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 of Slaty-Backed Gull north of Le Claire, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-02-12	1994-02-27	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Slaty-backed Gull north of Le Claire in Scott County, IA on February 12, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, excerpt from Illinois Birds and Birding, correspondence and commentary relevant to bird sighting and review, two photographs, photocopy of photographs, and eleven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Barker, Ann M.	Slaty-backed Gull	Le Claire	(1) Just north of Le Claire, Ia (2 +3) - Moline, IL. riverfront	river; open water or up on ice shelf or seawall	The documentation form by Ann M. Barker forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Peter C. Petersen, Thomas H. Kent, Gerald White, Tanya E. Bray, Ross Silcock, Carl Bendorf, and Michael J. Baum were submitted. Other observers include Mary Lou Petersen, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Tom Rockwell, Lewis Blevins, Brian Blevins, Don Moeller, Walter Zuurdeeg, Daryl Tessen, Doug Rose, Alan Grenon, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: (A) Greater black backed - Gull in question has slaty - gray saddle rather than coal black. And Gull in question is same size as Herring Gulls; Greater black-backed would be much larger. (B) Lesser black backed - Gull in question has pink legs and feet, and has much more white on primaries. (C) Western - Gull in question has considerable white on primaries, and does not show dusky trailing edge to underwing. Also has broader white trailing edge to upperwing than would the Western. (D) Herring Gull - dark race - no experience with this, but those shown in Harrison do not show as dark a saddle as Gull in question, nor as much white on primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:30:00 on February 12, 1989, 12:15:00/12:45:00 and 16:00:00/17:30:00 on February 14, 1989.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	6
Records committee review for rare bird sighting of Snowy Plover at Oak Grove Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-03	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records committee review of a Snowy Plover at Oak Grove Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on May 3, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Snowy Plover	Oak Grove Recreation Area	Saylorville Res., Polk Co., IA-Oak Grove Beach	sandy beach	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The plover shape, size, and overall color were enough to eliminate all shorebirds except Piping. [sic] Plover. Piping Plover was eliminated by the dark legs and bill, pattern of black on the head, and bill shape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:21:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Snowy Plover at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, 1992	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-10	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Snowy Plover at Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on May 10, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Rose, Douglas L.	Snowy Plover	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton W.M.A, Fremont County Iowa	Mud Flats	The documentation form by Doug Rose is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by B.J. Rose, Pam Allen, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Babs Padelford, Ross Silcock, Reid Allen, Ann Johnson, and Richard Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: Semi-Palm + Piping - Both have crane legs This bird had all blk all black bill smaller size \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Snowy Plover east of Black Hawk Lake, 1997	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-06-14	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Snowy Plover east of Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on June 14, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Allen, Pam	Snowy Plover	Black Hawk Lake	Sac County, in a dredge pond just east of the most easterly edge of Black Hawk Lake.	The bird was observed feeding quite near the edge of water and near shore area of the dredge pond which was mostly gumbo-like mudflats with some grassy patches.	The documentation form by Pam Allen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Peter Ernzen was submitted later. Other observers include Reid Allen, Rob Thelen, and Joe Clark. \| Elimination of similar species: See above description. [...] It was about one-third the size of a Kildeer, with a short, thin pointed black bill (longer, however, than a Piping Plover's stubbier short bill). [...] Also conspicuous was the black patch which was located just at the top of the 'shoulder' where the wing joined the body and extending a little ways toward the mid-breast area (but nowhere extending as far as the complete or semi-complete breastband common on the Piping Plover). The legs and feet were a dull dark slate grey (with no hint of the orange/pink coloration indicative of a Piping Plover). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:10:00/13:20:00 and 14:00:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of South Polar Skua at Credit Island, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-02	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a South Polar Skua at Credit Island in Scott County, IA on April 2, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, three different copies of a photograph, an article in American Birds, an article in Birds of Missouri, correspondence about the sighting, a documentation form, and an audiotape transcription submitted to the committee.	Hodges, Herbert James	South Polar Skua	Credit Island	Credit Island, Davenport, IA.	frozen harbor off Miss. River	The documentation form by Jim Hodges is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No Jaeger or Gull has a comparable white streak down the primary bases into the secondaries. Lack of a dorsal view made species id. impossible. