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 Great-tailed Grackle at Blue Lake, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-03-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Great-tailed Grackles at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on March 20, 1994.	Ernzen, Peter	Great-tailed Grackle	Blue Lake	South Blue Lake in Monona County	marshywith [sic] several trees flooded	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Both sp. of grackle were present for comparison, up to 11 birds were seen in subsequent days, and 5 nests were observed as well. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 12:00:00/13:00:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at MidAmerican Energy Ponds, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1993-06-20	1993-06-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for at least five Great-tailed Grackles at MidAmerican Energy Ponds at Pottawattamie County, IA on June 20, 1993. There are details of another sighting of another Great-tailed Grackle near Osceola in Clark County, IA on June 26, 1993 on the documentation form.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Great-tailed Grackle	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	South IPL pond, Pottawattamie County, Iowa (4+ males, 1 female); along Hwy. 2 in Nebraska City bridge area, Fremont County, Iowa (1 male)	[...] Observed in cattails at edge of IPL pond in Pottawattamie County [...]	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
B.J. Rose letter to Doug Rose regarding Christmas Bird Count sightings, January 16, 1993	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1993-01-16	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from B. J. Rose to Doug Rose documenting birds seen during the Glenwood Christmas Bird Count on December 27, 1992. Rose gives details for the sighting of a Great-tailed Grackle, a Chipping Sparrow, and four Yellow-rumped Warblers.	Rose, B.J.	Yellow-rumped Warbler Chipping Sparrow Great-tailed Grackle	Glenwood Bartlett Bartlett State Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 23, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Great-tailed Grackle	Council Bluffs	Off I-29 at south Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa.		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) with more rounded crown, characteristic call notes, much less likely to occur in Iowa. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) much smaller, different call notes, female lacks rich brown foreparts and superciliary stripe. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00/09:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Wapello Township in Louisa County, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-04-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle at Wapello Township in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1992.	Ohde, Bill	Great-tailed Grackle	Wapello Township	SE 1/4 of section 19, T74N, R4W, Louisa County, Iowa	Rural farmstead on edge of large timber block. In tall (15') backyard shrubs.	The documentation form by Bill Ohde is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common grackle - this bird was nearly crow-sized, longer tailed, with the peculiar whistles and rattles. Boat-tailed grackle - song was wrong. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Details for rare bird sighting, Jim Fuller, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1992-05-08	1992-05-13	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field reports for three sightings of Great-tailed Grackles in Iowa. First sighting is at the West gun club pond at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on May 8, 1992, the second at Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 13, 1992, and the third near the visitor's center at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on May 13, 1992.	Fuller, James L	Great-tailed Grackle	Coralville Lake Council Bluffs DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at Crawford Creek Recreation Area, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-02	1992-05-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle at Crawford Creek Recreation Area in Ida County, IA on May 2, 1992.	Ernzen, Peter	Great-tailed Grackle	Crawford Creek County Recreation Area	Crawford Creek Recreational Area ICCB.	open park land, lake with cattails	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Grackle, not as long, more irridescent, [sic] common grackle with in [sic] 20 ft. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:27:00/09:29:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Spring Field Report for I.O.U., J. Donald Gillaspey, 1989	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Rare birds	1989-03-01	1989-05-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field report sent to Steve Dinsmore at IOU for J. Donald Gillaspey. It features a sighting of a Great-tailed Grackle northwest of Lamoni in Decatur County, IA on May 12, 1989.	Gillaspey, J. Donald	Upland Sandpiper Great-tailed Grackle	Lamoni				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird near Mason City, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-04-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for eleven Brewer's Blackbirds near Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 23, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Brewer's Blackbird	Mason City	near Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Comparison made to Comm. Grackle above. Unlikely habitat and date for Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolingus). \| The original documentation form event occurred in the late afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird at Clear Lake, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-09-16	1999-12-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for at most sixty Brewer's Blackbirds at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on September 16, 1999.	