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

Photograph of an albino Robin perching on a branch	Photographs	Bird watching	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	An albino Robin perching on a branch. Photograph originally titled "Albino Robin." Rosene provides details on back of photograph.	Clarke, Cornelia	American Robin					Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	10	2
Photograph of a Chimney Swift observation tower	Photographs	Bird watching	1928-08-10	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	An observation tower built by Althea Sherman of National, used for observing the nesting of Chimney Swifts, August 10, 1928. Photograph originally titled "Chimney Swift observation tower near National, Iowa." Rosene provides details on back of photograph.	Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	Chimney Swift	National				Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	17	3
Photograph of a young Mourning Dove	Photographs	Bird watching	1923-09-11	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	An unidentified person holding a young Mourning Dove in their hand, September 11, 1923. Photograph originally titled "Young Mourning Dove." Rosene provides details on back of photograph.	Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	Mourning Dove					Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	8	5
Field reports form for submitting seasonal observations of Iowa birds and photograph of a Snowy Owl, Jack Jones, fall 1987	Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents) Photographs	Bird banding Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Habitat	1987-08-01	1987-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall report of birds found in northwest Iowa contributed by Jack Jones. The report also includes a newspaper clipping with a photograph of Snowy Owl. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1987. This document is related to a letter from Randall D. Williams that describes a Snowy Owl sighting: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/4032/view	Jones, Jack (John Paul)	White-breasted Nuthatch Purple Martin Chimney Swift Eastern Kingbird Snowy Owl Western Kingbird Gray Partridge Common Nighthawk Golden-crowned Kinglet Black-capped Chickadee Dark-eyed Junco Eastern Screech-Owl	Sioux City O'Brien County Bacon Creek Park East High School				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	23	2
Doug Reeves letter and photograph to W. Ross Silcock regarding Breeding Bird Atlas special documentation forms and a Barn Owl nest, February 12, 1987	Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Birds--Nests Ornithology--Methodology Birds--Infancy	1987-02-12	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter and photograph from Doug Reeves to W. Ross Silcock regarding Breeding Bird Atlas special documentation forms and a Barn Owl nest, February 12, 1987. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of summer 1987.	Reeves, Doug	Barn Owl Northern Goshawk	Boone Tabor Wayne County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	23	1
Gladys Black letter to Michael Newlon regarding bird sightings including a Pine Grosbeak, February 1, 1984	Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird feeders Bird watching Birds--Identification Rare birds	1984-02-01	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Gladys Black to Michael Newlon, sent on February 1, 1984, about bird sightings that winter. It features a photocopied photograph and description of a Pine Grosbeak sighting at Denver in Bremer County, IA, before February 1, 1984.	Black, Gladys Wylder, Robert	Pine Grosbeak Snowy Owl Glaucous Gull Orange-crowned Warbler	Pleasantville Red Rock Dam Denver				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Photograph of Smith's Longspur, 1990	Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Birds--Identification Photography of birds	1990-04-12	1990-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Photograph of Smith's Longspur near Lone Tree, IA on April 12, 1990. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of summer 1990.		Smith's Longspur	Lone Tree				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	24	2
Photographs of an Eurasian Collard Dove, summer 2001	Photographs	Bird watching Birds--Nests Birds--Infancy	2001-07-30	2001-08-01	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Photograph of the Eurasian Collard Dove consists of two images taken by Thomas H. Kent. The top image is an adult Eurasian Collard Dove in Grinnell, July 30, 2001 and the bottom image is an Eurasian Collard Dove on a nest with young in Fenton, August 1, 2001. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of summer 2001.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Eurasian Collared Dove	Grinnell Fenton				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	28	7
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red-throated Loon at Pleasant Creek Lake, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-04-13	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn County, IA on April 13, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, a photo and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Red-throated Loon	Pleasant Creek State Park	Pleasant Creek Recreation Area (Linn County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Chris Edwards were submitted later. Other observers include John Daniel, Ken Lowder, and Dale Fye. \| Elimination of similar species: The other smaller loon, Pacific has darker gray upperparts and minimal white marks on the back, gray surrounding the eye, a straight bill, black eye, a more rounded top of the head, and often displays a chin strap, all features which differ from Red-throated Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:37:00/14:54:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mute Swan at South Clay County, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-04-08	1994-01-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a a Mute Swan at South Clay County, IA on April 8, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, a page of copied photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, internal correspondence, summary of review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Mute Swan	Clay County	5 East of 71 on 374	Large farm pond, rolling hills most of which were in cultavation [sic]	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Vernon Beirman. \| Elimination of similar species: Was from the mute swan because of the straight neck and the Tundra swan because of the dark base of the bill. The wings were not held high like on the Mute swan. