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 Ferruginous Hawk east of Laurens, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-10-25	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Laurens in Pocahontas County, IA on October 25 and 26, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an article from Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Carlson, Judith	Ferruginous Hawk	Laurens	2 miles East Laurens, IA on Hiway [sic] 10	Road Ditch Fench [sic] Line & Large Farm Grove	The documentation form by Judith Carlson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ronald Harms were submitted later. Other observers include Helen Carlson. \| Elimination of similar species: Red Tail are darker and stockier in appearance. Osprey - smaller, darker on back and eye stripe wider, lower & longer. Rough Legged darker all over on front. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:45:00/18:15:00 and 10:30:00/11:25:00 on October 26, 1984.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Thornton, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-04-23	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Thornton in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 23, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fischer, Carolyn J.	Ferruginous Hawk	Thornton	North of Thorton [sic] on Eagle Ave. between 140-150 roads - Cerro Gordo County, Ia	shortgrass meadows, open area -	The documentation form by Carolyn Fischer forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form was submitted by Rita Goranson. \| Elimination of similar species: Krider's Hawk (this hawk was larger in size than a Krider's \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:15:00/18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Princeton Marsh, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-05-08	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Princeton Marsh in Scott County, IA on May 8, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Ferruginous Hawk	Princeton State Wildlife Management Area	Princeton Marsh, Scott Co., IA.	bird flying of marsh & agricultural area	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian Blevins and Don Moeller. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-tailed Hawk no windows from above, legs white, has breast band, tail uniform rusty red. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Paulina, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-06-03	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Paulina in O'Brien County, IA on June 3, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bierman, Dick	Ferruginous Hawk	Paullina	5 miles North of Paulina Iowa OBrien [sic] Co.	Flat, Agricultural, only farm Groves for Trees	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Swainson's Hawk have dark primaries. Red Tails with light tails have a terminal band. This one didn't. Red Tails do not have dark legs that are feathered to the ankle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:18:00 and 09:40:00 to 09:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk west of Conesville, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-04-29	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk west of Conesville on edge of Louisa and Muscatine County, IA on April 29, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Ferruginous Hawk	Conesville	1 mi. W. conesville edge of Muscatine and Louise Cos., IA	cultivated fields	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian, Corey, and Lewis Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Rough-legged hawk - underwing would show more dark in the underwing coverts, well defined tail band. Kriders Red-tail - has a very light head. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:45:00/13:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Benton Township in Fremont County, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-01-17	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Benton Township in Fremont County, IA on January 17, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, field notes of the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Ferruginous Hawk	Benton Township	Benton TWP, Fremont Co., IA.	Open Missouri riverbottom; soybean stubble fields	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: See attached discussion. (After writing my field notes at the site of observation and returning home later I found the stnadard field guides most unhelpful. Dunne et al's discussion of Ferruginous was tremendous, indicating variation in Ferruginous Hawks, and especially in discussion of flight characteristics, 'jizz', and behavior [...] The only possibility which is realistic to consider is Redtailed [sic] Hawk, or possibly Rough-legged Hawk. While similar in 'jizz' to a rough-leg (long tail, flight with 'crooked' (=osprey-like) wings, darker mottling underneath, longish wings), Roughleg can be eliminated by the following characters - absence of characteristic underwing pattern, including significant wrist mark (Ferruginous should show this to some extent according to Dunne et al, but I did not see it; remember I did not see the underparts well), and method of hunting-I have never seen a roughleg fly this low over the ground for this long (about a mile) - much lower and more consistently so than a harrier. Regarding elimination of Red-tail - I really think it is easier to eliminate Red-tail than rough-leg based on 'jizz'. The tail was too long, was never spread, and wings were long than Red-tail's. Tail pattern and 'three points of light' combination also is never seen on a Redtail [sic], especially when viewed from above. (The similarity to Roughleg [sic] in pattern can be seen in the front end paper in Dunne et al). Habitat and behavior also are important - while Redtails [sic] are very common in Fremont County, they are definitely not common on the open Missouri bottomlands. Redtail [sic] is a bird of edge habitat. I always look closely at any buteo seen from October to April on the open bottomlands. I have never seen any other buteo fly as low to the ground for as long as this bird - when i say low, I mean 1-2 ft above the ground. At no time was the bird higher than 6', and that was when perched on possibly the lowest post for some distance. Even a Harrier will rise and fall while hunting. This bird stayed low, in the manner of a hunting Golden Eagle (which I have seen in Western Kansas) - a point also mentioned by Dunne et al. Another point noted by Dunne et al and also shown in my sketch (purposely!) and, mentioned in my field notes was the osprey-like crook in the wings-while flying low over the ground. Dunne et al note that this is characteristic of a hunting Ferruginous. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Red Rock Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-01-02	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on January 2, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Ferruginous Hawk	Lake Red Rock	Lake Red Rock, Marion Co, IA	pasture with wooded draw to the south	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: This was a classic case of delayed reaction as I began sorting through in my mind as I drove down the road. The large size and bulk of the bird, plus the broad, rounded tail made it an obvious buteo. After double-checking all phases of the rough-legged hawk in Clark's Hawks, I once again eliminated rough-leg because of the nearly all white underparts. However, redtail wasn't fitting either, even a light phase, and a few miles down the road the ferruginous crossed my mind. I pulled off the road, made a few notes, and began researching with the guides at hand. The most troublesome field mark was the 'white tail with gray band.' I have seen numerous redtails give the white rump appearance but none have had the distinctive white tail/gray terminal band. There was absolutely no dark patagial marking on the underwing. The combination of field marks (or lack thereof) would seem to approach an immature Krider's redtail. I eliminated this bird because of the appearance of one, wide gray tail band and the more uniform coloring of the body - very little white mottling. Although I wish I'd had a longer look, I came to the conclusion that the combination of what I had observed pointed toward an immature ferruginous hawk. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:00:00/09:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
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 Ferruginous Hawk at Rathbun Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-02-01	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on February 1, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Heusinkveld, Bill	Ferruginous Hawk	Rolling Cove Park	Rolling Cove Area, Rathbun Lake, Appanoose County	Perched in Large Tree in Grove next to Lake Rathbun	The documentation form by Bill Heusinkveld is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marjorie Heusinkveld \| Elimination of similar species: Red tail eliminated by complete lack of belly band, no red tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:04:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk in Story County, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-09-29	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Tiegs Marsh in Story County, IA on September 29, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about bird sightings, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Ferruginous Hawk	Story County	Tiegs Marsh, Story County	in open cropland near a small marsh	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Fred J. Alsop were submitted later. Other observers include Dr. George Brown and Paul Martsching. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-tailed hawk eliminated by lack of dark bar on leading edge of underwing, position of white wing patches, white tail with rusty tip, lack of belly band, and rust color on back and wings. Rough-legged hawk eliminated by lack of wrist marks, rust color on back and wings, all white legs, unbanded tail and lack of belly band. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00 and 10:10:00 to 10:15:00 estimated.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk in Cherokee County, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-03-28	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk in Cherokee County, IA on March 28, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Ferruginous Hawk	Cherokee County	Hwy 7 & M 31	Bean ground with some water ways (grass)	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Redtailed hawk, no horizontal streaking onthe [sic] belly and the rufous colored legs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:40:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Otter Creek Marsh, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-12-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County, IA on December 23, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an article from Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Ferruginous Hawk	Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge	Otter Creek M., Tama Co., Iowa	large, wide riverbottom marsh with scattered woods.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: According to Eckert, the upper wing patches are diagnostic if the location is right. He gives the following example as an acceptable documentation: 'On the upper surface of each wing there was a rectangular or oval white patch on the flight feathers. This patch was on the inner primaries, and perhaps faded a bit into the secondaries and outer primaries.' This description fits the bird I saw. Eckert gives two other diagnostic marks that I did not see (feathered legs, rufous back and shoulders), but only one of these three marks is needed. The white tail is not diagnostic, but coupled with the light underparts and generally dark upper wing surface, tends to exclude Krider's and Harlan's Hawks which would have light upper wings and dark underparts, respectively. An ordinary Red-tailed Hawk would not ordinarily have an all white-tail nor such prominent upper wing patches. The raised wings in flight in the absence of wind favor Ferruginous Hawk over Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks. Rough-legged Hawk is excluded by the lack of prominent black and white pattern to body, wing and tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/14:57:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk west of Liscomb, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-09-22	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk west of Liscomb in Marshall County, IA on September 22, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, two articles in Iowa Bird Life, notes about Ferruginous Hawk sightings in Iowa, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Ferruginous Hawk	Liscomb	Just west of Liscomb - (Marshall County)	Open country over cultivated farm fields - Iowa River 1/2 mile away	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form was submitted by Beth Proescholdt. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-tailed hawks do not have definite light wing patches or "windows" on the inner primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Field report submitted by James P. Sandrock, June-July 1982	Field notes Reports	Bird watching Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology	1982-06-01	1982-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field report submitted by James P. Sandrock to the Iowa Ornithologists' Union for June-July 1982. Includes names and number of the birds, and the location where he saw the birds.	Sandrock, James P., 1929-		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk east of Shenandoah, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-10-26	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk east of Shenandoah in Page County, IA on October 26, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Braley, Jean B.	Ferruginous Hawk	Shenandoah	E. of Shenandoah on Highway #2		The documentation form by Jean Braley is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Braley.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Wood Stork at Washta, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-10-11	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Wood Stork near Washta in Cherokee County, IA on October 11, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Wood Stork	Washta	4 miles S of Washta	River bottom	The documentation form by Marion M. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: snow goose. black secondarys [sic] \| The original documentation form event occurred in the mid afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	1
Birds in Iowa	Administrative records	Birds--Identification Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1996-01-01	1996-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Birds in Iowa describes the history of the state list of accepted rare birds species. Also included is the "Official checklist of Iowa birds" with 397 rare bird species sighted in Iowa through 1995.	Dinsmore, James J. Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934- Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	1
Rare bird records reviewed by the records committee of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Administrative records	Birds--Identification Birds--Research Ornithology--Methodology Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	2002-06-16	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The document includes a history of the committee and explains the process of peer review to determine an accepted rare bird sighting in Iowa.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934- Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	1
John Fleckenstein letter to Richard E. Bird regarding photographs for the Breeding Bird Atlas, November 8, 1995	Correspondence	Bird populations Bird surveys Photography of birds Environmental monitoring Publishers and publishing	1995-11-08	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from John Fleckenstein to Richard E. Bird regarding the collection of photographs for the Breeding Bird Atlas, November 8, 1995.	Fleckenstein, John		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	5	1
John Fleckenstein letter to Richard F. Trump regarding photographs for the Breeding Bird Atlas, May 18, 1993	Correspondence	Bird populations Bird surveys Photography of birds Environmental monitoring Publishers and publishing	1993-05-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from John Fleckenstein to Richard F. Trump discussing transparencies of bird photographs, May 18, 1993. These photographs were to be used in the creation of the Breeding Bird Atlas.	Fleckenstein, John		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	5	1
Richard F. Trump letter to John Fleckenstein regarding photographs for the Breeding Bird Atlas, February 9, 1993	Correspondence	Bird populations Bird surveys Photography of birds Environmental monitoring	1993-02-09	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Richard F. Trump to John Fleckenstein discussing work on transparencies of bird photographs for use in the Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas, February 9, 1993.	Trump, Richard F., 1912-	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	5	1
Bohemian Waxwing records, 1982	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Wildlife conservation	1982-01-01	1982-07-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Bohemian Waxwing sighting reports contributed by Tom Johnson for January. No year is listed on this handwritten report. Also includes a weather and habitat conditions for June and July 1982.	Johnson, Thomas N.	Bohemian Waxwing	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	1
Report form for selected species in spring	Checklists	Bird watching Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Blank standardized checklist form for reporting selected bird sightings in Iowa. Includes instructions on how to fill out the form. Completed forms are to be mailed to T. H. Kent in Iowa City, Iowa.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	1
Matt Skretta letter to Iowa Ornitholgoists' Union regarding field notes, March 18, 1985	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Identification	1985-03-18	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Matt Skretta to the Iowa Ornitholgoists' Union outlining the birds he observed in his yard in Mount Vernon, Iowa. He used the Iowa Ornithologists' Union field checklist of Iowa birds to record his observations. At the time of the letter Matt was 11 years old.	Skretta, Matt		Mount Vernon				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	1
Thomas H. Kent and Carl J. Bendorf letter to regular field report contributors regarding a field report format, April 14, 1985	Correspondence	Bird watching Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology	1985-04-14	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Tom Kent and Carl Bendorf letter to regular field report contributors informing about the use of a standardized form for gathering and reporting data on bird sightings.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934- Bendorf, Carl J.		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	4	1