Fischer, Carolyn J.	Brewer's Blackbird	Clear Lake	North Shore Drive Clear Lake	Small wet area, some small trees - marsh	The documentation form by Carolyn Fischer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Rusty Blackbird - The birds were lacking rusty wings - And buffy eyebrow - Common Grackle - Lacking long-keel-shaped tail heavy bill-	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Details for birds seen on Burlington CBC 12/19/98	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1998-12-19	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes by Jim Fuller from the Burlington Area Christmas Bird Count on December 19, 1998. The notes include a Brewer's Blackbird east of Lock and Dam 18.	Fuller, James L	Red-throated Loon Brewer's Blackbird Eastern Phoebe Common Loon Sharp-shinned Hawk	Burlington Lock and Dam Number 18 Crapo Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird northwest of Mason City, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1998-10-13	1999-01-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for eight Brewer's Blackbirds northwest of Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on October 13, 1998.	Goranson, Rita	Brewer's Blackbird	Mason City	Wheelerwood Drive, north + west of Mason City, 1 mile before intersection with Killdeer Ave	River + trees on one side - farm land on other side	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Had been seeing grackles - a larger bird - larger tail. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird at Snake Creek Marsh, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1996-05-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Brewer's Blackbird at Snake Creek Marsh in Greene County, IA on May 11, 1996.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Brewer's Blackbird	Snake Creek State Game Management Area	Snake Creek M., Greene Co., IA	small island in pond	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bert Engebretsen. \| Elimination of similar species: The dark eye and lack of any rust color eliminates Rusty Blackbird, which is similar in size and shape to this bird. Common Grackle has a longer tail, females show lots of brown color, and the call note is different. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:54:00/16:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird at Cone Marsh, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-04-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Brewer's Blackbirds at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on April 6, 1988.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Brewer's Blackbird	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone M., Louisa Co, IA	Feed lot	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] These 4 birds were easy to pick out from Rustys + they staid [sic] together. [...] Rusty females were gray + darker wing and had bright yellow eye. Male Rusty were more opaque black with a refaced [?] edging on wing feathers and some [illegible] on flanks. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird at Clinton Township in Linn County, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-12-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for thirty-five Brewer's Blackbirds at Section 8 of Clinton Township in Linn County, IA on December 20, 1986.	Zobac, Aldrich	Brewer's Blackbird	Clinton Township	Section 8, Clinton Township Farm on Young Rd. in S. part of Section 8	Farmyard + corn fields adjacent to farm. Large grove of evergreens. Grove of trees.	The documentation form by Aldrich Zobac is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Gladys Zobac. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Relative size of bird: Smaller than grackle Slightly larger than Cowbird. [...] Birds were feeding + flying around with huge flock of starlings + sparrows (house sparrows). At first glance - when birds were first sighted - thought we were spotting a cowbird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Field notes, Babs and Loren Padelford, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1984-03-11	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field report for ten Brewer's Blackbirds and two thousand Red-winged Blackbirds at the MidAmerican Energy Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on March 11, 1984.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Brewer's Blackbird Red-winged Blackbird	MidAmerican Energy Ponds				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Christmas Bird Count details, Peter C. Petersen, December 1988	Field notes	Bird feeders Birds--Identification Rare birds	1988-12-18	1988-12-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Photocopy of the second page of field notes by Peter C. Petersen detailing birds seen during the Davenport, Oakville, Princeton, and Clinton Christmas Bird Counts. It includes a Brewer's Blackbird sighting in Davenport on December 18.	Pertsen, Peter C.	Cooper's Hawk Brewer's Blackbird Field Sparrow Loggerhead Shrike Western Meadowlark Sharp-shinned Hawk	Clinton Iowa Oakville Princeton Camanche Cordova Park Savanna				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for White-eyed Vireo at Scott Township in Fremont County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-31	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-eyed Vireo at Scott Township in Fremont County, IA on May 31, 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	White-eyed Vireo	Scott Township	Section 12, Scott Township, Fremont Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: similar to many other Vireos + warblers but eye ring, wing bars, + broad bill limit it to White eyed, + of course the pale iris is distinctive. So is the song.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	76