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Baird's Sparrow northwest of Ida Grove, 1992	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-04-22	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Baird's Sparrow northwest of Ida Grove in Ida County, IA on April 22, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Ernzen, Peter	Baird's Sparrow	Ida Grove	Ida County (see map attached)	See attached sheet [...] The first sighting birds flew west across the corn field - see map - [...]	The documentation form by Peter Ernzen forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Don Poggensee was submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: Savannah Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow, Le Contes Sparrow Savannah Sparrow - Dirty yellow down top of crown Henslows wrong color, Le Contes dirty yellow initially thought this Sparrow (Yellow was first thing noticed) eliminated after further study for more detail on all see attached sheets. [...] Baird's Sparrow was the last of the sparrows in my decision making. I arrived at this conclusion primarily because of the head color/down the middle of the crown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	36
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Barrow's Goldeneye at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-01-02	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Barrow's Goldeneye at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on January 2, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, photographs of the bird, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Barrow's Goldeneye	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto NWR	Oxbow Lake, Partly open	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Steve Dinsmore and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include Ann Johnson, Ruth Green, and Tanya Bray. \| Elimination of similar species: See above - all features eliminate Common Goldeneye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Barrow's Goldeneye at Tera Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-11-28	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Barrow's Goldeneye at Tera Lake in Polk County, IA on November 28, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Allen, Pam Allen, Reid I.	Barrow's Goldeneye	Terra Lake	Tera Lake, IPTV Pond, Johnston, Polk County, Iowa	Enclosed freshwater pond.	The documentation form by Reid and Pam Allen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jerry Jancik, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene Armstrong, and Maridel Jackson. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Goldeneye eliminated because of head shape, wing and side markings, facial pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:15:00/12:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-crowned Night-Heron at Polk City, 1997	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-21	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-crowned Night-Heron at Polk City Wildlife Area in Polk County, IA on December 21, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Black-crowned Night Heron	Polk City Wildlife Area	Polk City Wildlife Area, Polk Co., IA		The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore was submitted later. Other observers include Aaron Brees and Phil Walsh. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was eliminated by the boldness of the markings on both the upper and underparts of the body and by the leg extension in flight. \| The documentation form event occurred at approximately 09:30:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Cedar Rapids, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-12-01	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on December 1, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Millikin, Sara L.	Black-headed Grosbeak	Cedar Rapids	Usually on the ground where I had thrown seed	along railway right of way near my home and on ground near house and feeders	The documentation form by Sara L. Millikin is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pete Wickham, Lillian Serbousek, Roberta Appedahl, Fred Nissen, Weir Nelson, Karl Goellner, and Lucile Liljedahl. \| The original documentation form event lasted from at daylight to 16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Nevada, 1990	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-05-21	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Nevada in Story County, IA on May 21, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Abbott, Bill	Black-headed Grosbeak	Nevada	1031 H. Ave. Nevada, Iowa 50201		The documentation form by Bill Abbott is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The fact this bird was sighted on May 21 and 22 makes it very unlikely an immature Rose breasted grosbeak. The red patch shown on the shoulder of an immature grosbeak was not observed. The breast on the bird observed was not as spotted or steaked [sic] as shown on the female rose breasted grosbeak. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:00:00 on May 21 and 07:00:00 on May 22.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Jemmerson Slough, 1996	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-06-23	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Jemmerson Slough in Dickinson County, IA on June 23, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Black-headed Gull	Jemmerson Slough Wildlife Management Area	Jemerson [sic] Slough, Dickinson County	Newly restored wetland with mudflats and raised island	The documentation form by Lee Schoenewe is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Harold White, Ed Thelen, and Tom Stone. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's Gulls by close comparison; Bonaparte's by head color + dark underwing \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Spirit Lake and Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-08-02	1998-06-09	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Spirit Lake and Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area in Dickinson County, IA on August 2, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a photograph, and thirteen documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Black-headed Gull	Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area Spirit Lake	n. end of Spirit L., Dickinson Co., IA	large lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore for the 11:25 AM sighting forms the basis of this record. A second form by Stephen J. Dinsmore for the 12:12 PM and 5:40PM sighting was submitted as well. Other documentation forms by Lee A. Schoenewe, Pete Ernzen, Jim Fuller, Thomas H. Kent, Peter C. Petersen, Ed Thelen, Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, Pam Allen, Reid Allen, Beth Proescholdt, and Mark Proescholdt (two separate forms) were submitted later. Other observers include LaVonne Foote, Nancy Schoenewe, Beth Brown, Tim Schantz, Brian Blevins, Corey Blevins, Bob Livermore, Roland Barth, Kim Eckert, Russ Widner, Phil McFadden, Bill Huser, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of red bill and legs, brown hood, size, very pale gray mantle and upperwings, and black undersides to the inner primaries eliminates several similar species, including Franklin's, Laughing, Little, Bonaparte's, and Ross' gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:25:00/11:42:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Spirit Lake, 1999	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-10-01	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on October 1, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Black-headed Gull	Spirit Lake	North Shore Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co.	Rock jetty, fishing pier + shallow bay + marsh	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted. Other observers include many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonaparte's - Bill color and underwing smudging \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:20:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-throated Sparrow at Waterloo, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-03-17	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-throated Sparrow at Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on March 17, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in American Birds, and seven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Black-throated Sparrow	Waterloo	Feeder of Maurice and Ruby Hanson, 1262 Ackermant, Waterloo (Black Hawk County).		The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Peter C. Petersen, Mark Proescholdt, Thomas H. Kent, James Scheib, Randy Pinkston, and Ray Cummins were submitted. Other observers include Francis Moore, Ken Lowder, Maurice Hanson, Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, Dick Tetrault, Rita Goranson, Jan Walters, Beth Proescholdt, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Curt Nelson, Marty Pauley, Carolyn Fischer, Beth McBride, Tim Fallon, Pat Hanson, Hank Zaletel, Tim Schantz, Tom Stone, Ruby Hanson, and Brian Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: The black bib in combination with the wide white face stripes is distinctive. No other sparrow-like bird has these features. The other desert southwest birds which are similar are Sage and Five-striped Sparrows, both of which have white throats and a dark stickpin on the breast. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:44:00/07:47:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	33
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Boreal Chickadee at Des Moines, 1976	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1976-11-17	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Boreal Chickadee at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on November 17, 1976. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, multiple articles from Iowa Bird Life, a request for reconsideration of record, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brown, Woodward H.	Boreal Chickadee	Des Moines	Des Moines, IA	General: urban, residential Specific: large back yard with both evergreen and deciduous trees and large stand of yew adjacent to feeders	The documentation form by Woodward H. Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Mooney, Nicholas Halmi, Lurene Warters, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Superficially similar to any of the chickadees \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	49
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 for Bullock's Oriole at Cedar Falls, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-20	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Bullock's Oriole at Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County, IA on December 20, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, photographs, e-mail correspondence between Jon Dunn, Jim Fuller, James Rising, David Sibley, and Paul Lehman, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Bullock's Oriole	Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, Iowa - Black Hawk County	coming to feeder in residential area	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers includes Don Irwin and Paulina Irwin. \| Elimination of similar species: The 'Baltimore' subspecies has the yellow-orange on breast going down the breast thru belly and has a more yellowish back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Bullock's Oriole at Elk Horn, 1999	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-12-17	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Bullock's Oriole at Elk Horn in Shelby County, IA on December 17, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Bullock's Oriole	Elk Horn	Yard of Randy and Rhea Leete, Elk Horn, Iowa (Shelby County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Thomas H. Kent was submitted later. Other observers include Karole Fuller, Mike Overton, Dixie Overton, and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: This is the only orange oriole that exhibits a large white wing patch, and a dark eye line on an otherwise orange face. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:20:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	11