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

Fall, early spring, and late spring migration dates for Iowa	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Tyrannidae \| Flycatchers Parulidae \| Warblers	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A handwritten list of fall, early spring, and late spring migration dates for numerous bird species in Iowa. The list includes the date of the sighting, the number of birds seen, as well as a key code indicating the location of the sighting. Also included is the type-written geographic location key used to decipher in which one of the 12 different observation spots the sighting was made.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	American Avocet Upland Sandpiper Horned Grebe Brewer's Blackbird Lapland Longspur Bewick's Wren Common Moorhen Western Kingbird Least Tern Baltimore Oriole Philadelphia Vireo Greater White-fronted Goose Bonaparte's Gull Dark-eyed Junco American Black Duck	Ames Credit Island Forneys Lake Ledges State Park Pilot Knob State Park Sidney DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge Anderson Goose Lake Iowa State University Nobles Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	1	3
Record Book of the Iowa Ornithologists' Association	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence	Ornithology--Societies, etc Meetings Societies--History, organization, etc	1894-06-15	1898-01-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Record book for the Iowa Ornithological Association. The book covers the period from the group's founding as the Iowa Ornithologist's Association on June 15, 1894 to January 16, 1898. The record book includes meeting minutes, copies of the organization's constitution, financial reports, officer and membership lists, and letters regarding the Iowa Ornithological Association.	Iowa Ornithological Association		Iowa City Iowa Mount Vernon Salem Manchester				Iowa Ornithological Association Records \| MS 581	1	1
History and records of the Audubon Society of the State of Iowa	Administrative records Articles of incorporation Bylaws (administrative records)	Ornithology--Societies, etc	1911-03-01	1911-03-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	History and records of the Audubon Society of the State of Iowa, March 1911. Item contains administrative records including the organization's history, article of incorporation, by-laws, and the names of several officers.	Audubon Society of the State of Iowa		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	6	15
Early Constitution of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Administrative records	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1928-01-01	1928-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Early version of the Constitution of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union dated on 1928. The first article establishes the name of the association as the Iowa Ornithologists' Union.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	15
The Secretary's Report of the Fairfield Bird Club of Fairfield, Iowa, 1933-1943	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Printed ephemera	Ornithology--Societies, etc Meetings	1933-03-02	1943-03-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Handwritten minutes for the Fairfield Bird Club from its founding at the Fairfield Public Library on March 2, 1933, through March 1943. The minutes were recorded by the person who held the office of secretary for the club for that year and provide an overview of what happened when the club met, including the locations of the meetings, guests who attended the meetings and subjects of the programs presented. Also includes programs as well as signatures and addresses of attendees of the annual Iowa Ornithologists' Union meetings that were held in Fairfield in 1933 and 1936. Also of note are several newspaper clippings highlighting the activities of the club.	Fairfield Bird Club Calvert, Grace A. Lawson, Lulu Faye Junkin, Paul Sheridan Gilly, Charles McCleary, Ila May Glotfelty Walker, Ruth Wilson, Flora		Fairfield				Fairfield (Iowa) Bird Club Records \| MS 386	1	4
Ottumwa Bird Club meeting minutes, 1943	Administrative records	Birds--Migration Ornithology--Societies, etc Meetings	1943-01-01	1943-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Meeting minutes from the Ottumwa Bird Club, 1943. A talk on bird migration was given by President Ayres.	Walker, Leota Ottumwa Bird Club		Ottumwa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	6	16
Ottumwa Bird Club membership list and meeting minutes, January 6, 1944	Administrative records	Birds--Counting Tyrannidae \| Flycatchers Ornithology--Societies, etc Hirundinidae \| Swallows Meetings	1943-01-01	1944-01-06	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of members of the Ottumwa Bird Club, dated 1943, and minutes from the meeting of the group, January 6, 1944. The minutes report a talk given by Wilbur Dole, the results of a local bird count, and the names of recently elected committee officers.	Walker, Leota Ottumwa Bird Club		Lake Wapello Ottumwa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	6	16
The Ottumwa Bird Club	Administrative records	Bird watchers Bird watching Birds--Nests Ornithology--Societies, etc Women conservationists	1944-01-01	1944-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Report on the first year of the Ottumwa Bird Club, including a history of it's founding, summaries of the group's activities, and a list of birds reported by members that year.	Ottumwa Bird Club	Bald Eagle American White Pelican Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Kentucky Warbler Mourning Dove Cliff Swallow	Lake Wapello Ottumwa Cliffland River Access				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	6	16
