Number 4

Fall 1991 Volume 61

-

CONTENTS

OFFICIAL CHECKLIST OF IOWA BIRDS 1991 EDITION 101

Thomas H. Kent and Carl J. Bendorf

IVORY GULL AT RED ROCK RESERVOIR 110

Stephen J. Dinsmore

FIELD REPORTS-SUMMER 1991 112

James J . Dinsmore

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS AT LAKE ANITA STATE PARK 119

Sharon Steffens and Ron Johnson

LONG-BILLED CURLEW IN POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY 120

W Ross Silcock

CALIFORNIA GULL AT DAVENPORT, FIRST ACCEPTED IOWA
RECORD 121

Peter C. Petersen

SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER AT CORAL VILLE RESERVOIR 122

Thomas H. Kent

WILD TURKEY SWIMMING IN LAKE MACBRIDE 123

Richard Jitle Hollis

FIRST- WINTER CALIFORNIA GULL AT CORALVILLE RESERVOIR 123

Thomas H. Kent

I.O.U. BUSINESS 125

Board of Directors Meeting, 13 September 1991
By-laws of the Membership Committee

BOOK REVIEW . 127

A Field Guide to Western Birds

FRONT COVER: Young Red-shouldered Hawks in nest, Allamakee County, May 1983. Photo by Jon
Stravers, Pella, 1A.

INSIDE BACK COVER: Editorial Staff, Subscription/Membership Information,

Instructions to Authors, Officers, Board of Directors, Standing Committees.

SACK COVER: Meeting Dates, Report Deadlines, Birdline, Materials Available.

Copyright 1991 Iowa Ornithologists' Union

The IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION, founded in
1923 , encourages interest in the identification, study, and
protection of birds in Iowa and seeks to unite those who
have these interests in common. Iowa Bird Life and I.O.U.
News are quarterly publications of the Union.

EDITORIAL STAFF

lames J. Dinsmore, Editor. 4024 Arkansas Drive, Ames, IA 50010

Carl J, Bendorf, Spring and Fall Field Reports Editor, 845 Cypress Cl, Iowa City, 1A 52245
James J. Dinsmore, Summer Field Reports Editor, 4024 Arkansas Dr„ Ames, 1A 50010
James L. Fuller. Fall Field Reports Editor, 6 Longview Knoll, RR 6. Iowa City, IA 52240
Thomas H. Kent, Spring and Fall Field Repons Editor. 211 Richards Sl, Iowa City, I A 52246
W. Ross Silcock, Christmas Bird Count & Winter Field Reports Editor, Box 300, Tabor. I A 51653

SUBSCRIPTION/MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Institutions may subscribe to Iowa Bird Life for $15 per year. Individuals may join the Iowa Or-
nithologists’ Union according to the following membership classes: Regular (SI 5); Regular as
spouse or minor child of another Regular member without publications (54 first additional family
member. 52 each additional family member): Contributing ($15 plus any additional tax-deductible
contribution to the I.O.U. ); and Life (£300 as single payment or S75 for each of lour years). Members
will also receive the quarterly I.O.U . News and are eligible to vote and hold office in the Union. Send
subscriptions, membership payments, or address changes to Pam Allen. 1601 Pleasant St., West Dcs
Moines, I A 50265.

INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS

Original manuscripts, notes, letters (indicate if for publication), editorials, and other materials
relating to birds and bird finding in Iowa should be sent to the editor, Accepted manuscripts will
generally be published promptly, depending on space available, with the following absolute
deadlines: 15 November for the Winter issue: 15 February' Tor the Spring issue; 15 May for the
Summer issue; and 15 July for the Fail issue. Most manuscripts will be refereed. All material should be
typed double-spaced or hand printed in ink on 8 1/2 by I l inch paper. Authors should pattern their
style after a current issue of the journal. If you want more detailed guidelines or advice regarding the
appropriateness of your topic for Iowa Bird Life, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the editor.

OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

Ann M, Barker. President (1993), 25368 250th Street, Princeton, IA 52768
Robert Cecil, Vice-President (1993), 1315 4 1st St,. Dcs Moines, IA 50311
Hilda Sickels, Secretary' (1992). 4002 Ashby. Des Moines, IA 50310
Pam Allen, Treasurer (1992), 1601 Pleasant St., West Des Moines. IA 50265

Other members of the Board of Directors: Eloisc Armstrong (1992), Richard Hollis (1992), Diane
Porter (1993). Mark Proeschotdi (1993), and Harold White (1993).

STANDING COMMITTEES

Publications', Peter C, Petersen (chair), Ann M. Barker, Dennis Carter, David C. Edwards, John
Fleckenstein,

Records: Thomas H. Kent (secretary), Eugene Armstrong. Tanya Bray, Robert Cecil, Ray Cummins,.
Francis L. Moore, Mark Proescholdl.

Membership : Jim Sinclair (chair), Pam Allen, Mary Jo Ilartogh, Ann Johnson, Diane C. Porter.
Library/Historical: James J. Dinsmore (chair). Thomas H. Kent, Darwin Koenig, James P. San-
drock. Hank Zaletel,

UPCOMING MEETINGS OF IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

* 15-17 May 1992, Cedar Rapids

FIELD REPORTS

Anyone observing birds in Iowa is encouraged to report their findings on a quarterly basis to the
Field Reports editors. Sample reporting and documentation forms suitable for duplication are
available from the editor (send self-addressed stamped envelope to Jim Dinsmore. 4024 Arkansas Dr,
Ames, 1A 50010). An article describing the reporting process is also available.

Deadlines for receipt of field repons are as follows:

’''Winter (Dec. Jan. Fcb)-3 March (W. Ross Silcock, Box 300, Tabor, 1A 51653)

*Spring (Mar, Apr, May)--3 June (Thomas H. Kent, 21 1 Richards St., Iowa City, 1A 52246)

•Summer (Jun, lul) — 3 August (James J. Dinsmore, 4024 Arkansas Dr., Ames, IA 50010)

•Fall (Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov)-3 December (Thomas H, Kent, 21 1 Richards Si.. Iowa City, IA 52246)

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

•Deadline for receipt of reports: 15 January. For forms and instructions write: W, Ross Silcock, Box
300. Tabor, I A 51653.

IOWA BIRDLINE 319-338-9881

The birdline is a recorded summary of interesting recent bird sightings in Iowa. At the end of the
report you can leave a message and report recent sightings. Be sure to give your name and phone
number as well as the location of the bird and date seen. Call in as soon as possible after sighting a
rare bird. Jim Fuller checks the reports daily and updates the recording on Monday, so make sure
Sunday sightings are reported by Sunday night.

I.O.U. NEWS

Send items of interest for the newsletter to the editors (J. Hank and Linda Zaletcl, 715 West St..
Colo. IA 50056).

MATERIALS AVAILABLE

The following materials may be obtained by writing the editorial office (Iowa Bird Life, 4024
Arkansas Dr, Ames, I A 50010):

•Order form for back issues of Iowa Bird Life : send self-addressed stamped envelope,

•Field Checklist of Iowa Birds - 1 987 Edition: 10 for SI. 65, 25 for 53.50, 100 for SI 1.60. postpaid.
Also available at annual meetings for $0.10 each.

REPORTING NEBRASKA BIRDS

Sightings of Nebraska birds, including those within the Nebraska portion of DeSoto N.W.R.,
should be reported to Loren and Babs Padelford, 1405 Little John Road, Bellevue, NE 68005. Formats
for reporting and documentation are the same as for Iowa. The Nebraska Bird Line, available 24 hours
a day, is 402-292-5325. Iowa birders are encouraged to report their Nebraska sightings to this
number.

ADDRESS CHANGES

Please send address changes/correc lions to Pam Allen, 1601 Pleasant St., West Des Moines. JA
50265.

ISSN 002 1-0455

OFFICIAL CHECKLIST OF IOWA BIRDS
1991 EDITION

Thomas H. Kent and Carl J. Bendorf

This list includes all records through 1990. There are 384 species on the list,
up from 371 in 1986 and 361 in 1982 (IBL 56:46-55; 52:67-76). The
designations used for status of species that are given below are unchanged
from 1986. The number of species in each category is given in parentheses.
The status of species seen in 3, 4, or 8 of the last 10 years is determined by
majority vote of the Records Committee.

Regular = seen every year or nearly every year, at least 8 of last 10 years (289 speaes)

Casual - seen many years but not all, at least 3 and less than 9 of last 10 years (15 species).

Accidental = seen once to several times, but less than 5 of last 10 years (74 species) .

Extirpated = once regular or casual, but not seen in 50 years (4 species).

Extinct = no longer seen anywhere (2 species).

N = definite evidence of having nested in the state (192 spedes).

N? = probable evidence of nesting in the state (5 spedes).

(specimen) = existing specimen (303 spedes).

(photograph) = photograph published or on file (57 spedes).

(recording) = recording on file (1 spedes).

(documentation) = written description or published report on file (23 spedes).

Changes in the checklist from 1986 are as follows:

Spedes added (14): Magnificent Frigatebird, Tricolored Heron, Black-shouldered Kite, Snowy
Plover, Red Phalarope, Pomarine Jaeger, Laughing Gull, Little Gull, Common Black-
headed Cull, California Gull, Slaty- backed Gull, Ivory Gull, Anaent Murrelet, Eurasian
Tree Sparrow (all Acddental except for Eurasian Tree Sparrow, which is casual).

Spedes deleted (1): Mountain Plover.

Spedes upgraded from generic status (2): Grooved -billed Ani, Rufous Hummingbird.

Spedes upgraded from Casual to Regular (6): Red-necked Grebe, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter,
Sdssor-tailed Flycatcher, Great- tailed Crackle, House Finch.

Spedes upgraded from Acddental to Casual (6): Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, Red Knot,
Thayer s Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull.

Spedes upgraded from Extirpated to Acddental (1): Long-billed Curlew.

Spedes downgraded from Regular to Casual (1): Lark Bunting (due to error in 1986
Checklist)

Spedes downgraded from Casual to Accidental (3): Ferruginous Hawk, Say's Phoebe,
Chestnut- collared Longspur.

New spedes confirmed as nesting (3): White-faced Ibis, Henslows Sparrow, House Finch.

Spedes with evidence upgraded to specimen (2): Least Tern, Chestnut-collared Longspur.

Spedes with evidence upgraded to photograph (5): Mississippi Kite, Groove-billed Ani,
Black-backed Woodpecker, Western Tanager, Green-tailed Towhee.

Changes in English names (6): Ross's Goose, Bam Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Lewis's
Woodpecker, American Pipit, Harris's Sparrow.

Changes in sdentific names (3): Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Burrowing Owl, American
Pipit.