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 19 at Keokuk, 1989	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-24	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Thayer's Gulls at Lock and Dam 19 at Keokuk in Lee County, IA on November 24, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, four photographs, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Thayer's Gull	Lock Number 19	Behind Lock and Dam 19 at Keokuk in Lee County, Iowa (Iowa side)	River (Mississippi)	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Cecil, Tom Kent, and Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Only probable similar species is Herring, which has contrasty wings - dark trailing edge and darker wingtips. The Thayer's were obviously a lighter shade of brown than any Herrings present. I judged these birds to be somewhat smaller than any Herring. I could not totally rule out first year Glaucous-winged. According to NGS, Glaucous-wing has less mottling or scalloping. The Keokuk birds were obviously mottled. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-12-07	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Thayer's Gulls at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on December 7, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, a photocopy of a photograph on the cover page of Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Thayer's Gull	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.	large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The size, uniform body and wing color, pale underside of the flight feathers, and tail band eliminates Herring and Glaucous/Iceland gulls, the most likely candidates for confusion. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:04:00/16:42:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Charles City, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents) Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-02-26	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Trumpeter Swan at Charles City in Floyd County, IA on February 26, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, three photocopied photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walter, Janice L.	Trumpeter Swan	Charles City	Cedar River at end of Maple St., Charles City, IA	Narrow stretch of open water along bank of frozen river	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim B. Walter and James L. Hansen. \| Elimination of similar species: Mute Swan by all black bill without knob at base; neck held straight not in S curve Tundra Swan by forehead slanting down to straight bill, black facial skin ending in broad point at eye, not sharp point in front of eye, and dipping down into a V on forehead, not extending straight across \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:10:00/17:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Tufted Duck at Sweet Marsh, 1980	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-06-30	1994-01-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Tufted Duck at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on June 30, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, correspondence about the sighting, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Tufted Duck	Sweet Marsh	Sweet Marsh (Tom Stone, Jr. & I first found bird)	marshy area near cattails	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis L. Moore were submitted . Other observers include Russell Hays, Tom Stone, and Tom Stone, Jr. \| Elimination of similar species: May be a ring-neck female or scaup but doesn't look right- probably a hybrid. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:45:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White Ibis at Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, 1995.	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-09-05	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of an White Ibis at Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in Johnson County, IA on September 5, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo, an article from North American Birds, an article from Iowa Bird Life, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Edwards, Chris	White Ibis	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	Hawkeye Wildlife Area (Coralville Reservoir), Johnson Co.	Muddy shoreline.	The documentation form by Chris Edwards is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Thomas H. Kent, Stephen J. Dinsmore, and Peter C. Petersen were submitted later. Other observers include Tim Schantz, James Huntington, Jim Scheib, Cal Knight, and Bernie Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: Glossy Ibis and White-faced Ibis have dark underparts and dark bills. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:10:00/17:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-faced Ibis at Blue Lake, 1995	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-25	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of nine White-faced Ibis at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on April 25, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	White-faced Ibis	Blue Lake	Blue L., Monona Co., IA	Missouri River bottoms oxbow -- shallow, open	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pete Ernzen. \| Elimination of similar species: The white facial feathers, red eyes, and all carmine legs eliminate Glossy Ibis, the only contender. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/09:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Whooping Crane east of De Soto National Wildlife Refuge, 1999	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-04-09	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of six Whooping Cranes east of De Soto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on April 9, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, James J.	Whooping Crane	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	1 mile east of DeSoto N.W.R., Harrison County	open corn stubble field	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, and Chris Edwards were submitted later .Other observers include Dick Tetrault and Mary Edwards. \| Elimination of similar species: Sandhill Crane by color. Great Egret by black wing tips and bill was somewhat curved rather than dagger-like as in egret. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:35:00/17:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	17