Report of the Records Committee for 2000

Ann M. Johnson

The Records Committee reviewed 46 records from 2000. Of these, 39 were accepted and 7 were not. Of the accepted records, two were identified only to family (jaeger and selasphorus hummingbird). One of the not-accepted records was identified correctly but was probably an escapee (Whooper Swan).Another not-accepted record (nesting Rufous Hummingbird) raised some interesting speculation as the nest was found in the same proximity as an accepted record of a female selasphorus hummingbird that was coming to a feeder.

Committee members for 2000 with years in which their terms expire were: Chris Edwards (2001), James L. Fuller (2002), Matthew C. Kenne (2003), Robert I. Cecil/Paul Hertzel (2004), Jim Sinclair  (2005), Thomas H. Kent (2006), and Ann M. Johnson (secretary, appointed by the committee). Lee Schoenewe was nominated by the Committee and Appointed by the Board of Directors to fill a regular term beginning in 2001. Robert Cecil resigned and Paul Hertzel was nominated and appointed to complete his term.

2000 marked the transition to the new secretary and the use of the Internet to conduct business.Although this transition has at times seemed incredibly slow, the new processes should in time increase the efficiency of the committee and make the decisions available for viewing on the IOU website much more quickly.

The four-digit number (year and sequence number) assigned to each record reviewed by the Records Committee is included for future reference. Records are classified as follows: A = Accepted (-S = specimen, -P = photograph, -R = recording, -D = documentation) and NA = Not Accepted. In order to be Accepted, a record must receive 7 votes on the initial review or 6 votes on a subsequent review. The subcategories A-S, A-P, and A-R indicate that physical evidence supports the identification, and records are subclassified based on a majority vote. References to IBL are the page of the Field Reports in Iowa Bird Life where the record is cited. P- numbers refer to the IOU Photo File entry number. Published notes and previous citations may contain more details. An * indicates a previously uncited documentation.

2000 RECORDS ACCEPTED

Red-throated Loon: 9 Apr at Trumbull L. in Clay Co. (00-06, IBL 70:133) and 12 Apr at Little Wall L. in Hamilton Co., (00-07, IBL 70:133).

Pacific Loon: 29 May at Hallett’s Q., Ames in Story Co., (00-16, IBL 70:133).

Anhinga: 14 May at Dudgeon L. in Benton Co.  (00-15, IBL 70:133, [see also IBL 71:102]).

Tri-colored Heron: 29 April to 2 May at Cardinal M. in Winneshiek Co. (00-11, P-1004, P-1005, P-1006, IBL 70:134, [see also IBL 71:45]).

King Eider: 5 Mar at IPS Ponds in Woodbury Co. (00-45, *Jerry Probst).

Swallow-tailed Kite: 14 Sep to 15 Sep in Portland Township in Cerro Gordo Co. (00-23, IBL 71:34).

Ferruginous Hawk: 20 Dec at Hitchcock N.A. in Pottawattamie Co. (00-40, *Mark Orsag).

Gyrfalcon: 21 Dec to 22 Dec west of Ames in Boone Co. (00-41, IBL 71:88, [see also IBL 71:141]).

Snowy Plover: 6 May at Sedan wetlands in Appanoose Co. (00-14, IBL 70:136).

Black-necked Stilt: 14 Apr to 15 Apr at Cone M. in Louisa Co. (00-08, P-1003, IBL 70:136).

Whimbrel: 6 June to 7 June at Hawkeye W.A.. in Johnson Co. (00-18, IBL 70:174) and 21 May at Jester P. in Polk Co. (00-46, *Bery Engebretsen).

Red Knot: 20 Aug at Saylorville R. in Polk Co. (00-24,IBL 71:36).

Jaeger species: 21 Nov to 28 Nov at Keokuk in Lee Co. (00-33, IBL 71:37).

Black-headed Gull: 7 Oct to 8 Oct Spirit L. in Dickinson Co. (00-26, IBL 71:37).

Mew Gull: 12 Mar at Smith’s S. in Clay Co. (00-05, IBL 70:137) and 31 Oct to 14 Nov at Red Rock R. in Marion Co. (00-29, IBL 71:37).

California Gull: 23 Oct at Red Rock R. in Marion Co. (00-27, IBL 71:37) and 5 Dec at Muscatine in Muscatine Co. (00-35, IBL 71:89).