Spedes names follow The AOU Check-list of North American Birds, Sixth Edition, 1983,
and supplements through 1991. Family names and taxonomic order are taken from ABA
Checklist; Birds of the Continental United States and Canada, Fourth Edition, 1990,

Vol. 61, No. 4

101

Order GAVIIFORMES

Loons, Gaviidae

Red-throated Loon, Gawa sfe//a fa; Casual (photograph)

Pacific Loon, Gavia padfica . Casual (specimen)

Common Loon, Gavia immer: Regular N (specimen)

Order PODICIPEDIFORMES

Grebes, Podicipedidae

Pied-bllled Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps : Regular N (specimen)

Horned Grebe, Podiceps auntus: Regular (specimen)

Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps gnsegena: Regular (specimen)

Eared Grebe, Podiceps nigricoitis: Regular N (specimen)

Western Grebe, Aechmophorus occidentals: Regular N (specimen)

Clark's Grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii. Accidental (documentation)

Order PELECIFORMES

Pelicans, Pelecanidae

American White Pelican, Peiecanus erythrorhynchos: Regular N ? (specimen)
Brown Pelican, Pefecanus occidentals: Accidental (photograph)

Cormorants, Phalacrocoraadae

Double-created Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus: Regular N (specimen)
Darters, Anhingidae

Anhlnga, Anhinga anhinga Accidental (documentation)

Frigatebirds, Frigatidae

Magiflcent FHgatebird, Fregata magnificens : Accidental (photograph)

Order C1CONIIFORMES

Bitterns and Herons, Ardeidae

American Bittern, Botaurus lendginosus: Regular N (specimen)

Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis: Regular N (sped men)

Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias: Regular N (spedmen)

Great Egret, Casmerodius a/bus. Regular N (specimen)

Snowy Egret, Egretta thula: Regular (specimen)

Little Blue Heron, Egretta caeru/ea: Regular N? (photograph)

Trlcolored Heron, Egretta tricolor: Acddentai (documentation)

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis: Regular N (specimen)

Green-backed Heron, Butondes stnatus: Regular N (specimen)

Black -crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax: Regular N (specimen)
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Nyctanassa violacea: Regular N (spedmen)
Ibises and Spoonbills, Threskiomithidae

Ibis species, Plegadis sp.: Regular (specimen)

White-faced Ibis, Plegadis chihi: Casual N (photograph)

Roseate Spoonbill, Ajaia ajaja: Accidental (photograph)

Storks, Ciconiidae

Wood Stork, Mycteria am ericana: Accidental (documentation)

Order ANSERIFORMES

Whistling- Ducks, Swans, Geese, and Ducks, Anatidae
Tundra Swan, Cygnus columbianus:Pe gular (specimen)

Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator . Extirpated N (specimen)

Mute Swan, Cygnus olor: Regular (photograph)

Bean Goose, Anser fabalis: Acddentai (photograph)

Greeter While-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons: Regular (specimen)

Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens: Regular (specimen)

Ross'* Goose, Chen rossii: Regular (specimen)

Brant, Branta bernicla: Acddentai (specimen)

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis Regular N (specimen)

102

Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991

Wood Duck, Aix sponsa: Regular N (specimen)

Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca: Regular N (specimen)

American Black Duck, Anas rubripes: Regular N (specimen)

Mallard, Anas pfatyrhynchos : Regular N (specimen)

Northern Pintail, Anas acuta: Regular N (specimen)

Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors: Regular N (specimen)

Cinnamon Teal, Anas cyanoptera: Regular (photograph)

Northern Sboveler, Arras cfypeata: Regular N (specimen)

Gad wall , Anas strepera: Regular N (specimen)

Eurasian Wigeon, Anas penefope: Accidental (specimen)

American Wigeon, Anas americana: Regular N (specimen)

Canva aback, Aythya valisineha: Regular N (specimen)

Redhead, Aythya amencana: Regular N (specimen)

Ring-necked Duck, Aythya cof laris: Regular N (specimen)

Greater Scaup, Aythya marifa: Regular (specimen)

Leaser Scaup, Aythya afffnis : Regular N (specimen)

Common Eider, Somateria mo tlissima: Accidental (documentation)

King Elder, Soma tana spectabilis: Accidental (specimen)

Harlequin Duck, Histriontcus histnonicus: Accidental (specimen)

Oldsquaw, Ciangufa hyemalis : Regular (specimen)

Black Scoter, Mefanitta nigra: Regular (specimen)

Surf Scoter, Mefanitta perspicillata: Regular (specimen)

White-winged Scoter, Mefanitta fusca: Regular (specimen)

Common Goldeneye, Bucephafa cfanguia: Regular (specimen)

Barrow's Goldeneye, Bucephafa isiandica: Accidental (photograph)
Bufflehead, Bucephafa afbeofa: Regular N (specimen)

Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucuflatus: Regular N (specimen)

Common Merganser, Mergus merganser: Regular (specimen)

Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator: Regular (specimen)

Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis: Regular N (specimen)

Order FALCONIFORMES

American Vultures. Cathartidae

Black Vulture, Coragyps a tratus: Accidental (specimen)

Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura: Regular N (specimen)

Kites, Hawks, Eagles, and Allies, Accipitridae
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus: Regular (specimen)

American Swallow- tailed Kite, Efanoides forftcatus: Extirpated N (speamen)
Black-shouldered Kile, Elanus caeruleus, Accidental (documentation)
Mississippi Kite, Ictinia nvssisstppiensis: Accidental (photograph)

Bald Eagle, Hafiaeetus feucocephalus: Regular N (speamen)

Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus: Regular N (specimen)

Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus: Regular N (specimen)

Cooper's Hawk, Accipiter cooperii Regular N (speamen)

Northern Goshawk, Accipiter gen tills: Regular (specimen)

Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo imeatus: Regular N (specimen)

Broad-winged Hawk, Buteo platypterus: Regular N (specimen)

Swainson's Hawk, Buteo swainsoni: Regular N (specimen)

Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis: Regular N (specimen)

Ferruginous Hawk, Buteo regafis: Accidental (specimen)

Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus: Regular (specimen)

Golden Eagle, Aquifa chrysaetos: Regular (specimen)

Caracaras and Falcons. Falconidae

American Kestrel, Fafco sparverius: Regular N (specimen)

Merlin, Fafco cofumbarius: Regular N (specimen)

Peregrine Falcon, Fafco per eghnus: Regular N (specimen)

Prairie Falcon, Fafco mexicanus Regular (specimen)

VoL 61. No. 4

103

Order GALLIFORMES

Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Quad, Phasianidae
Gray Partridge, Perdix perdix: Regular N (specimen)

Ring-necked Pheasant, Phasianus cofchicus: Regular N (specimen)
Rutted Grouse, donasa umbellus: Regular N (specimen)

Greater Prairie-Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido: Acd dental N (speamen)
Sharp-tailed Grouse, Ty mpanuch us p has ianellus: Extirpated (specimen)
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo: Regular N (specimen)

Northern Bob while, Colinus virginianus: Regular N (specimen)

Order GRUIFORMES

Rails. GaJlinules, and Coots. Rallidae

Yellow Rail, Co tumicops noveboracensis: Regular (specimen)

Black Rail, Lateral! us jamaicen sis: Accidental (documentation)

King Rail, Rallus elegans: Regular N (speamen)

Virginia Rail, Rallus hmicola: Regular N (specimen)

Sora, Porzana Carolina: Regular N (specimen)

Purple Gallinule, Porphyruia martmica: Accidental (speamen)

Common Moorhen, Gallinula chforopus: Regular N (specimen)
American Coot, Fufica amencana: Regular N (specimen)

Cranes, Gruidae

Sandhill Crane, Gres canadensis: Regular N (specimen)

Whooping Crane, Grus amencana: Accidental N (specimen)

Order CHARADRIIFORMES

Plovers and Lapwings, Charadriidae

Black-bellied Plover, Pluvialis squa ta rola: Regular (specimen)

Lesser Golden-Plover, Pluvialis domrnica: Regular (specimen)

Snowy Plover. Charadrius alexandrinus: Accidental (photograph)

Semi pa) mated Plover, Charadnus semipalmatus: Regular (specimen)
Piping Plover, Charadnus melodus: Regular N (specimen)

Killdeer , Charadnus vociferus: Regular N (specimen)

Stills and Avocets, Recurvirostridae

Black-necked Stilt, Htman top us mexicanus: Accidental (photograph)
American Avooet, Recurvirostra amencana: Regular (specimen)

Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies, Scolopacidae

Greater Yeilowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca: Regular (specimen)

Lesser Yetlowlega, Tringa flavipes: Regular (specimen)

Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaries Regular (specimen)

Willet, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus: Regular (specimen)

Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularia: Regular N (specimen)

Upland Sandpiper, Bartramia tongicauda: Regular N (specimen)

Eskimo Curlew, Numenius borealis: Extirpated (specimen)

Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus: Casual (photograph)

Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus: Accidental N (specimen)
Hudsonlan Godwlt, Limosa haemasttca: Regular (specimen)

Marbled God wit, Limosa fedoa: Regular N (specimen)

Ruddy Turnstone, Aren an a interpres: Regular (specimen)

Red Knot, Calidris canutus: Casual (speamen)

Sanderllng, Calidris alba: Regular (speamen)

Semi pal mated Sandpiper, Calidris pusilla : Regular (speamen)

Western Sandpiper, Calidris mauri: Regular (specimen)

Least Sandpiper, Cahdns minutilla: Regular (specimen)

White-rum pod Sandpiper, Calidris fuscicolhs: Regular (specimen)

Baird' a Sandpiper, Cahdns bairdii: Regular (specimen)

Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanoios: Regular (specimen)
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Calidris acuminata: Accidental (documentation)
Dunlin, Calidris alptna: Regular (specimen)

Curlew Sandpiper, Cahdns ferruginea: Accidental (photograph)

104

Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991

Stilt Sandpiper, Calidrrs himantopus: Regular (specimen)

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tryngites submficollis : Regular (specimen)

Ruff, Philomachus pug na x: Aca dental (specimen)

Short-billed Do witcher, Umnodromus griseus: Regular (specimen)
Long-billed Dowltcher, Umnodromus scolopaceus: Regular (sped men)
Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago: Regular N (specimen)

American Woodcock, Scolopax m inor: Regular N (specimen)

Wilson's Phalarope, Phaiaropus tricolor: Regular N (spedmen)

Red-necked Phalarope, Phaiaropus lobat us: Regular (specimen)

Red Phalarope. Phaiaropus fulicaha: Accidental (photograph)

Skuas. Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers. Landae

Pomarlne Jaeger, Stercoranus pomarinus. Acddentai (photograph)
Parasitic Jaeger, Stercoranus parasiticus: Accidental (specimen)
Long-tailed Jaeger, Stercoranus iongicaudus: Acci dental (spedmen)
Laughing Gull, Larus a tncilla: Accidental (photograph)

Franklin’s Gull, Larus ptpixcan: Regular N (spedmen)

Little Gull, Laws minutus: Accidental (documentation)

Common Black-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus: Accidental (documentation)
Bonaparte's Gull, Larus Philadelphia: Regular (specimen)

Mew Gull, Larus can us: Accidental (photograph)

Ring-billed Gull, Laws dela warensis: Regular (specimen)

California Gull, Larus califomicus : AcddentaJ (documentation)

Herring Gull, Laws argentatus: Regular (specimen)

Thayer's Gull, Laws thayeri: Casual (photograph)

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus Casual (photograph)
Slaty-backed Gull, Larus schistisagus: Accidental (photograph)

Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus: Regular (photograph)

Great Black-backed Gull, Laws m annus: Casual (photograph)
Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla: Casual (photograph)

Sabine's Gull, Xema sabini: Acddentai (spedmen)

Ivory Gull, Pagophila eburnea: Accidental (photograph)

Caspian Tern, Sterna caspia . Regular (specimen)

Common Tern, Sterna hirundo: Regular (specimen)

Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri: Regular N (specimen)

Least Tern, Sterna antiilarum: Regular N (specimen)

Black Tern, Chlidonias niger: Regular N (specimen)

Auks. Murres, and Puffins, Alcidae

Thick-billed Murre, Una lomvia: Accidental (documentation)

Ancient Murrelet, Synthhboramphus a n f tquus Aca dental (documentation)

Order COLUMBI FORMES

Pigeons and Doves. Columbidae

Rock Dove, Columba iivia: Regular N (specimen }

Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura: Regular N (spedmen)

Passenger Pigeon, Ectopistes migra tonus: Extinct N (specimen)

Order PSITTACI FORMES

tones. Parakeets, Macaws, and Parrots, Psittacidae

Carolina Parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis Extinct (documentation)

Order CUCULIFORMES

Cuckoos, Roadmnners. and Ams, Cuculidae

Black-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus: Regular N (specimen)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus: Regular N (specimen)
Groove-billed Anl, Crotophaga sulcirostris: Accidental (photograph)

Order STRIGIFORMES

Barn Owls, Tytonidae

Bam Owl, Tyto a/ba. Regular N (specimen)

VoL 61, No. 4

105

Typical Owls, Strigida©

Eastern Screech-Owl, Otus asio: Regular N (specimen)

Great Horned Owl, Bubo Virginian us: Regular N (specimen)

Snowy Owl, Nyctea scandiaca: Regular (specimen)

Northern Hawk Owl, Sumia u/uia; Accidental (photograph)

Burrowing Owl, Speotyto cunicularia: Casual N (specimen)

Barred Owl, Stnx varia: Regular N (specimen)

Great Gray Owl, Strix nebuiosa: Accidental (photograph)

Long-eared Owl, Asio otus: Regular N (specimen)

Short-eared Owl, Asio fiammeus: Regular N (specimen)

Northern Saw-whet Owl, A&goiius acadicus: Regular (specimen)

Order CAPRIMULGIFORMES

Goatsuckers, Caprimulgidae

Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor: Regular N (speamen)

Chuck -wlll's-wldow, Caprimulgus carolinensis.Re gular N (photograph)
Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vocrierus: Regular N (specimen)

Order APODI FORMES

Swifts, Apodidae

Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica: Regular N (speamen)

Hummingbirds, Trochilidae

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris: Regular N (speamen)
Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus: Accidental (photograph)

Order C0RAC11F0RMES

Kingfishers, Alcedimdae

Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle afcyon : Regular N (specimen)