Ottumwa Bird Club constitution	Administrative records Bylaws (administrative records)	Ornithology--Societies, etc	1942-01-01	1946-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The Constitution of the Ottumwa Bird Club, circa 1944, stating the objective of the organization, and including by-laws and basic administrative information for the Club.	Ottumwa Bird Club		Ottumwa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	6	16
Fairfield Bird Club meeting minutes, 1943-1952	Administrative records	Ornithology--Societies, etc Meetings	1943-04-01	1952-11-20	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Handwritten minutes for the Fairfield Bird Club covering the years 1943-1952. The minutes were recorded by the person who held the office of secretary for the club for that year and provide an overview of what happened what happened when the club met, including the locations of the meetings, guests who attended the meetings, subjects of the programs presented, and treasurer's reports.	Fairfield Bird Club Lowell, Margaret Herdliska Scheffel, Iva Williamson, Estella M. Roth, Emma Thada, Lillian B.		Fairfield Waterworks Park Fairfield High School Parsons College				Fairfield (Iowa) Bird Club Records \| MS 386	1	4
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
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
Iowa Birdline information provided to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Administrative records	Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Citizen science	1981-01-01	1981-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The Iowa Birdline information sheet provided to members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. The document includes the first year operating expenses and subsequent years. It also includes a sample message for reporting.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	18
Iowa Ornithologist' Union spring meeting, Marshalltown, Iowa, 17-19 May 1985	Administrative records	Ornithology--Societies, etc Meetings	1985-05-17	1985-05-19	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Documentation regarding the spring meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union held in Marshalltown, Iowa, May 17-19, 1985. Includes schedule of events, outline for a proposed newsletter and outline for a proposed new constitution.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	1	16
Breeding Bird Atlas history	Administrative records	Bird populations Bird surveys Environmental monitoring	1991-01-01	1991-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Draft of year-by-year history of the Breeding Bird Atlas project from 1983 to 1991.			Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	25
Breeding Bird Atlas history	Administrative records	Bird populations Bird surveys Environmental monitoring	1992-01-01	1992-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Draft of year-by-year history of the Breeding Bird Atlas project from 1983 to 1991. Item includes handwritten annotations.			Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk east of Osage, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-03-13	1993-03-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk east of Osage in Mitchell County, IA on March 13, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hartogh, Mary Jo	Ferruginous Hawk	Osage	9 mi. E of Osage along a gravel road-Mitchell Co.	Hayfield near a road	The documentation form by Mary Jo Hartogh is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Hartogh and Annjean Hartogh. \| Elimination of similar species: Compared it with a bald eagle and red-tailed hawk which does not have large reddish patches where the legs would be held in flight, nor the outline inside the wings in the same color. A red-tail might have one or the other white, but not both tail and head in my experience. Also the red-tail usually has a darker shade of brown on its middle belly, if it has color there. The rough-legged has a dark tail band which at that proximity should have been seen and its color is also a darker brown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:25:00/08:26:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Tricolored Heron at IPL Ponds, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-04	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Tricolored Heron at the Iowa Power and Light settling ponds, in Council Bluffs, IA on May 4, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Greer, Janet	Tricolored Heron	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa Power and Light settling ponds, Council Bluffs, IA	lakeshore	The documentation form by Janet Greer is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marge Graf, Dutch Graf, and Mary Jo Harlow. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Blue Heron: Eliminated by bill color, rusty feathers on the breast, white belly and leg color, and dark face and crown. Little Blue Heron: Eliminated by size, rusty wing coverts, and white chin. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/12:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis Species at Cone Marsh, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-04-23	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a bird (Ibis species) at Cone Marsh in Louisa Co, IA on April 23, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Glossy Ibises	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	N.E. Corner of Cone Marsh, Louisa Co., IA	Marsh & Mud Flat, shore areas	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Carl J. Bendorf and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include Ken Lowder, Ann Barker, John Daniels, Jim Sieh, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Brian Blevins, and Rick Hollis. \| Elimination of similar species: White-faced Ibis, which was present for direct comparison, had a wide white facial border around a reddish-brown facial patch, eye seemed red but distance was a bit far to be positive, legs were uniformly reddish brown, bill darker and more reddish & bird seemed a bit smaller. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/09:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ross' Goose at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-03-02	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ross' Goose at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 2, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Ross' Goose	Coralville Lake	West overlook, Coralville Res., Johnson Co., Iowa	reservoir above dam	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Size, bill shape and size, head shape used to separate from Snow Goose. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Pleasant Creek State Park, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-11-09	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Pleasant Creek State Park in Linn County, IA on November 9, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo, pages from an issue of Iowa Bird Life, and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Pacific Loon	Pleasant Creek State Park	Pleasant Creek State Park, Linn Co., IA.	Deep artificial lake with many ducks.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, David L. Dankert, Randall Pinkston, Carl J. Bendorf, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Pete Wickham, John Daniel, Jeffrey B. Dankert, Beth Proescholdt, Pam Allen and Reid Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: No Common Loons present for comparison, but several were seen earlier in day at Lake Macbride. Bill thinner and straighter than Common Loon. No white around eye. Very sharp demarcation down neck. Neck mark was very thin and faint to me. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-11-10	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 10, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Pacific Loon	Jester Park	Jester Park, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	Open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Reid Allen, Pam Allen, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-throated and Yellow-billed Loons could both be eliminated by the horizontal head and bill. This bird also showed a more rounded head and definite black/white contrast which was lacking in the Red-throated Loon I had observed six days earlier. Common Loon was eliminated by combination of size, smaller bill, distinct line separating white and black feathers, and ultimately by the chinstrap. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:10:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Little Wall Lake, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-10-23	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on October 23, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pacific Loon	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall L., Hamilton Co.		The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: This smaller loon was dark gray across the back and wings, slightly darker than the Common Loon with it. [...] The whole neck pattern was much different and cleaner looking than the Common Loon. The bill was dark, short, and straight. It was about 1/3 shorter than the bill of the Common Loon and had a stockier appearance. [...] Common Loon eliminated above. Red-throated Loon eliminated by the dark back, neck pattern, and bill size and shape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:06:00/11:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red-throated Loon at Lake Manawa State Park, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-11-12	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Lake Manawa State Park in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 12, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Red-throated Loon	Lake Manawa State Park	Lake Manawa State Park, Pottawattamie County, Iowa	Open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Tanya E. Bray was submitted later. Other observers include Babs Padelford, BJ Rose, Ross Silcock, and Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: Cormorants could be eliminated by bill shape, among other characteristics. The bird had some similarities to a Western Grebe, but the grebe would hold its head parallel to the water, has a longer neck, and does not show the contrast between head/nape and back. Common Loon was eliminated by posture, size and shape of bill, contrast of lighter head and darker back, and more diffuse separation of upper and underparts. Pacific Loon was eliminated by the grayer underparts, diffuse separation of upper and underparts, posture, and sharp upward angle on lower mandible. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:50:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red-throated Loon at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-11-04	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on November 4, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Red-throated Loon	Coralville Lake	deep part of reservoir at West Overlook (just above dam) and at Mehaffy Bridge. Coralville Reservoir, Johnson County, Iowa	deep part of reservoir at West Overlook (just above dam) and at Mehaffy Bridge	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Ann Johnson, and Carol Thompson. Other observers include Ken Lowder, Jim Scheib, Bud Goode, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Beth Brown. \| Elimination of similar species: The head posture resembled a cormorant, but the bill, overall coloration, and behavior quickly excluded that possibility. The size and bill led me to an immediate identification. I was puzzled about the plumage. I expected to see a juvenile or basic-plumaged bird, but the distribution of dark coloration was that of alternate plumage. I assume that the red/black throat, lines of neck, and gray tones had faded to give one rather uniform color. The drab light may have contributed some to the failure to see color differences, but the last observation was relatively close and the texture of the feathers could be seen. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00-08:30:00 and 12:20:00-12:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5