County, IA on November 17, 1972, January 14, 1973, and January 28, 1973.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Northern Goshawk	Coralville Dam				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Oxford, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-22	1978-02-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Oxford in Johnson County, IA on January 22, 1978.	Folk, G. Edgar	Northern Goshawk	Oxford	town of Oxford, Johnson County, Iowa	Extensive open pasture with groves of trees.	The documentation form by G. Edgar Folk, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include an unidentified person. \| Elimination of similar species: I stated above why it was not a Coopers Hawk. The only bird I could confuse it with would be the Coopers Hawk, and this specimen was far too large and too light-colored for that. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25