Order PICIFORMES

Woodpeckers and Allies. Picidae

Lewis's Woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis : Accidental (documentation)
Red-headed Woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus: Regular N (specimen)
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes Carolines: Regular N (specimen)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius: Regular N (specimen)

Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens: Regular N (specimen)

Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides vilfosus: Regular N (speamen)

Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides tridactyius: Accidental (documentation)
Black -backed Woodpecker, Picoides arcticus: Acadental (photograph)
Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus: Regular N (specimen)

Piiealed Woodpecker, Dryocopus p/leat us: Regular N (specimen)

Order PASSERIFORMES

Tyrant Flycatchers, Tyrannidae

Olive- sided Flycatcher, Contopus borealis: Regular (speamen)

Western Wood-Pewee, C on top us s or didulus: Accidental (documentation)
Eastern Wood-Pewee, Contopus wrens. Regular W (specimen)

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris: Regular (specimen)
Acadian Flycatcher, Empidonax virescens: Regular N (specimen)

Alder Flycatcher, Empidonax a Inorum . Regular (recording)

Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax trailfii: Regular N (specimen)

Least Flycatcher, Empidonax minimus: Regular N (specimen)

Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe: Regular N (specimen)

Say's Phoebe, Sayornis saya: Accidental N (photograph)

Vermilion Flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubious. Accidental (photograph)

Greet Crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus: Regular N (speamen)

Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis: Regular N (specimen)

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Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991

Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus: Regular N (specimen)

Scluor-talled Flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus Regular N (speamen)

Larks, Aiaudidae

Horned Lark, Eremophita alpestris Regular N (specimen)

Swallows, Hirundinidae

Purple Martin, Progne subis: Regular N (specimen)

Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicoior: Regular N (specimen)

Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx sempennis Regular N (specimen)
Bank Swallow, Ripana nparia Regular N (specimen)

Cliff Swallow, Hirvndo pyrrhonota: Regular H (specimen)

Bam Swallow, Hirundo rustics: Regular N (specimen)

Jays, Magpies, and Crows, Corvidae

Gray Jay, P&nsorQus canadensis : Accidental (photograph)

Blue Jay, Cyanodna crisiata: Regular N (specimen)

PInyon Jay, Gymnorhmus cyanocephalus: Accidental (documentation)

Clark's Nutcracker, Nuctfraga Columbians: Accidental (specimen)

Black-billed Magpie, Pica p/ca. Accidental N (specimen)

American Crow, Corpus brachyrhynchos : Regular N (specimen)

Common Raven, Con/us corax: Acd dental (specimen)

Titmice, Pandae

Black -capped Chickadee, Pams atricapillus. Regular N (specimen)

Boreal Chickadee, Parus hudsonrcus: Accidental (photograph)

Tufted Titmouse, Parus bicoior: Regular N (specimen)

Nuthatches, Sittidae

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis: Regular N (specimen)

White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta caroltnensts. Regular N (specimen)

Pygmy Nuthatch, Sina pygmaea: Accidental (photograph)

Creepers, Certhiidae

Brown Creeper, Certhia americana: Regular N (specimen)

Wrens. Troglodytidae

Rock Wren, Salpinctes obsoletus : Accidental N (photograph)

Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus: Regular N (specimen)

Bewick's Wren, Thryomanes bewtckit Casual N (photograph)

House Wren, Troglodytes aedon: Regular N (specimen)

Winter Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes: Regular N (specimen)

Sedge Wren, Cistothorus platensis: Regular N (specimen)

Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustns: Regular N (specimen)

Old World Warblers, Old World Flycatchers. Thrushes, and Wrentit, Muscicapidae
Golden -crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa Regular (specimen)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula: Regular (specimen)

Blue-gray Gnat catcher, Polioptila caerulea: Regular N (specimen)

Eastern Bluebird, Sialia stairs: Regular N (specimen)

Mountain Bluebird, Sialia currucoides: Accidental (photograph)

Townsend's Solitaire, Myadestes townsendi: Casual (photograph)

Veety, Catharus fuscescens: Regular N (specimen)

Gray-cheeked Thrush, Catharus minimus: Regular (speamen)

Swainson's Thrush, Catharus ustulatus: Regular (specimen)

Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus: Regular (specimen)

Wood Thrush, Hylodchla mustelina: Regular N (specimen)

American Robin, Turdus migratonus Regular N (specimen)

Varied 1 Thrush, ixoreus naevius: Regular (photograph)

Mockingbirds, Thrashers, and Allies, Mimidae

Gray Catbird, Dumetella caroitnensis: Regular N (speamen)

Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos: Regular N (specimen)

Sage Thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus . Accidental (photograph)

Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum: Regular N (specimen)

Curve-billed Thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre. Accidental (photograph)

Wagtails and Pipits, Motadllidae

American Pipit, Anihus rubescens: Regular (specimen)

Sprague's Pipit, Anthus spragueii: Accidental (documentation)

Waxwings, Bombycillidae

Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garruius: Regular (specimen)

Vol. 61, No. 4

107

Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum : Regular N (specimen)

Shrikes, Laniidae

Northern Shrike, Lanius excubitor: Regular (specimen)

Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludoviaanus: Regular N (specimen)

Starlings and Allies, Stumidae

European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris: Regular N (specimen)

Vireos, Vireonidae

White-eyed Vireo, Vireo gnseus: Regular N (photograph)

Bell's Vireo, Vireo beli/i: Regular N (specimen)

Solitary Vireo, Vireo solitarius: Regular (specimen)

Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons: Regular N (specimen)

Warbilng Vireo, Vireo giivus: Regular N (specimen)

Philadelphia Vireo, Vireo philadelphicus: Regular (specimen)

Red-eyed Vireo, Vireo ofivaceus : Regular N (specimen)

Wood Warblers, Bananaquit, Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Embenzines, Blackbirds, and
Allies, Emberizidae

Blue-winged Warbler, Vermivora pinus: Regular N (specimen)

Golden-winged Warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera: Regular N (specimen)

Tennessee Warbler, Vermivora peregrina: Regular (specimen)

Orange-crowned Warbler, Vermivora celata: Regular (specimen)

Nashville Warbler, Vermivora ruficapilla: Regular (specimen)

Northern Parula, Parula cimencana: Regular N? (specimen)

Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia: Regular N (specimen)

Cheat nut- sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica: Regular N (specimen)

Magnolia Warbler, Dendroica magnolia: Regular (speamen)

Cape May Warbler, Dendroica tigrina: Regular (specimen)

Black-throated Blue Warbler, Dendroica caeruiescens : Regular (specimen)
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dendroica coronata: Regular (specimen)

Black-throated Gray Warbler, Dendroica nigrescens: Accidental (documentation)
Townsend* Warbler, Dendroica to wnsendi: Accidental (documentation)

Black-throated Green Warbler, Dendroica virens: Regular (speamen)

Blackburnian Warbler, Dendroica fosca. Regular (speamen)

Yellow-throated Warbler, Dendroica dominica : Regular N (photograph)

Pine Warbler, Dendroica p/nus. Regular (specimen)

Prairie Warbler, Dendroica discolor: Regular N? (photograph)

Palm Warbler, Dendroica palmarum: Regular (specimen)

Bay-breasted Warbler, Dendroica castanea: Regular (specimen)

Blackpoll Warbler, Dendroica striata: Regular (speamen)

Cerulean Warbler, Dendroica eeru/ea. Regular N (specimen)

Black-and-white Warbler, Mniotiita vana: Regular N (specimen)

American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla: Regular N (specimen)

Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria atrea: Regular N (specimen)

Worm-eating Warbler, Helmitheros vermivorus: Regular N (photograph)

Ovenblrd, Seiurus aurocapillus: Regular N (specimen)

Northern Waierthrush, Seiurus noveboracensis: Regular (specimen)

Louisiana Waierthrush, Seiurus motacifla: Regular N (specimen)

Kentucky Warbler, Oporornis formosus: Regular N (speamen)

Connecticut Warbler, Oporornis agihs: Regular (speamen)

Mourning Warbler, Oporornis Philadelphia: Regular (specimen)

Common Yellowthroal, Geothlypis tnchas: Regular N (specimen)

Hooded Warbler, Wilsonia citrina: Regular N (specimen)

Wilson's Warbler, Wilsonia pusilla: Regular (specimen)

Canada Warbler, Wilsonia canadensis: Regular (specimen)

Yellow-breasted Chat, Ictena virens: Regular N (specimen)

Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra: Regular N (speamen)

Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea: Regular N (specimen)

Western Tanager, Piranga ludovidana: A ca dental (photograph)

Northern Cardinal, Cardin alts cardmahs: Regular N (specimen)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus: Regular N (specimen)

Black-headed Grosbeak, Pheucticus melan oceph alus : Accidental (photograph)

Blue Grosbeak, Guiraca caerulea: Regular N (specimen)

Lazuli Bunting, Passerina amoena Accidental (documentation)

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Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991

Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea Regular N {specimen)

Dlckcisael, Sp/za amencana. Regular N (specimen)

Green- tailed Towhee, Pipilo chlorurus: Accidental (photograph)

Rufous-sided Towhee, Pipifo erythrophthaimus : Regular N (specimen)

American Tree Sparrow, Sptzella arborea: Regular (specimen)

Chipping Sparrow, Spizella pass enna. Regular N (specimen)

Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida: Regular N (specimen)

Field Sparrow, Spizella pusi Ha: Regular N (specimen)

Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes grammeus: Regular N (specimen)

Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus: Regular N (specimen)

Lark Bunting, Caiamospiza melanocorys: Casual (photograph)

Savannah Sparrow, Passe rculus sandwicbensis: Regular N (specimen)
Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum: Regular N (s pea men)
Henslow's Sparrow, Ammodramus henslowii: Regular N (specimen)

Le Conte’s Sparrow, Ammodramus leconteii: Regular (specimen)

Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ammodramus caudacutus Regular (specimen)

Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca: Regular (specimen)

Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia: Regular N (specimen)

Lincoln’s Sparrow, Melospiza iincolnit: Regular (specimen)

Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana: Regular N (specimen)

White-throated Sparrow, Zonotnchia albicollis: Regular (specimen)
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zonotnchia aincapilla. Accidental (documentation)
White-crowned Sparrow, Zono tnchia leucophrys: Regular (specimen)

Harris's Sparrow, Zonotnchia querula: Regular (specimen)

Dark -eyed Junco, Junco hyemahs: Regular (speamen)

Lapland Longspur, Calcarius lappomcus: Regular (specimen)

Smith’s Longspur, Calcarius pic tus: Regular (specimen)

Chestnut-collared Longspur, Calcarius orn a t us: Accidental (specimen)

Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis: Regular (specimen)

Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus: Regular N (specimen)

Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus : Regular N (specimen)

Eastern Meadowlark, Stumella magna Regular N (speamen)

Western Meadowlark, Stumella neglecta Regular N (specimen)

Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanihocephalus xanthocephalus Regular N (specimen)
Rusty Blackbird, Euphagus carolinus: Regular (speamen)

Brewer's Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus: Regular (speamen)

Great-tailed Crackle, Ouiscalus mexicanus: Regular N (photograph)

Common Grackle, Quiscalus qutscula: Regular N (specimen)

Brown -headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater Regular N (specimen)

Orchard Oriole, Icterus spunus: Regular N (speamen)

Northern Oriole, Icterus galbula: Regular N (speamen)

Fnngilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies, Fringillidae
Rosy Finch, Leucosticte arctoa: Acddental (photograph)

Pine Grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator: Casual (specimen)

Purple Finch, Carpodacus purpureus: Regular (specimen)

House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus: Regular N (photograph)

Red Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra: Regular N? (specimen)

White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera: Regular (specimen)

Common Redpoll, Carduelis fiammea: Regular (specimen)

Hoary Redpoll, Carduelis homemanni: Accidental (photograph)

Pine Siskin, Carduelis pinus: Regular N (specimen)

American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis: Regular N (specimen)

Evening Grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus: Regular (specimen)

Old World Sparrows. Passendae

House Sparrow, Passer domesttcus: Regular N (speamen)

Eurasian Tree Sparow. Passer montanus: Casual (photograph)

VoL 61, No. 4

109

IVORY GULL AT RED ROCK RESERVOIR

Stephen J. Dinsmore

H-TIj . . ... ,_1 . jA

At 1 p.m. on 24 December 1990, I arrived below the dam of

Red Rock Reservoir, Marion County. I quickly scanned vlAUiAlX]:)

through the 40 or so gulls loafing and feeding immediately " . AM. .

below the spillway. The only "different" gull present was a

first-winter Black-legged Kittiwake. I then began sorting

through the hundreds of ducks when I noticed an all-white gull picking at something
on the ice about 100 yards downstream. My initial impression was that the bird was
an Iceland Gull because of the size as compared to nearby Mallards. I watched the bird
for about 30 seconds before it turned around so I could see the head. I immediately
noted the bicolored bill, dark area around the base of the bill, and black speckling on
the wings and mantle which identified the bird as a first-winter Ivory Gull.

