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

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Boreal Chickadee at the Dubuque area in 1966	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1967-03-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Boreal Chickadee at the Dubuque area in Dubuque County, IA on December 26, 1966. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Christmas Bird Census in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 37:5 by Woodward H. Brown seen by Basil Beal, Frieda Crossley, George Crossley, Howard Higley, Jr., Joan Higley, Howard Higley III, Ival Schuster, Phyllis Shultz, and Paul Skelley, Jr.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Boreal Chickadee	Dubuque				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	49
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Boreal Owl at Osage in 1916	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1916-09-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Boreal Owl at Osage in Mitchell County, IA on March 25, 1916. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Preliminary List of the Birds of Floyd County Iowa in Wilson Bulletin 28:130-138 by Carroll Lane Fenton seen by Flora May Tuttle, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Boreal Owl	Osage				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Boreal Owl near Osage in 1914	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1916-09-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Boreal Owl captured near Osage in Mitchell County, IA in 1914. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication A Preliminary List of the Birds of Floyd County Iowa in the Wilson Bulletin 28:130-138 by C.L. Fenton, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Boreal Owl	Osage				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Boreal Owl north of Floyd in 1915	Administrative reports Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1916-09-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Boreal Owl north of Floyd in Floyd County, IA on July 14, 1915. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication A Preliminary List of the Birds of Floyd County Iowa in Wilson Bulletin 28(3):130-138 by C.L. Fenton, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Boreal Owl	Floyd				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Amana in 1902	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting	1907-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brant at Amana in Iowa County, IA in 1902. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson and seen by George H. Berry, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Amana				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Ingham Lake in 1970	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1977-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brant at Ingham Lake in Emmet County, IA during October 1970. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Waterfowl in Iowa 5th ed. State Conservation Commission by J.W. Musgrove and M.R. Musgrove.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Ingham Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Nebraska, IA in 1819	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1823-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brant at Nebrasksa in Page County, IA around 1819. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication An Account of an Expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains Performed in the Years 1819, 1820 .. London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown by E. James seen by Thomas Say.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Nebraska				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant at Swan Lake in 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Rare birds	1996-11-29	2000-11-22	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brant at Swan Lake in Carroll County, IA on November 26, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the letter from Russ Behrens to Bob describing the bird, and referenced by a publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Swan Lake State Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brant in Iowa before 1870	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1870-01-01	1993-08-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brant in Iowa before 1870. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication A Catalogue of the Birds of Iowa by J.A. Allen.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brant	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brown Pelican at Brenton Slough in 1959	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Water birds	1959-04-26	1993-09-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brown Pelican at Brenton Slough in Polk County, IA on April 26, 1959. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Brown Pelican record near Des Moines in Iowa Bird Life 30:47 seen by Helen and Harold Peasley.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brown Pelican	Brenton Slough				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brown Pelican at Council Bluffs in 1819	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Trapping	1819-01-01	1993-09-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brown Pelican at Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA in 1819. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication The Birds of Iowa in the Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Sciences 11:125-417 by Rudolph Martin Anderson, and referenced in two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brown Pelican	Council Bluffs				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records committee review for rare bird sighting of Brown Pelican at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-06	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Brown Pelican at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on May 6, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in the Nebraska Bird Review about the sighting, two photographs, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Rose, B.J.	Brown Pelican	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Harrison County, IA, and Washington County, NE. It was on the south end of the oxbow, just above the dam.	