Iceland Gull: 5 Dec at Muscatine in Muscatine Co. (00-34, IBL 71:89).

Eurasian Collared-Dove: 4 Feb at Ames in Story Co., (00-02, IBL 70:96) and 30 Apr, 8 Jul and 30 Dec at Montgomery in Dickinson Co. (00-12, 00-20, 00-42, IBL 70:137,176; 71:38).

White-winged Dove: 1 Jun to 18 Jun in Webster Township in Hamilton Co. (00-17, IBL 70:176) and 27 Jun in Grimes in Polk Co. (00-19, IBL 70:176).

Burrowing Owl: 1 Aug near Rock Rapids in Lyon Co. (00-22, IBL 70:176).

Rufous Hummingbird: 7 Nov at Dubuque in Dubuque Co. (00-30, P-1007, P-1008, P-1009, P-1010, P-1011, P-1012, P-1013, P-1014, P-1015, P-1016, IBL 71:38).

Selasphorus hummingbird species: Raising some interesting speculation, a female selasphorus hummingbird was coming to a feeder from 19 Jul to 24 Jul in the same neighborhood as the unaccepted nesting record (00-44) in Mason City in Cerro Gordo Co. (00-21, IBL 70:176).

Black-billed Magpie: 7 Dec at Hitchcock N.A. in Pottawattamie Co. (00-37, IBL 71:91).

Pygmy Nuthatch: 30 Oct at Algona in Kossuth Co. (00-28, IBL 71:39, [see also IBL 71:143]).

Mountain Bluebird: 15 Apr east of Peterson in Clay Co. (00-09, IBL 70:138) and 10 Dec northwest of Redfield in Dallas Co. (00-39, IBL 71:91).

Bohemian Waxwing: 11 Nov at Marble Beach S.P. in Dickinson Co. (00-31, IBL 71:40).

Orange-crowned Warbler: 29 Feb at Lisbon in Linn Co. (00-04, P-1000, P-1001, P-1002, IBL 70:98).

Pine Warbler: 10 Dec to 21 Dec at Des Moines in Polk Co. (00-38, *Mark Rouw & Rita Johannsen).

Western Tanager: 1 May at Parker’s Woods in Cerro Gordo Co. (00-13, IBL 70:140, [see also IBL 71:46]).

Brewer’s Blackbird: 27 Feb at Silver L. in Worth Co. (00-03, IBL 70:100).

2000 RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

Whooper Swan: 8 Jan at Heron Bend in Lee Co. (00-01, IBL 70:92 [see also IBL 70:134]). The identification was accepted but the origin of the bird was thought to probably be one of those that had escaped from captivity in Rockford, IL a few years ago.

Common Black Hawk: The general feeling was that a dark-phased Broad-winged Hawk was a more likely candidate. (00-25, IBL 71:34).

Swainson’s Hawk: While much of the description was suggestive of this species, members felt that other buteos could not be ruled out for this extremely late date. (00-32, IBL 71:88).

Swainson’s Hawk: Another record late date for this species was felt to be lacking sufficient critical details for acceptance. (00-36, IBL 71:88).

Eurasian Collared-Dove: Although this species is becoming more widespread throughout the state, observers must still be aware of the continuing presence of escaped Ringed Turtle-Doves.  (00-43, IBL 71:90).

Rufous Hummingbird: An incredible nesting record that was unfortunately discovered just as the birds fledged.  The video quality left too many doubts with members and outside experts.(00-44, P-1017, IBL 70:176).

Common Raven: Because of the subjective criteria used to differentiate this very rare vagrant from a crow, this record was not accepted on a split vote. (00-10, IBL 70:138).

LITERATURE CITED

Dinsmore, S.J., and J. J. Dinsmore. 2001. Gyrfalcon in Boone County, Iowa Bird Life 71:141.

Fuller, J.L. 2001. Tricolored Heron in Winneshiek County, Iowa Bird Life 71:45.

Goranson, R. 2001. Western Tanager in Mason City, Iowa Bird Life 71:46.

Kenne, M.C. 2001. Pygmy Nuthatch at Algona, Iowa Bird Life 71:143.

Moore, F.L. 2001. Anhinga at Dudgeon Park in Benton County, Iowa Bird Life 71:102.

© Iowa Ornithologists’ Union