The bird was perhaps 10% smaller than a Herring Gull, but noticeably larger than
a Ring-billed Gull. The most striking feature of the bird was the almost totally white
appearance. The head was white except for some fine, black spots on the crown,
nape, and cheek. There was a black smudge around the base of the bill, which
extended about halfway between the base of the bill and the eye. This feature was less
extensive than pictured in most literature, although Grant (1986) notes that this
feature can be highly variable. The pupil was dark while the irides appeared yellow.
The breast, belly, and flanks were also white, except for several black spots on the
breast and a few on the flanks. The undertail coverts were white. The mantle was
white with numerous small, black spots. The wings were white, and the black-tipped
primaries were evident when the bird was resting. In flight, large, black spots at the
tips of the primaries and smaller black spots at the tips of the greater and median
secondary covens were apparent. The basal half of the bill was dark, and was sharply
demarcated from the yellow distal half. The shape of the bill was also distinctive;
relatively short, straight, and somewhat heavy in general appearance. The legs and
feet were black.

The Ivory Gull rarely associated with the other gulls present. It spent most of its
time walking around on the ice edge, picking at dead fish. Sometimes it foraged over
the open water below the spillway, catching stunned fish. The bird was easy to locate
since it spent almost all of its time within 200 meters of the spillway. However, on
at least two occasions I watched the bird fly west over the dam and disappear on the
frozen reservoir.

The Ivory Gull was very cooperative, being seen by well over a hundred observers.
The last verified sighting was on 1 January 1991. It is interesting that another first-
winter Ivory Gull was discovered on 1 January 1991 at Springfield, Illinois
{American Birds 45; 280).

This is the first accepted record of an Ivory Gull in Iowa, There is a hypothetical
record of a first-winter bird at Rathbun Reservoir, Appanoose County on 20
December 1975 (Ayres 1976). Ivory Gull is a very rare vagrant to the Lower 48
states. Most records occur around the Great Lakes and along the northeast coast of the
United States. I located 36 records for the Lower 48 States, with most occurring in
December- January. There are records from 13 states; Washington (1), Colorado (1),
Minnesota (9), Iowa (1), Wisconsin (4), Illinois (1), Michigan (3), Ohio (1), New
Jersey (4), New York (5), Massachusetts (2), New Hampshire (1), and Maine (3),

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Iowa Bird Life . Fai! 1991

LITERATURE CITED

Ayres, C. C. 1976. A rare Ivory Gull at Rathbun Lake, Iowa Bird Life 46:15-16.
Grant, P. J. 1986. Gulls: A guide to identification, second ed. Buteo Books,
Vermillion SD. 352 pp.

4024 Arkansas Drive, Ames, I A 50010

Ivory Gull at Red Rock Dam , December 1990 . Drawing from field sketches by L.

Paul Hertzel.

VoL 61, No. 4

111

FIELD REPORTS-SUMMER 1991

James J. dinsmore

WEATHER

June was generally hot and dry. The average temperature (73.5)
was 3.4 degrees warmer than normal making it the 12th
warmest June on record. The end of June was especially warm
with several days having highs in the 90s, Rainfall averaged 4
inches, less than the normal 4.5 inches but the first 6 months
of 1991 were the 8th wettest on record. Most of the rain fell
early in the month with 6 inches in Story County on 3 June,

3,8 inches in Atlantic in an hour on 14 June, and unofficial
reports of 13 inches in Clayton and Fayette counties on 14
June. In contrast it was very dry at Fort Madison (0.23 inches)
and Burlington (0.32 inches). Overall, most of the
southeastern half of Iowa was fairly dry while the rest of the
state had normal precipitation. Parts of Emmet and Kossuth
counties also had considerable rainfall.

July continued with a pattern of being generally warm and dry. Other than parts of
nonhem Iowa, much of the state received little if any rainfall. Southeastern Iowa had
its driest July on record with less than 0.5 inches of rain. There were a number of
days with highs in the 90s but in general temperatures were about normal.

The effect of all of this on birds was that in June there was an abundance of flooded
field habitat but virtually all of that had dried out by the end of the period. The heavy
rains in June undoubtedly flooded out nests of some ground nesting birds. Double-
crested Cormorants and Great Egrets attempted to nest at several new sites. Perhaps
these were birds that deserted colonies elsewhere because of high water.

GENERAL TRENDS

The good-news department included the continued recovery of Carolina Wrens,
above-normal numbers of Least Terns, and the most nesting Piping Plovers reported
in several years.

Among the migrants, there were numerous non nesting ducks reported but few
other nonresidents. There were only a few late spring migrant shorebirds. warblers,
and flycatchers that remained into summer and no late vireos, thrushes, or sparrows
as are found in most years. South-bound shorebirds arrived on schedule with fair
numbers reported but I received no reports of early migrant warblers,

UNUSUAL SPECIES

In general this was a dull summer. The only Accidental species reported were
Mississippi Kite and Laughing Gull. The only Casual species reported was Bewick's
Wren. Some of the other better finds were Western Grebe, Sandhill Crane, Marbled
Godwit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Barn Owl, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Black-and-
white Warbler, Clay-colored Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow, and Red Crossbill.

With the termination of the Atlas project, there was a noticeable decline in reports
of nesting activity. Some of the better nesting finds this year include Double-crested
Cormorant in north-central Iowa, Great Egret in central, north-central, and

112

Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991

northwestern Iowa, Turkey Vulture, Bam Owl, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in

north-central Iowa, Western Kingbird in central Iowa, Prothonotary Warbler in

northwestern Iowa, and Kentucky Warbler,

SPECIES DATA

■^documented, Q = record date, m,ob. = many observers

Common Loon: Singles at Spirit L, on 7 Jun (SJD) and Pleasant Creek S. Rec. A., Linn Co, on
8 Jun (LSJ) were the only reports.

Pied-billed Grebe: There were numerous reports including broods at Union Slough N.W.R.
(MPr), Lakin Slough, Guthrie Co, (BPr, MPr), Cardinal M., Winneshiek Co. (DC), and Swan L.,
Johnson Co. (THK, DRP),

Eared Grebe: 3 e, of West Bend on 2 Jun (MCK) and 5 at Rush L., Osceola Co. on 22 Jun
(El A, EuA) were the only reports

Western Grebe: 2 remained at Union Slough N.W.R. until 3 Jul (MCK).

American White Pelican: There were the usual scattered reports from NW and NC Iowa;
500 at Union Slough N.W.R. on 30 Jun (MCK) was a large concentration for summer as were
200 at Bays Branch. Guthrie Co, on 29 Jul (El A. EuA). In E Iowa, 1 was at Coralville Res. on
9, 20 Jul (THK, DRP).

Double-crested Cormorant: Besides the usual scattered birds, there were 120 at Union
Slough N.W.R. on 30 Jun (MCK) and 100 at Coralville Res, on 14 Jul (THK). At Union Slough,
nest building was evident on 11 Jun and 11 nests were seen while Coralville had 10 nests.
The former is the first reported nesting in that section of the state in this century.

American Bittern: 1 at Eagle L., Hancock Co. on 7 Jun (SJD) and 3 Jul (MPr), and 1 heard
near W. Hottes L., Dickinson Co. in early Jun (K. Van Rees fide JJD) were the only reports.

Least Bittern: Singles were seen in Bremer, Cerro Gordo, Emmet, Jackson, Mills, Muscatine,
and Warren counties.

Great Blue Heron: Active colonies were at West Swan L,, Emmet Co. (27 nests on 7 Jun,
SJD), Saytorville Res. (58 nests on 12 Jun, SJD, BE), and Woodland Mounds Preserve,
Warren Co, (3 nests in June. JSi). The latter was a new site. The only post-breeding
concentration reported was 75 at Coralville Res. on 20 Jul (THK).

Great Egret; Two new colonies were found: 2 nests at West Swan L. on 7 Jun (SJD) and 4
nests at Saylorville Res. on 12 Jun (SJD). 30-40 birds at Union Slough N.W.R. from early Jun
on were carrying nest material (MCK) as were birds at Plum Creek ne. of Algona (Rod Schmidt
fide MCK). No active nests were found at either site. I know of no other active Great Egret
colonies away from the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in this century.

Little Blue Heron: 1 adult w. of Perry on 2-5 Jun (PAI, RAI, R. Myers fide JJD) was the only
report

Cattle Egret: 2 summered near Union Slough N.W.R. (MCK).

Green-backed Heron: A nest with 2 young was found in Glenwood on 21 Jul (DLR).

Black-crowned Night-Heron: Nest building was noted at Eagle L., Hancock Co. on 7 Jun
(SJD) and Union Slough N.W.R, (MCK).

Greater White-fronted Goose: 1 was at the IPS Ponds near Sioux City on 23 Jun (BFH).

Snow Goose: 2 were at the IPS Ponds on 23 Jun (BFH), and 1 was at Hendrickson M., Story
Co. on 21-25 Jul (HZ). 1 was found dead on 6 Jul just e. of Bellevue, NE. in Mills Co. (BPa,
LPa).

Green-winged Teal: Up to 4, mostly males, were reported in Dickinson, Fremont, Guthrie,
Kossuth, Polk, Pottawattamie, and Woodbury counties.

Northern Pintail: None were reported; since this was a drought year on the prairies, this is
unusual.

Blue-winged Teal: Broods were reported at Cardinal M, (DC) and New L. , Woodbury Co.
(BFH).

Northern Shoveler; Besides several broods at Union Slough N.W.R. (MCK), there were 4
males and 2 females at Moeckley Prairie, Polk Co. until 1 1 Jun (BE), 4 at Forney L. on 1 5 Jun
(SJD), and a male at Dan Green SI., Clay Co. on 21 Jun (JJD).

Gadwall: 2 or 3 were reported from Clay, Dickinson, Kossuth, Pottawattamie, and Winneshiek
counties in June.

Redhead: Besides a brood at Mud L., Palo Alto Co. on 21 Jun (JJD), 2 were in Mitchell Co. on 5
Jun (DC) and pairs were at Union Slough N.W.R. on 30 Jun (MCK) and Rice L., Worth Co. on
17 Jul (DC).

Vol. 61 , No. 4

113

Ring-necked Duck: Up to 3, mostly males, were at 8 sites in Cerro Gordo, Johnson,
Kossuth. Osceola, Pottawattamie, Winneshiek, and Woodbury counties. This is more than
are found most summers.

Lesser Scaup: Up to 7 were found at 5 sites in Kossuth, Osceola, Pottawattamie.
Winnebago, and Woodbury counties.

Common Goldeneye: A female was seen at Princeton M. on 4 Jun (ABa*).

Hooded Merganser: Broods were seen at Union Sfough N.W.R. (MCK, MPr) and Rush L r
Osceola Co. (SJD).

Ruddy Duck: More reports than usual; besides 2 broods at Union Slough N.W.R. on 30 Jun
(MCK), ruddies were reported in Cerro Gordo, Emmet. Hancock, Palo Alto (32 birds at Mud L.
on 21 Jun, JJD), Polk, Pottawattamie, Winneshiek, and Woodbury counties.

Turkey Vulture: 2 downy young were seen in Taylor Co. on 9 Jul (BPr, MPr).

Osprey: Singles were seen at L. Manawa on 5 Jun (BPa, LPa}, Badger Creek L., Madison Co.
on 24 Jun, 5 Jul (EIA, EuA), Coralville Res. on 9 Jul (D. Conrads fide THK), s. of Cherokee on
13 Jul (DBi), Effigy Mounds N.M. on 20 Jul (DC}, and Bellevue on 31 Jul (PCP, MLP), more
than in most years.

Mississippi Kite: 2 adults at Clive from 22 Jun on thrilled many observers (PC, AC, *RIC,
*AMJ, *MPr, *JLF, m.ob,). Copulation and other breeding behavior were noted but no nest
was found.

Bald Eagle: This was another good year for eagles. A total of 9 or 10 nests were active and
overall production of young was good

Northern Harrier: 1 ne. of Hayden Prairie, Howard Co. on 19 Jun (DC) might have been
nesting while 3 females seen separately in Kossuth Co from 23 Jun-2 Jul are more
suggestive of early migrants (MCK).