Missouri River oxbow lake	The documentation form by B.J. Rose is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, and Peter C. Petersen were submitted later. Other observers include Babs Padelford, Ross Silcock, Dick Tetrault, and Brian Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: White Pelican is white with black wing tips; some were present for comparison. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records Committee review for bird sighting of Brown Pelican at Rathbun Reservoir, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-05-30	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Brown Pelican at Lake Rathbun in Appanoose County, IA on May 30, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an American Birds article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Brown Pelican	Rathbun Lake	Lake Rathbun Island West Boat Ramp	Open water	The documentation form by Raymond L. Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Heusinkveld, Marj Heusinkveld, Tom Johnson, and Mary Montog. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing I know of. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 20:00:00/20:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Brown Pelican at Lock and Dam 18, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-04	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Brown Pelican at Lock and Dam #18 in Des Moines County on November 4, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in an Illinois bird magazine, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Brown Pelican	Lock and Dam Number 18	Lock and Dam #18 Mississippi River (Des Moines County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Scheib, John Rutenbeck, Myrna Deaton, Bernie Knight, Cal Knight, and Chuck Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: The White Pelican is white with yellow-orange or orange bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:42:00/07:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brown Pelican at Montpelier, 1969	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Photography of birds Rare birds	1969-05-10	1993-09-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brown Pelican at Montpelier in Muscatine County, IA on May 10, 1969. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Brown Pelican in Muscatine County in Iowa Bird Life 42:51 by Peter C. Petersen photographed by Elmer Deters.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brown Pelican	Montpelier				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brown Pelican at Twin Lake, 1963	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1963-09-14	1993-09-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brown Pelican at Twin Lake in Calhoun County, IA on September 14, 1963. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Iowa Bird Life 33:86 seen by Mrs. George Wright.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brown Pelican	Twin Lakes				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Brown Pelican at Boone in 1900	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Reports	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1900-07-01	1993-09-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Brown Pelican near Boone in Boone County, IA in July 1900. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter from David A Newhouse to IOU Records Committee, the original sighting record found in the publication A Southern bird in central Iowa by C.F. Henning seen by Fritcher brothers, and referenced in three other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Brown Pelican	Boone				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Bullock's Oriole at Lake Red Rock, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-09-03	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Bullock's Oriole at Lake Red Rock in Marion County, IA on September 3, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Bullock's Oriole	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Res., Marion Co.	forest along lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer include Jim Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: See above. Baltimore Oriole has a solid black hood and dark wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:35:00/08:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Burrowing Owl east of Larchwood, 1998	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-08-30	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Burrowing Owl east of Larchwood in Lyon County, IA on August 30, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a photograph submitted to the committee.	Harr, Douglas C.	Burrowing Owl	Larchwood	[...] probable nest site three miles east of Larchwood.		The article by Doug Harr forms the basis of this record. Another observer is Dolly Zangger. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I saw no evidence of other owls on this or subsequent visits.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-10-27	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 27, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, two articles in Iowa Bird Life, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	California Gull	Babcock Access	Babcock Access, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson County, Iowa	shallow, open area of reservoir	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, Randy Pinkston, Carol Thompson, and Carl J. Bendorf were submitted later. Other observers include Timothy Dwyer, John Cordell, James Huntington, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Rick Hollis. \| Elimination of similar species: First-year Ring-billed Gulls were all in first winter plumage with gray mantle and were much lighter overall. The only other species considered is juvenile Herring Gull. The size is small for Herring Gull. The elongated appearance and short legs fit California Gull. Most young Herrings that I see in early fall have mostly dark bills that are larger than that of this bird. The double inner wing bar and lighter tertial tips fit California Gull. The overall relatively uniform and relatively light brown color without windows in the inner primaries also made this bird look different from Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/16:55:00 on October 27, 1990 and from 19:10:00/22:30:00 and 15:00:00/16:00:00 on October 28, 1990.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Carter Lake, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-11-21	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Carter Lake in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 21, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	California Gull	Carter Lake	Carter Lake, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Loren and Babs Padelford, and Ross Silcock were submitted. Other observers include Jerry Toll and B.J. Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: Both Ring-billed and Herring Gulls are eliminated by bill coloration, size, slightly darker mantle, and eye color. Western, Lesser-black backed would be darker mantled, different bill coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Credit Island, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-23	1993-07-21	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Credit Island in Scott County, IA on November 23, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence about the sighting from Louise Augustine to Carl Bendorf, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Augustine, Louise	California Gull	Credit Island	Credit Island - Davenport, Iowa - Scott County	This is an unfamiliar Area for me - I have never birded there before - The Place Credit Island - Backwater of Mississippi River - There was some ICE and open water - Many Gulls were in this Backwater area - on ice and in water. Probably around 1,500 Gulls -	The documentation form by Louise Augustine forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Peter C. Petersen and Jim Fuller were submitted. Other observers include Randy Pinkston, Mary Lou Petersen, Jerome Augustine, David Augustine, and Julie Augustine. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull - darker mantle - Dark eye - Leg Color - ashy-green gray not Pink - smaller size - slimmer build Ring-billed Gull - mantle too dark - dark eye - Bill had only a spot Leg Color not yellow - This bird larger than Ring-billed gulls - \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Mini-Wakan State Park, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-09-06	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Mini-Wakan State Park in Dickinson County, IA on September 6, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bangma, Jim Johnson, Ann	California Gull	Mini Wakan State Park	Spirit Lake, north end, Dickinson Co., IA	Lakeshore	The documentation form by Jim Bangma and Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring-billed is ruled out by the solid gray mantle combined with the extensive molt of the flight feathers. Ring-bills and similar 3 year gulls obtain the gray mantle during a post-juvenal molt. Flight feathers are not molted at this time. Flight feathers are molted after one year, at which time the body of a Ring-bill would be much whiter. Also, the mantle was a much darker shade of gray than any Ring-bill present. Additionally, Ring-billed Gull's bill is proportionally smaller and thinner, with more curve. Herring Gull would be larger. The mantle of a Herring Gull would be paler gray, nearly the same shade as that of the Ring-bills. The bill would be proportionally heavier with a more marked gonydeal angle. Herring Gulls may show a black tipped bill, but the black normally blends into the pink of the base or runs in along the cutting edges of the bill. The bill and legs would be brighter pink. Other similarly sized extralimitals can be ruled out by the mantle color as well as bill pattern and shape. A striking feature of this bird was its leg length. In an effort to better understand this, Bangma paid a visit to the American Museum of Natural History and examined specimens of Herring, Ring-billed and California Gulls. Measurements were made of a representative selection of specimens. The following chart shows the results. [Chart] While there is some overlap between these species, it is interesting to note that the breaking point between California Gull and the other two is very near the ratio of 1.5. While not diagnostic by itself, the length of this bird's tarsus relative to the culmen as estimated by us in the field is indicative of California Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-08	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on September 8, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and the article California Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Iowa Bird Life 61:20 by Stephen Dinsmore reviewed by the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	California Gull	Oak Grove Recreation Area	[...] Oak Grove Beach Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County.		The article by Stephen J. Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...]The bird was similar in size to the largest Ring-billed Gulls, but slightly larger than others. I approached closer and noted that, when compared to a Ring-billed Gull, the bird had duller yellow legs, a stouter bill with black and red spots near the tip of the lower mandible, and a darker gray mantle. [...] The bird was slightly larger than most of the Ring-billed Gulls, although one or two of the biggest Ring-billed Gulls were as large as the bird I was studying. Proportionately, the bird was heavier and larger-headed than a Ring-billed Gull. [...] I estimated the mantle color to be about midway between those of Ring-billed Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. [...] The bill was heavier than the bill of a Ring-billed Gull and had a distinct gonys. The legs were pale gray-green, unlike the bright yellow legs of a Ring-billed Gull. Leg length appeared similar to a Ring-billed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/09:27:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-09-03	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area in Marion County, IA on September 3, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	California Gull	Red Rock Wildlife Area	1 mi e. of Swan, Marion Co. (Runnells W.A.)	pool of shallow water	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Sinclair, Thomas H. Kent, and Jim Fuller were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring-billed and Herring gulls are the two most likely species of confusion. Ring-billed Gull never shows this much brown in any plumage, has a dark tail band in immature plumages, has a different wing pattern, and is structurally different from California Gull. Herring Gull is more similar in first-basic plumage, but always shows a pale window on the inner primaries, lacks the double dark bar effect in the innerwing, is larger, and very rarely shows a strongly bicolored bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:55:00/12:24:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1