Rare bird documentation form for White-eyed Vireo at Sunken Grove, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-04-05	1981-05-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bid documentation form for a White-eyed Vireo at Sunken Grove in Pocahontas County, IA on April 5, 1981.	Cummins, Raymond L.	White-eyed Vireo	Sunken Grove State Game Management Area	Sunken Grove	General: deciduous woods Specific: large oak and secondary growth	The documentation form by Raymond L. Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: all other species with a yellow spectacle are eliminated by the white iris and white breast \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	76
Rare bird documentation form for White-eyed Vireo at Lost Lake at Ledges State Park, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-05-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for six hundred thirty-one White-eyed Vireos at Lost Lake at Ledges State Park in Boone County, IA on May 19, 1980.	Newhouse, David A.	White-eyed Vireo	Lost Lake	Lost Lake, Ledges State Park, Boone County IA (lat. 4159/Long.09352)	General: Mixed decisous [sic] woodland near lake Specific: Boxelder [sic] and sumac brushy undergrowth near trail	The documentation form by David A. Newhouse is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Two distinct wing bars on browner wings (like tail coloration). [...] WHITE IRIS OF EYE, yellowish eye ring and nasal line. Leg squarer in cross-section than warbler, but thin (size 0 band). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	76
Rare bird documentation form for White-eyed Vireo at Hickory Hill Park in 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1976-05-31	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a White-eyed Vireo at Hickory Hill Park in Johnson County, IA from May 2 to May 5, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	White-eyed Vireo	Hickory Hill Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	76
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-11-06	1976-12-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on November 6, 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Northern Shrike	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill park, Iowa City, Iowa	General: grassy-bushy hillside at edge of Iowa City, in city park. Specific: perched in small tree. Bushes on hillside mostly Hawthorns of some type, with several locust trees higher up the slope.	The documentation form by Richard J. DeCoster II is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Newlon and Roger Milkman. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerhead shrike lacks breast scaling, light base of lower mandible, is a smaller bird, darker above, with mask spreading out in front of the eye so as to meet above the bill. On this bird the mask tapered from the eye so as not to meet over the bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike west of Spirit Lake, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike west of Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on November 29, 1978.	Bierman, Dick	Northern Shrike	Spirit Lake	1 mile west of Spirit Lake	Open country 100 yds from farm grove	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Mockingbird, Gray Jay. I am very familiar with both of these. Loggerheaded Shrike. This bird was much lighter, on the back than Loggrehead [sic]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike north of Waukon, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-03-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike north of Waukon in Allamakee County, IA on March 25, 1978.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Northern Shrike	Waukon	Five miles North of Waukon, Allamakee County, Iowa	Hilly wooded areas, surrounded by cultivated lands. Some scattered brushy spots. Road was a loose crushed gravel type, with weed filled ditches.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Darwin Koenig. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerheaded Shrike; my bird seemed large and big billed. The small mask, light colored distal area. In flight the white rump(which is dark in the loggerhead), and the bird's lethargic behavior proves it was a Nortern [sic] Shrike. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike at the south edge of Spencer, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-05	1978-02-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike at the south edge of Spencer in Clay County, IA on February 5, 1978.	Bierman, Dick	Northern Shrike	Spencer	The south edge of Spencer Iowa along the Little Sioux River.	The subject was overlooking a weedy riverbottom area from the tree about 15 feet off the ground.	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include three unidentified individuals. \| Elimination of similar species: Subject was too brown and chunky for a mockingbird. I've seen many mockingbirds in Arizona. I've excluded the Loggerheaded Shrike because of the physical description above, and I have also seen many Loggerheaded Shrikes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75