Cooper's Hawk: An adult and immature seen near Coralville Res. from 25 Jun-15 Jul (Dave
Conrads fide THK, DRP) were the only ones reported.

Red-shouldered Hawk: 1 at Yellow River F. on 13 Jun (BPr, MPr) and 1 n. of Le Claire on 19,
20 Jul (PCP) were the only reports,

Broad-winged Hawk: 2 at Ledges S. P. on 12 Jul (MPr) and 1 in Yellow River F. on 23 Jul <DK)
were the only reports.

Swainson's Hawk: 1 s, of Algona on 5 Jun (MCK), a nest in Osceola Co, on 15 Jun (JLF), and
1 or 2 seen at 3 sites near Mason City (RGo, JLW) were the only reports.

Peregrine Falcon: The D.N.R, continued its program to reestablish this species in Iowa by
releasing 1 9 in Des Moines. At the end of July, only 2 of these were known to have died. They
were joined by one of the birds released at Cedar Rapids in 1 990 for much of the period (LSJ).
A male from a similar release in Omaha showed up at the !PL Ponds on 28 Jul (BPa, LPa).

Gray Partridge: 2 in Mills Co. on 15 Jun (DLR) were near this species' southern range limit.

Yellow Rail: i received a late report of 1 found dead near St. Anthony, Marshall Co. on the
record early date of 4 Apr (Carl Kurtz fide JJD, specimen to Iowa State Univ,).

Virginia Rail: 1 at Rush L., Osceola Co. on 7 Jun (SJD) was the only report.

Common Moorhen: 2 at Cardinal M. until 17 Jun (DC), 1 at Lakin Slough on 8 Jul (BPr, MPr),
and 2 broods at Green Island W.A., Jackson Co, on 28 Jul (JLF) were the only reports.

American Coot: I received more reports than in recent years including nests or broods in
Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Hancock, Johnson, Kossuth, Osceola, Palo Alto, and Winneshiek
counties. Coots were abundant in NW Iowa,

Sandhill Crane: 2 were at Green Island W,A. throughout the period (Ron Black and Forrest
Fromm fide PCP). Perhaps this year's high water prevented them from nesting.

Lesser Golden-Plover: 1 at Colo Ponds on 19 Jun (HZ) was early (or late); 2 near Bancroft,
Kossuth Co., on 12, 14 Jul were in basic plumage while 7 e. of West Bend on 21 Jul had a
mixture of basic and alternate plumages (MCK).

Semipalmated Plover: The first fall bird wasl at Coralville Res. on 8 Jul (JLF)(3rd earliest];
12 in Kossuth Co. on 21 1 26 Jul was the peak (MCK).

Piping Plover: It was a good year at the IPL Ponds near Council Bluffs with 11 adults, 3
broods with 6 young, and at least 4 nests (BPa. LPa, SJD). There were 2 pairs and at least 2
young at the IPS Ponds (BFH, JLP), 1 in Kossuth Co, on 21 Jul was Kenne's first county
record (MCK).

Krlldeer: Post-breeding concentrations included 130 at Coralville Res. on 7 Jul (THK) and 88 at
Colo Ponds on 9 Jul (HZ).

Greater Yellowlegs: 1 at Colo Ponds on 2 Jun was the last spring bird (HZ). 1 at Bays
Branch on 4 Jul (BPa, LPa) and 3 at Colo Ponds on 6 Jul (HZ) were the first fall arrivals. 28 e.
of West Bend on 26 Jul was the peak (MCK).

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Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991

Lesser Yellowlegs: 3 at Goto Ponds on 28 Jun (HZ) and 10 e. of West Bend on 29 Jun (MCK)
were the first fall arrivals; 450 e. of West Bend on 26 Jul was the peak (MCK).

Solitary Sandpiper: 1 w. of Liscomb on 3 Jul (MPr) and birds in Cerro Gordo Co. (RGo) and at
Coralville Res. on 4 Jul (THK) were the first fall birds. 202 at Coralville Res on 20 Jul (DRP)
was the peak and the most ever reported from lowa.

Willet: There was a mini-wave this year with 8 reports; 5 were in a band through C Iowa from 28-
30 Jun. 2 n. of Adel on 28 Jun and 1 n. of St. Joseph, Kossuth Co., both on 28 Jun (EIA, EuA}
were the first; 9 e. of West Bend on 29 Jun (MCK) was the peak and 1 near Bancroft on 1 4 Jul
(MCK) was the last.

Upland Sandpiper: I received reports from Boone, Cerro Gordo, Dallas, Fremont, Kossuth,
Madison (brood), Palo Alto, Polk, and Story counties

Marbled Godwit: 2 at New L, on 16 Jun (BFH, JLP) and 2 e. of West Bend on 29 Jun (MCK,
details) were the only reports. The birds probably were early fall migrants.

Ruddy Turnstone: 1 at Bays Branch on 29 Jul (EIA, EuA, details)[ties 2nd earliest] was the
only report.

Sanderlmg: 1 in basic plumage e. of West Bend on 2 Jun (MCK) was the last spring bird. 1 at
Red Rock Res, on 25, 29 Jut (AMJ, JLF) was the only other report

Semipaimated Sandpiper: 28 e. of West Bend on 2 Jun (MCK) and 21 at Colo Ponds on 3
Jun (HZ) were the last spring birds. The first fall birds were 2 at Booneville on 29 Jun (EIA,
EuA). 1 50 e. of West Bend on 26 Jul was the peak (MCK).

Western Sandpiper: 1 at Coralville Res. on 8 Jul (JLF, details}[ties 2nd earliest], another
there on 20 Jul (THK*), and 2 at Fairfield on 27 Jul (DCP, details) were all the reports.

Least Sandpiper: 4 e. of West Bend on 2 Jun (MCK) were the last spring birds, 2 at Bays
Branch on 30 Jun (EIA, EuA), 2 w of Liscomb on 3 Jul (MPr), and 3 at Colo Ponds on 3 Jul
(HZ) were the first fall birds. The peak was 1 16 at Colo Ponds on 9 Jul (HZ).

White-rumped Sandpiper: 140 were e. of West Bend on 2 Jun (MCK), 14 were in N Poik Co.
on 10 Jun (SJD). and 2 were at the IPL Ponds on 1 5 Jun (SJD)[3rd latest].

Baird's Sandpiper: 1 at the IPL Ponds on 12 Jul (BPa, LPa)[3rd earliest] and 9 e. of West
Bend on 28 Jul (MCK) were the only reports.

Pectoral Sandpiper: 6 e. of West Bend on 9 Jun (MCK) and 1 with a broken leg at IPL Ponds
on 15 Jun (SJD) were the last spring birds. The first fall birds were in Cerro Gordo Co. (RGo)
and at Coralville Res. (THK) on 4 Jul, The peak was 650 e. of West Bend on 26 Jul (MCK)

Dunlin: 2 e, of West Bend on 2 Jun (MCK) was the only report

Stilt Sandpiper: 1 at Colo Ponds on 23 Jun (HZ)[record earliest] and 2 at Moeckley Prairie on
28 Jun (EIA, EuA, details)[3rd earliest] were the first reports. The peak was 60 e, of West
Bend on 21 Jul (MCK).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper: 3 at Saylorville Res. on 28 Jut (EIA, EuA, details)[3rd earliest]
was the only report.

Short-billed Dowitcher: 1 at Colo Ponds on 6 Jul (HZ) and 2 at Coralville Res, on 7 Jul (THK)
were the first reports. The peak was 40 at Coralville Res. on 9 Jul (THK) and 44 near Bancroft
on 12 Jul (MCK), indicative of how rapidly the species moved into the state.

Common Snipe: 1 e. of West Bend on 26 Jun (MCK) was the only report.

Wilson's Phalarope: A pair at Eagle L., Hancock Co. on 7 Jun (SJD) was suggestive of
nesting while single migrants were seen at Colo Ponds on 11 Jul (HZ) and Coralville Res. on
20 Jul. (DRP).

Laughing Gull: An immature seen at Saylorville Res on 15 Jul ("BE) and one in similar
plumage at Red Rock Res. 17-29 Jul (*MPr, *AMJ, *JLF) may be the same bird. Both reports
will be scrutinized by the Records Committee.

Franklin’s GuJI: 3-9 at the IPL Ponds on several dates in June (BPa, LPa, SJD) and 1 e. of
West Bend on 9 Jul (MCK) were the only reports.

Ring-billed Gull: 230 on Pool 19 on the Mississippi R on 30 Jul was the largest group
reported (RIC).

Forster's Tern: Birds appeared to be nesting at Eagle L., Hancock Co. (SJD) and Jemmerson
SI., Dickinson Co. (NB),

Least Tern: 11 nests hatched at least 6 young at the IPL Ponds (BPa, LPa).

Black Tern: Although birds were seen at several potential nesting sites, the only indication of
breeding was adults carrying food at Zirbel Slough, Cerro Gordo Co. on 20 Jul (JLW). Counts
of 160 e. of West Bend on 21 Jul (MCK) and 137 on Pool 19, Mississippi R. on 31 Jul (RIC)
must have been migrants.

Black-billed Cuckoo: I received reports from Cass, Jasper, Kossuth, and Winneshiek
counties.

Vo/. 61, No. 4

115

Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 1 received reports from Allamakee, Boone, Dubuque, Fremont,
Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Kossuth. Lee, Marion, Page, Story, and Van Buren counties. 1
believe that both cuckoos are uncommon but certainly not rare.

Barn Owl: A family with 6 young was seen e. of Bedford in Taylor Co. from 24 Jun-9 Jul (LSJ,
EIA, EuA, m.ob). The landowner reported that they had also nested there in 1989 and 1990.
This is the first nest reported in several years,

Chuck-will's-wldow: 2 at Big Sand Mound Preserve, Louisa Co. on 6 , 15 Jun (JLF, PCP), 2 at
Pony Creek L. , Mills Co. on 3 Jul (DLR), and 2 near Waubonsie S.P on 8 Jul (BPr, MPr) were
all at known sites. 1 heard near Westfield, Plymouth Co. on 13 Jun (Larry Farmer fide BFH)
was north of its normal range in the loess hills.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird: I received reports of 1 or 2 from Allamakee, Boone, Hardin,
Johnson, Lee, Van Buren, Warren, and Winneshiek counties.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 2 adults and young at Effigy Mounds N.M. in Jun and Jul (DC),
an immature male s. of Bellevue on 13 Jun (PCP), and 1 at Stokes Island, Allamakee Co. on 4
Jul (Carl Overman fide PCP) were all in the usual Mississippi River floodplain range of this
species, Adults seen carrying food n. of Algona in June (Rod Schmidt fide MCK), a young bird
seen in Algona on 4 Jul (MCK), and an adult male at Pilot Knob S.P, on 27 Jun (DK) are further
evidence that this species nests across much of N Iowa.

Downy Woodpecker: One seen feeding suet to young House Sparrows in Algona in late June
and July (MCK) defies understanding.

Pileated Woodpecker: 1 near Saylorville Dam on 2 Jun (BE) and 1 near Algona on 26 Jul
(MCK) were the only reports outside of this species' usual range,

Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1 at Coralville Res. on 2 Jun (THK) was the only report.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: 1 in Algona on 4 Jun (MCK) was the only report.

Acadian Flycatcher: 1-7 were reported from Allamakee, Dubuque, Van Buren, and Warren
counties.

Atder Flycatcher: 1 at White W.A., Cerro Gordo Co. on 1 Jun (JLW, details) was the only
report.

Willow Flycatcher: Up to 4 were reported from Cerro Gordo, Clay, Jasper, Johnson,
Pocahontas, Pottawattamie, Winneshiek, and Worth counties.

Least Flycatcher; 1 or 2 were reported in Allamakee, Hardin, and Jasper counties

Western Kingbird: Besides the usual birds in Mills (3 broods at 2 sites) and Fremont
counties, 1 was near downtown Des Moines on 1 Jul (JSi), a brood was found near Des
Moines or 13 Jul (SJS), and 1 was found e. of McCausland in Clinton Co. on 18 Jul (B. Blevins
fide PCP).

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: 1 in Iowa City on 5 Jun (*BBo) and another sw. of Pacific
Junction, Mills Co. on 16 Jun (DLR, details) were both well described.

Purple Martin; At Elkhart. 90 pairs fledged 374 young, the highest nest success Mosman has
ever had (DDM).

Tree Swallow: Two flocks of 500-600 were near Union Slough N.W.R. on 30 Jul (MCK)

Cliff Swallow: Carter thought numbers were up near Decorah while Engebretsen had the
opposite impression for the Saylorville area.

Brown Creeper: 2 at Huron Island, Des Moines Co. on 12 Jun (PCP) was the only report.

Carolina Wren: A brood in Davenport in Jul (PCP) was the only evidence of breeding reported.

I had reports of 1 or 2 birds from 10 other sites in Boone, Hardin, Jefferson, Johnson, Lee,
Polk, Story, and Warren counties, an indication of the continued recovery by this species

Bewick’s Wren: 1 seen on 12, 22 Jun near Argyle, Lee Co, (BPr, MPr, AMJ) was the only
report.

Sedge Wren: An active nest was found in E Marshall Co, in early Jun (Matt Patterson fide
JJD),

Eastern Bluebird: Mosman s nest boxes fledged 170 young at Elkhart, one of his best years
ever (DDM).

Veery: 1-4 were reported from Hoist S. F. r Boone Co. (MPr), Leverton Timber, Hardin Co. (MPr),
White Pine Hollow, Dubuque Co. (MPr), Yellow River F (DK). and A. A. Call S.P., Kossuth Co.
(MCK)

Wood Thrush: i received reports of 1 or 2 from Allamakee, Cerro Gordo, Dubuque. Fremont,
Jasper, Kossuth, Lee, and Van Buren counties. The only report of more birds was 6 males at
Nine Eagles S.P., Decatur Co. (JSi).

Gray Catbird: A catbird giving the "kick-ee-do" call of the Black Rail near the site of a 1989
Black Rail sighting (JLW) raises some interesting questions about vocal records of the rati.

116

Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991

Northern Mockingbird: 2 in Van Buren Co, on 2 Jun (JLF), 3 at Red Rock Res. on 6 Jun
(MPr), 1 near Des Moines on 1 3 Jun (AMJ). and 1 ne. of Elkhart on 1 8 Jul (DDM) were the only
reports.

Loggerhead Shrike: 1 or 2 were reported from Cerro Gordo (3 sites), Fremont. Guthrie,
Jasper, Johnson. Louisa. Marion, Story, Taylor, Van Buren, Wapello, and Warren counties.

White-eyed Vireo: 1 w, of lacey-Keosauqua S.P- on 11 Jun (BPr, MPr) and up to 4 at the
Croton Unit, Shimek F. on 31 Jul (RIC) were the only reports,

Bell's Vireo: 1-4 were reported in Bremer, Fremont, Johnson, Louisa, Marion, Mills,
Muscatine, Pottawattamie, Story, and Van Buren counties. Peak number was 9 at Big Creek
SP- on 2 Jun (BE),

Yellow-throated Vireo: 1 or 2 were reported from Allamakee. Boone, Fremont, Hardin.
Jasper, Johnson, Kossuth, Marion, Polk, and Van Buren counties.

Blue-winged Warbler: 2 at Shimek F, on 12, 22 Jun (BPr, MPr, AMJ) and 13 at Yellow River
F. on 13 Jun (BPr, MPr) were the only reports.

Northern Parula: 1 or 2 were at the usual sites in Lee, Muscatine, Van Buren. and Warren
counties.

Chestnut-sided Warbler: 1 at Holst S.F. on 5 Jun (MPr) was the only report,

Magnolia Warbler: A male in Ames on 2 Jun (LPH) was late.

Yellow-throated Warbler: 1 or 2 were reported from the usual sites at Ledges S.P., Lacey-
Keosauqua S.P.. Saylorville Res., and Shimek F.

Cerulean Warbler: 1-3 were reported from the usual sites at Ledges S.P., Shimek F., Lacey-
Keosauqua S.P., and Yellow River F, Other reports were 1 at Leverton Timber on 7 Jun {MPr},
6 at Effigy Mounds N.M. on 12 Jun (DC), and 2 at Lake Ahquabi S.P., Warren Co. in Jun (JSi),

Black-and-white Warbler: 1 or 2 were found at Waubonsie S.P. on 4-21 Jun (BPa, LPa}.

American Redstart: Carter found them common at Effigy Mounds N.M. on 13 Jul, and 3 were
at Cone M. on 23 Jun (DRP).

Prothonotary Warbler: 1 or 2 were found at sites in Allamakee, Louisa, Polk, and Warren
counties. A male was seen carrying food on 23 Jun in NW Warren Co. (JSi), A pair feeding 2
young near Marble L, Dickinson Co, on 23 Jun (*LAS) was far out of the species' usual
range.

Worm-eating Warbler: 1 or 2 were found by several observers in the Croton Unit, Shimek F. .

Ovenbird: Somewhat more common than other forest warblers, 1-10 were reported from
Allamakee, Boone, Dubuque, Hardin, Jasper, Johnson, and Van Buren counties. A family
group at Coralville Res. on 20 Jul (THK) was the only mention of breeding.

Louisiana Waterthrush: 1-3 were reported from the usual sites in Allamakee, Boone. Lee,
and Van Buren counties,

Kentucky Warbler: Family groups were reported from Coralville Res on 14 Ju! (THK) and
Shimek F, on 31 Jul (RIC). Other reports were singles at Lacey-Keosauqua S.P on 12 Jun
(BPr, MPr) and Big Sand Mound Preserve on 15 Jun (B. Blevins fide PCP).

Hooded Warbler: 1 or 2 were reported from the Croton Unit, Shimek F. (RIC, AJ), and 1 was in
Yellow River F. on 29 Jun (DK),

Yellow-breasted Chat: 1 or 2 were reported from Lee, Marion, and Polk counties.

Summer Tanager: 1 at Lacey-Keosauqua S.P. on 9 Jun (SJD) and 1 near Shimek F. on 22
Jun (AMJ) were the only reports.

Scarlet Tanager: 1-5 were reported from Allamakee, Boone, Dubuque, Fremont, Johnson,
Kossuth, Lee, Van Buren, and Winneshiek counties.

Blue Grosbeak: Besides the usual birds in Fremont and Mills counties, 3 were found on 2 Jun
in Van Buren Co. (JLF).

Dickcissel: Petersen noted that counts on two of his eastern Iowa Breeding Bird Surveys
were down from 1 989 and 1 990 (92-75-61 and 1 1 7-67-53 respectively).

Clay-colored Sparrow: The only report, 1 singing n. of Ames on 23 Jul (JJD), was
unexpected.

Lark Sparrow: Besides singles in Boone, Lee. and Louisa counties, 12 were found in Fremont
Co. on 12 Jul (BPr, MPr).

Henslow’s Sparrow: 3-5 sw. of Lacey-Keosauqua S.P, on 11 Jun (BPr, MPr) and 1 there on
21 Jun (JLF) were the only reports

Swamp Sparrow: Several adults feeding young at Union Slough N.W.R on 12 Jul (MCK) was
the only report.

Yellow-headed Blackbird: Small colonies were noted at Swan L. p Johnson Co, (THK), w. of
Liscomb (MPr), near Kelly, Story Co. (SJD), and at Snake Creek M., Greene Co. (BPr, MPr},
all on the edge of this species' range. This is typical of a wet year,

Vo/. 61 , No. 4

117

Brown-headed Cowblrd: A young bird was seen being fed by a Northern Cardinal in Iowa
City on 20-21 Jul (DRP),

Orchard Oriole: 1-4 were found in Cerro Gordo, Fremont, and Kossuth (2 broods) counties.
House Finch: I received few reports, perhaps an indication of the abundance of this species.
They nested in Rippey, Greene Co, (SRL).

Red Crossbill: 2 were reported at Boone on 5 Jun (Lois Selil fide JJD) and a female was at the
4-H camp near Luther, Boone Co, on 22 Jun (Jim Pease fide JJD, details).

CONTRIBUTORS-SUMMER 1991

^^documentation only

Caro] A. Alexander (CAA), Fairfield; Pam Allen/Reid Allen (PA/ReA), West Des
Moines; Eloise Armstrong/Eugene Armstrong (ElA/EuA), Booneville; Ann Barker
(ABa) f Princeton; Neil Bernstein (NBe), Cedar Rapids; Dick Bierman (DBi),
Cherokee; *Becky Boggess (BBo), Iowa City; Dennis Carter (DC), Decorah; Robert
I, Cecil (RIC), Des Moines; Anne Crane (AC), Clive; Fred Crane (FC), Clive;
James J, Dinsmore (JJD), Ames; Stephen J. Dinsmore (SJD), Ames; Bery
Engebretsen (BE), Des Moines; James L Fuller (JLF), Iowa City; Rita Goranson
(RGo), Mason City; L. Paul Hertzel (LPFI), Ames; Bill F. Huser (BFH), South
Sioux City, NE; Laura S. Jackson (LSJ), Madrid; Ann M Johnson (AMJ), Norwalk;
Matthew C. Kenne (MCK), Algona; Thomas H. Kent (THK), Iowa City; Darwin
Koenig (DK), Ames; Sharon R. Laub (SRL), Rippey; Darwin D. Mosman (DDM),
Elkhart; Babs K. Padelford/Loren J. Padelford (BKJP/LJP), Bellevue, NE; Marietta A.
Petersen (MAP), Walnut; Mary Lou Petersen/Peter C. Petersen (MLP/PCP),
Davenport; D. Randall Pinkston (DRP), Iowa City; Diane C. Porter (DCP),
Fairfield; Beth Proescholdt (BPr), Liscomb; Mark Proescholdt (MPr), Liscomb;
Douglas L. Rose (DLR), Glen wood; *Lee A Schoenewe (LAS), Spencer; Jim
Sinclair (JSi), Indianola; Sue J. Spieker (SJS), Norwalk; Dan Varland <DV), Ames;
Jan L, Walter (JLW), Mason City; Flank Zaletel (HZ), Colo.

COMMENT

The latest Tad" in conservation circles is concern for a number of species, mostly
songbirds, that nest in North America and winter in Central or South America. Many
of these "neotropical migrants" are forest dwellers although technically the group
includes Dickcissel, Upland Sandpiper, and both cuckoos. For the last several years I
have tried to include here information on a number of these species that nest in Iowa.
From my perspective, several of these species seem somewhat less common now
than a few years ago. These include Wood Thrush, Veery, Cerulean Warbler, and
Orchard Oriole. Tell me what you think in your report next summer. Some of us in
Iowa hope that by then there will be a more systematic way available to survey these
species.

4024 Arkansas Dr „ Ames 500 10

118

Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS AT LAKE ANITA STATE PARK

SHARON STEFFENS AND RON JOHNSON

On 4 March 1989, we drove to Lake Anita State Park near
Anita in northeastern Cass County to see if any Eastern
Bluebirds had returned to the area. While searching the scattered
trees near the emergency spillway at the southwest arm of the
lake, we were surprised to Fmd a flock of about 25 Mountain
Bluebirds, With their deep blue upperparts and light blue-gray undersides, the birds
were easily identified. We had a video camera with us and were able to get some
footage of the birds. The next day we returned to the park and were able to fmd only
eight birds by the spillway but found a single bird at the picnic area near the main
dam. That evening we called the Iowa Bird Line to report our find. A few' days later
we found only six birds, and on 1 1 March we could find only four birds. We last saw
the Mountain Bluebirds on 22 March when w^e saw r three together. We also saw our
first Eastern Bluebirds on that date. Numerous other birders visited the park and saw
the Mountain Bluebirds with the last report being on 24 March (IBL 59:83).

Mountain Bluebird at Lake Anita State Park. 4 March 1989. Photograph by Sharon
Steffens

This is the fifth accepted record on Mountain Bluebirds in Iowa.(Dinsmore et al.
1984, Livingston 1985, IBL 55:28-29} and a sixth was recorded later in March 1989
(Thelen 1989). By month the other birds were found in March (2 records). April (2
records), and December-February, This is the only record to involve more than a
single bird, and the occurrence of a flock of 25 birds is unprecedented for Iowa or
other Midwestern states. Since bluebirds commonly migrate in Hocks, it seems
reasonable to assume that these birds became disoriented during migration and
wandered to Iowa.

Vol. 61, No. 4

119

LITERATURE CITED

Dinsmore, J. J., T. H. Kent, D. Koenig, P. C . Petersen, and D. M. Roosa. 1984.

Iowa Birds. Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames, 356 pp.

Livingston, J. R. 1985. Mountain Bluebird in Decatur County. Iowa Bird Life

55:19-20.

Thelen, E. 1989. Mountain Bluebird in Palo Alto County. Iowa Bird Life 59:124.
1800 Sycamore , Atlantic, 1A 50022

LONG-BILLED CURLEW IN POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY

W. ROSS SILCOCK

On 4 July 1990, I visited the Iowa Power and Light (IPL) t . 3 -TTaLL-.
ponds in extreme southwestern Pottawattamie County. Very
few birds were present, most notably the resident Piping
Plovers, but my attention was drawn to a large shorebird
preening near the water's edge. Closer examination by tele-
scope showed that the bird had a very long decurved bill, no head stripes overall
evenly and finely barred browmish-gray plumage, and long bluish legs. During
preening, the wings were often extended to exhibit diagnostic cinnamon wing
linings. These features identified the bird as a Long-billed Curlew, a conclusion
concurred with by Tanya Bray, who arrived soon after I did and also saw this bird. Jt
did not stay long, however, allowing a total viewing time of only about 20 minutes.
The Records Committee of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union has accepted this record.

This is only the third record of this species in Iowa in the last 50 years. Carl
Priebe observed one with a Marbled Godwit at the Riverton area in Fremont Count)
11 April 1989 (Priebe 1990), and one collected 12 November 1968 in Emmet
County is now in the Iowa State University collection (Priebe 1990).

Long-billed Curlew breeds throughout the interior western United States and
adjacent Canada in its preferred habitat of moist grasslands. Populations on the high
plains sections of the Great Plains are doing well, but populations further east are
not. The species has not bred for many years in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and
Illinois (Johnsgard 1981). The most easterly populations still doing well are in the
Nebraska Sandhills, western South Dakota, and southwestern Kansas.

Considering the disappearance of eastern breeding populations, the paucity of
records of migrants in Iowa is not surprising. Most Great Plains long-bills
presumably migrate west of Iowa to their wintering grounds in interior Texas and the
western Gulf Coast, Also strong flyers like Long-billed Curlew probably are non-
stop migrants. It is also possible that the very few recent records east of the current
breeding and wintering ranges are referable to the very small population which
winters on the southern Atlantic Coast.

The three Iowa records cited above illustrate the timing pattern of this species'
migration. Spring migration occurs in April and early May, with most egg laying in
May and June (Johnsgard 1979). The 11 April 1989 Fremont County record appears
to have been an off-course spring migrant. As in many North American shorebirds,
fall migration timing differs by age-class (with varying amounts of overlap). Females
abandon the young when the latter are two or three weeks old, leaving the males to

120

Iowa Bird Life , Fall 1991

care for the brood (Johnsgard 1981). The Eurasian counterpart, the Curlew ( Numenius
arquata), considered part of a superspecies with N. americana (Mayr and Short, 1970),
shows similar behavior. Females leave the brood to the males 10-20 days after the
young hatch and join other females to migrate (Cramp and Simmons 1983), Given
egg dates as early as 1 May in South Dakota (South Dakota Ornithologists' Union
1991) and 3 May in Saskatchewan (Bent 1928), and an incubation period of about 28
days (Johnsgard 1979), the 4 July bird in Pottawattamie County was probably a
female which laid eggs in late May, close to the peak laying date for the species, and
thus not at all unusual as a date of occurrence for a migrating female. The Emmet
County record probably is of a very late juvenile migrant, the last age class to
migrate. Such late dates (those in October and November) are unusual, and probably
indicate a tendency for juveniles to disperse before migrating south. Most migration
to wintering areas takes place in August and September, Indeed, all birds have left the
Nebraska breeding grounds by early August (Johnsgard 1979).

LITERATURE CITED

Bent, A. C. 1929. Life Histories of North American Shore Birds. U, S. Natl. Mus.
Bull. 146, 412 pp.

Cramp, S., and K. E. L. Simmons (eds.). 1983. Handbook of the Birds of Europe,
the Middle East and North Africa, voh 3. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford. 913 pp.
Johnsgard, P. A. 1979. Birds of the Great Plains. Univ, Nebraska Press, Lincoln,
NE. 539 pp,

Johnsgard, P. A. 1981, The Plovers, Sandpipers, and Snipes of the World. Univ.
Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE. 493 pp.

Mayr, E., and L. L. Short. 1970. Species Taxa of North American Birds. Publ.
Nuttall OmithoL Club 9, 127 pp.

Priebe, C. 1990. Long-billed Curlew in southwestern Iowa. Iowa Bird Life 60:20.
South Dakota Ornithologists' Union. 1991. The Birds of South Dakota, 2nd ed.
South Dakota Ornithologists' Union. Aberdeen, SD. 411 pp,

P, O. Box 300, Tabor, 1A 51653

CALIFORNIA GULL AT DAVENPORT, FIRST ACCEPTED IOWA
RECORD

PETER C. PETERSEN

On Thanksgiving afternoon, 23 November 1989, Louise
Augustine of Peoria, one of Illinois’ top birders, called to say
she had just seen a California Gull on the ice at Credit Island
harbor in west Davenport. Mary Lou and I hastened to South.

Concord Street which provides an unobstructed view of the
harbor. We located the bird standing on the ice at 4:25 p.m. It was intermediate in
size between Herring and Ring-billed gulls which were standing with the California.
We noted the head and body were white with some brown streaking on the head. The
bill was yellow with a small dark area near the tip of the lower mandible. The legs
were gray green. The mantle was slightly darker than nearby Herring Gull mantles.
The head was very rounded, but eye color could not be determined. We observed the

Vol. 61 , No . 4

121

bird with a Swift scope at 30 power, Louise used a Questar. The bird was about 100
meters away with the sun directly behind us. The bird was seen several days later by
Jim Fuller.

Illinois had eleven records of the California Gull through 1987 (Bohlen. H. D. The
Birds of Illinois. 1989) and two more for the fall of 1989, one on 12 August-6
September at Rice Lake Conservation Area near Canton and another from 20
October-7 December at Carlisle Lake (Illinois Birds and Birding 6:44, 1990), Several
earlier Iowa sightings were not accepted by the I.O.U. Records Committee. Late fall
gull concentrations should be checked carefully for vagrant California Gulls.

235 McClellan Blvd Davenport , I A 52803

SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER AT CORALVILLE RESERVOIR

THOMAS H. KENT

and Killdeer that were in shallow pools and low wet grassy
areas on the Swan Lake Road west of Greencastle Avenue when I first found the
juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper I made the following notes at 10:05 a,m,: 'As large
as largest pectoral. Overall shape and behavior like a pectoral. First noticed that the
bird had a neat rufous cap and prominent white superciliary line. Then noticed buffy
color to breast. Bird darker on back and scapulars than pectorals and more rufous
overall. Tertials neatly edged with rufous, and scapulars and coverts more rufous than
any pectoral. 1 '

The shorebirds flew to a nearby pond. When I relocated them at 9:55 a.m., I was
able to pick the bird out easily and get better looks: "The white line over the eye dips
behind the eye, widens, and appears to go to the nape. Black line in front of eye
(lores) but not prominent behind the eye. I did not see any color in the eye line nor
did I detect an eye ring. I got an excellent look at the breast - soft reddish-buff with
no streaks and no bib line. Breast color tapers off at belly and throat is lighter. Rest
of underparts white. Bill all dark. Legs dirty yellow."

I went home and called people. A crowd gathered after noon, but the bird was not
relocated until late afternoon. It was with a large flock of pectorals and was seen
intermittently. At 6:30 p.m I made notes of the following additional observations:
"Saw fine streaks on sides of breast. Supercilium extended in front of eye but thinner.
Saw under rump where there was an indistinct gray smudge."

The sky was overcast in the morning, but mostly sunny in the afternoon. Most
sightings were at an estimated 30 to 40 yards with a 20-power Bushnell telescope or
through a Kowa telescope with zoom eyepiece.

The only other species it could be confused with was Pectoral Sandpiper. The most
distinctive feature of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was the plain, cinnamon-buff breast
without bib line or streaking centrally. The soft breast color shaded off evenly to the
lower belly and throat. Some pectorals had very weak breast markings, but on close
inspection all had streaks and a sharp bib line. The solid rusty cap differed from any
pectorals; some pectorals appeared a bit rusty on the cap, but some streaking was
seen on such individuals. The eye line appeared white, and it dropped and widened

On 14 October 1990, 1 went to the Coral ville Reseiwoir area
Johnson County to look over the many shorebirds I had se
the day before just in case something unusual had come in.
9:20 a.m., I was scoping a large number of snipe, pectora

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Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991

posteriorly. Some pectorals had light eye lines but they were off-white, less distinct,
and straighten The juvenile feathers of the upper parts were edged with rufous; this
was especially prominent on the tertials. Some pectorals appeared to have rusty
edging on the tertials, but this was dependent on lighting and at least one rufous
appearing pectoral had the color more in the center of the feathers with grayer edging.
The gray smudging on the undertail coverts I saw once. 1 only had a glance at a
nearby pectoral for comparison, so I was not very confident of this mark.

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers nest in north-central Siberia and migrate through eastern
Asia to Australia and New Zealand. Vagrants are noted on the West Coast of United
States and to a much lesser extent in the Midwest and the East. They are almost all
juveniles found from September to November but there are a few spring records. This
is the third record of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in Iowa. The first, on 3 October 1974,
was within one mile of the present location (Halmi, N. S. 1974. Sight record of
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper near Iowa City. Iowa Bird Life 44:106). The second was at
Credit Island in Scott County on 30 September 1988 (Petersen, P. C. 1989. Sharp-
tailed Sandpiper at Davenport. Iowa Bird Life 59:90-9 1 ).

211 Richards St., Iowa City , 1A 52246

WILD TURKEY SWIMMING IN LAKE MACBRIDE

RICHARD JULE HOLLIS

Carol Thompson and I saw a Wild Turkey swimming in Lake
Macbride on the morning of 2 December 1990. This particular
bird clearly did not intend to swim. But after flying across the
south arm of the lake, more or less parallel to the causeway
and gradually losing elevation, the bird probably had no choice
as it had been airborne for between a quarter and half a mile. It splashed down about
10-15 feet short of the shore. It swam reasonable strongly and buoyantly until it
reached shore, climbed up the bank, shook off its feathers, and trotted away.

I have not seen a turkey swimming before nor am I aware of other records such as
this. Although records of various land birds swimming are not unusual, this record of
such a large land bird being able to swim seems to me to be quite unusual.

3351 Lower West Branch Road , Iowa City, I A 52245

FIRST-WINTER CALIFORNIA GULL AT CORALVILLE
RESERVOIR

THOMAS H. KENT

On 27 October 1990, at Babcock Access, in Johnson County I
scanned the hundreds of gulls and shorebirds for about an hour
and was about to leave when I saw a dark brown, first-year gull
that I thought would be my first Herring Gull of the fall.

The bird was slightly larger than all the Ring-billed Gulls, The brown was not as
dark as the usual juvenile Herring Gull that is seen at this time of year. I noted the
light-colored bill. Later I saw a flesh-pink bill with small dark black tip. The wings

Vol. 61, No. 4

123

were a rather uniform brown with dark primaries. I noted light whitish-buff tips to
tertials. When sitting, the bird’s greater coverts were dark with lighter edging. The
bird was longer than Ring-Billed Gulls and looked shorter legged. The legs were paler
(pink) compared to the obvious yellow of Ring-billed Gulls. When the bird raised its
wings, I saw a double bar on inner wing formed by greater coverts and the secondary
bar. All primaries and their coverts looked dark blackish-brown. I did not see a
window effect. The same wing features were seen when the bird was flying and
feeding in shallow water with Ring-billed Gulls. The tail was dark with light base
centrally owing to the all dark tail and lighter uppertail coverts. The bill was larger
than that of Ring-billed Gulls but was not massive. The scapulars and coverts were
edged with white. The breast was light brown.

The above observations were made with a 20-power scope at 200-300 yards over a
period of an hour. Later, when the bird landed on a spit at about 100 yards, I was able
to see it in a Questar with the bird occupying about one-fourth of the field. I made
the following additional notes: ’Bill long and relatively thin. Lower mandible
straight (no bulge). Tip a bit more bulbous, but mostly on the upper part, and
proximal culmen also curved upward. Tip of bill black but somewhat smudgy. Inner
three-fourths of bill flesh pink with some smudgy black in middle of upper
mandible. Rather elongated head with feathers extending onto bill. Head darker gray
around eye and behind eye. Forehead lighter. Eye all dark. The wind blew the neck
feathers exposing a lighter color underneath. Legs very pale pink. 1 saw the double
bar on inner wing again through Questar as bird took off.”

The next morning a number of birders gathered to find the bird again. It was not
hard to pick out, as it was the only dark brown gull present. We noticed that the
centers of the scapulars were darker than the centers of the lesser and median coverts
giving an overall slightly darker appearance to the scapulars. The wing pattern was
confirmed, and the size of the bird was as described above.

The many immature Ring-billed Gulls that were present had all reached first-winter
plumage as evidenced by gray in the mantle, and they were much lighter overall than
the first-winter California Gull, The only other species that I considered was juvenile
Herring Gull. The size was small for Herring Gull. The elongated appearance and
short legs fit California Gull. Most first-year Herring Gulls 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 tertials tips fit California Gull. The overall relatively uniform and light
brown color without windows in the inner primaries also made this bird look
different from a Herring Gull. Serendipitously, I had an opportunity to study first-
year California Gulls in California just eight days earlier.

The breeding range of California Gull is as close as northeastern South Dakota and
many have been sighted to the east of Iowa, so it is a bit surprising that this species
was not confirmed in Iowa until 1989 when an adult was at Davenport on 23
November (IBL 61:85, Petersen, P. C. 1991. California Gull at Davenport, first
accepted Iowa record, Iowa Bird Life 61:121-122). Another adult was at Saylorville
Reservoir from 8 September to 14 October 1990 (IBL 61:20). The bird reported here
is the third record for Iowa and the first first-winter bird. Although first-winter birds
could easily be passed off as Herring Gulls, I think this experience will allow me to
recognize the next one.

2/7 Richards St., Iowa City, I A 52246

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Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991

LO.U. BUSINESS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Indianola, 13 September 1991, 6:00-7:45 p.m.

ANN BARKER SUBSTITUTING FOR SECRETARY HILDA SlCKELS

Members present: Ann Barker (presiding). Eloise Armstrong, Bob Cecil, Rick Hollis, Diane Porter,
Mark Proescholdt, Harold White. Also present: Francis Moore, Jim Sinclair, Jim Dinsmore.

Reports

The minutes for the 30 March 1991 meeting were approved as distributed (motion by Porter, seconded
by Armstrong).

Treasurer: Copies of the revised 1990 financial statement and the statement for 1991 to date, prepared
by Allen, were distributed. The revised 1990 statement was published in Iowa Bird Life vol 61, no,
2. The 1992 budget will be considered at the fall board meeting. All committee chairs, officers, and
others responsible for I.O.U. funds should submit budget requests to Barker by 15 October, so that
she and Allen can prepare a proposed budget. Allen requested the board's guidance in deciding
whether to renew a 3 month CD. It was moved (Hollis, seconded by Cecil) to allow the treasurer, in
consultation with the president, to decide whether to renew CDs with terms of 3 months or shorter.
The motion carried.

Committee Reports

Records: Carl Bendorf recently resigned as Secretary, The 1989 annual report will be published in an
upcoming issue of Iowa Bird Life , Francis Moore indicated that all 1990 records have been
reviewed, and Bendorf is preparing the annual report.. Voting on the revised checklist was just
completed. Once it is compiled, a revised field checklist will be prepared. Moore has printed 800
copies of the 1987 checklist to be used until that time.

Publications: The committee has recommended that Dave Edwards be reappointed to a second 5-year
term to be completed in 1996. It was moved (Cecil, seconded by White) to do so. The motion
passed. Iowa Bird Life editor Jim Dinsmore indicated that the recent issue was slightly over budget.
He estimated that costs for the journal for 1991 may be close to $4,300. It was moved (Porter,
seconded by Armstrong) to approve this level of spending for 1991. Motion carried. The revision
of Birding Areas of Iowa was discussed. Hank Zaletel is in charge of the project with the assistance
of John Fleckenstein. The committee recommended a ringbinder formal with copies of birding
areas articles to be loosely inserted in IBL. Dinsmore indicated that this plan would unduly
increase both cost and workload. The board felt that it would rather see a compilation of articles in
a bound format. It was suggested that authors be invited to update maps and content prior to
publication. The committee recommended that a membership list be published and mailed with the
next available issue of IBL. Allen and Dinsmore are preparing this. It was moved (Hollis, seconded
by Porter) to authorize $200 from the operating fund for printing of the list. The motion passed.

Library -Historical: Dinsmore reported that the committee recommended reappointment of Tom Kent.
Jim Dinsmore, and Hank Zaletel to serve 5-year terms (two of which are retroactive) ending in
1994, 1995, and 1996 respectively. It was moved (Armstrong, seconded by Porter) to do so. The
motion carried.

Membership: Presently the committee is composed of chair Jim Sinclair and, by virtue of her office as
treasurer, Pam Allen, All terms of former members have expired, and no new appointments have
been made The committee recommended that Sinclair be reappointed to a 2-year term ending in
1993, and that the following appointments be made: Ann Johnson. 2-year term ending in 1993,
and Diane Porter and Mary' Jo Hartogh, 2-year terms beginning in 1992 and ending in 1994, It was
moved (Cecil, seconded by White) to do so. The motion carried. Changes in the committee's
bylaws were approved by the board in 1987, but never published. They will be published in Iowa
Bird Life when space is available.

Education: Rick Hollis (Chair), Linda Zaletel; Beth Brown; and Diane Porter were reappointed. The
Iowa Conservation Education Council has pledged $500 toward publication of the curriculum
package.

Big Day: Co-chairs Ray Cummins and Eugene Armstrong were reappointed. The 1991 awards will be
presented at the banquet.

Atlas: Carol Thompson (Chair), Bob Cecil, Barb Wilson, John Fleckenstein, and Jim Dinsmore were
reappointed. The committee is working with the D.N.R. toward publication.

Vol. 61 , No. 4

125

Nominating; Barker has appointed a committee composed of Carol Thompson, Chair; Pete Petersen,
and Ray Cummins to nominate a slate of candidates for the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and
two board positions. They will report to the board at its November meeting. The slate will run for
office at the spring 1992 meeting.

Old Business

Upcoming meetings; The spring 1992 meeting will be held at Camp lodiseca near Cedar Rapids on
15-17 May. Dale and Helen Fye are making arrangements. The board expressed interest in having
the fall 1992 meeting in northeastern Iowa, and the spring 1993 meeting in southeastern Iowa.
Barker will contact potential hosts for the fall meeting; Cecil will look into possibilities for the
spring 1993 meeting.

Jim Sinclair volunteered to host a field trip to the Red Rock area during the last three weeks in
November.

Rick Hollis summarized work on the new I.Q.U. traveling display which is finished. Much of the work
on the display was done by Carol Thompson. The board agreed that she and Hollis should schedule
use of the display. The board voted (Cecil, seconded by Armstrong) to commend Thompson for her
excellent work.

New Business

Barb Wilson and Sue Stroyls proposed having an Iowa Spring Bird Count. Its purpose would be to
systematically gather data on spring bird migration throughout Iowa, and to publish the results. It
was suggested that the project be patterned after Illinois' spring count, which is done on a county
basis with a coordinator in each county. Data gathering would be done in a single 24-hour period
during the peak of migration in early May. It would be an ongoing study. After discussion
centering on the purpose of the project and when it should be held, it was moved (Cecil, seconded
by While) to recommend that 1.0. U. sponsor an annual Spring Bird Count to be held the Sunday
after the Saturday of the Illinois Spring Count. The motion carried with Armstrong and Hollis
abstaining.

Jim Fuller had requested that the board consider making inquiries about obtaining entry for members
to bird in restricted sites such as power company properties. It was moved (Hollis, seconded by
Porter} to ask Fuller to make official inquiries about what would be necessary to obtain permits to
be allowed access. The motion carried.

Fuller had also requested board input on using a computer bulletin board for access to other rare bird
alerts and to post the Iowa Birdlinc, The board liked the idea, and voted (Porter, seconded by
White) to encourage Fuller to further investigate it.

Fuller had indicated that an &00 number could be obtained for the Iowa Birdlinc. The board felt that
information on cost was necessary before making that decision and encouraged Fuller to
investigate further.

Breaches in dikes at Otter Creek and Big Marsh were discussed. It was moved (Cecil, seconded by
Armstrong) to ask Jim Fuller to write a letter on behalf of the I.O.U. to the D.N.R. encouraging
them to act quickly to repair both breaches.

The board is concerned about sagging attendance at both spring and fall meetings, and discussed ways
to encourage members to attend, Hollis felt that more scientific presentations should be
encouraged.

Cecil expressed concern that both present and past journal editors may have personally paid hidden
out-of-pocket costs such as computer depreciation. It was suggested that the Publications
Committee consider this at its next meeting.

BY-LAWS OF THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 30 MAY 1987
Purpose

1 . To maintain an official list of members of the Union, both present and past.

2. To maintain and increase membership in the Union and institutional subscriptions to its
publications.

3. To provide mailing lists of members and subscribers as needed for various purposes.

4. To actively promote the Union to members and potential members,

5. To represent the interests of the membership by making recommendations to the Board and
others for ways to improve the benefits to the membership.

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Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991

Committee Structure

1 . The committee shall consist of five members, one of whom is the Treasurer of the Union.

2 . The Treasurer’s term is set by the Constitution. The other members shall be appointed by the
Board for two-year terms with two members appointed every other year. Terms begin after the
first annual meeting of the Union in the year of appointment. No member shall serve more than
two consecutive terms.

3. The committee may make recommendations to the Board for filling vacancies, whether
expired or vacated.

4. The committee shall appoint a Membership Chairperson, who may be a member of the
committee or any other member of the Union.

5. Qualifications for membership on the committee should include, where feasible, experience
with other organizations, familiarity with the membership, and interests representative of the
membership and consistent with the purposes of the Union,

Committee Procedures

1 . The Membership Chairperson or any two members of the committee may call meetings as
needed and/or business may be conducted by mail or phone,

2. The membership list should be maintained in a computer so as to provide rapid updating and
printing of lists and/or mailing labels as needed. Preferably, the committee should find a
volunteer to carry out this task or negotiate with one of the other standing committees (such
as Publications} to do this.

3. The committee may enlist others to help carry out their mission.

Finances

1. The committee shall submit a prospective budget to the Board (via the President) prior to
January 1 of each calendar year.

2 . No monies shall be expended beyond that approved by the Board or President acting for the
Board.

3. No member shall receive remuneration for their work on the committee. Any benefits, direct or
indirect, to a committee member, appointee of the committee, relative or friend shall be
discussed and considered by the committee prior to any decision to expend funds.

4. The committee should be reimbursed for expenses such as printing, mailing, computer
supplies, and other incidental supplies. In general, unless it would provide hardship and
prevent the necessary conduct of business, the committee should not be reimbursed for
travel or telephone expenses.

BOOK REVIEW

A Field Guide to Western Birds, third edition by Roger Tory Peterson.
Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1990, 432 pp., hardbound $22.95, softbound
$15,95. This third edition of the Peterson "western field guide" is a complete revision
of the 1961 edition, The new edition has 165 plates (versus 136 in the old), all of
them new although 24 plates were taken from the newest eastern field guide. Nearly
all of the plates are in color, a welcome change since many of the plates in the last
edition were in black and white. There are 441 maps, all redone by Virginia Peterson.
The major difference in coverage from the 1961 edition is the elimination of the
Hawaiian birds. By my count, the old edition covered 687 species (plus 60 Hawaii
species) while the new one covers 757 species.

The species accounts cover field characteristics, similar species, voice, range, and
habitat. As in the latest eastern field guide, species accounts are on the pages facing
the illustrations, an improvement over the 1961 edition. The species accounts and
maps have page references to each other, another handy addition.

The heart of any field guide is the completeness and accuracy of the plates. This
book meets the usual high standards of the Peterson field guide series. Although the
birds are a bit stiff, they generally portray the species accurately. For most species.

VoL 61 , No . 4

127

several individuals are illustrated, covering both sexes, different age categories, or
several races. Some users might quibble about the shorebirds or gulls where some
plumages are not shown but in general the book will serve most readers well.

I was also impressed by the timeliness of the book. What other field guide includes
descriptions of the Pacific Slope and Cordilleran flycatchers? If you don't know what
these are, you will need to buy the book. Since several other field guides cover all of
North America, some will argue that a western guide is unneeded. Still many birders
want a field guide that is specific to their area and that is not cluttered with species
that they won't see. In general, I am impressed by the book and think that it will be
used by many birders for years to come.— James J. Dinsmore, 4024 Arkansas Drive,
Ames, IA 50010.

recycled paper

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Iowa Bird Life, Fall 1991