I would hope the American Ornithological Union would pause before changing common names of birds that are named after historic ornithologists as that could be divisive . Currently we are living in a period of time where accusations of racism are rampant and consequently we are currently judging past historic figures based on our current definition of how racist they may have been. This is how history becomes distorted and historic individuals unfortunately become misjudged. Let’s wait a decade or so and revisit the topic again when hopefully our lenses are clearer, less tainted. Why are we in such the rush to change the common names of birds that have been established for centuries. We all need to take a deep breath or two and wait to see what transpires.
Bob Righter
Denver, CO
“As I’ve learned more about eponymous bird names over the last year, it’s become clear that these names carry a lot of baggage,” Sibley said. “If we cringe a little bit when we say or hear a bird’s name, that’s a barrier to communication. … It’s different from the free and uncomplicated flow of information that we can have when we talk about the Surf Scoter, or Warbling Vireo or Yellow Warbler.”
Sibley said that implementing a raft of name changes in field guides and other birding references will require a lot of time and adjustment, but it’s eminently doable: “The hardest part will probably be convincing the birding community that this is worth the trouble. Education will be key to that. It’s a small step in the big landscape of racial and social injustice, but I think it’s important and definitely worth doing.”
Luke George
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I don't think the definitions of how racist some of these ornithologists may have been will change now that they have exposed. Best to rip off the bandaid and move on. Below are Sibley's thoughts.“As I’ve learned more about eponymous bird names over the last year, it’s become clear that these names carry a lot of baggage,” Sibley said. “If we cringe a little bit when we say or hear a bird’s name, that’s a barrier to communication. … It’s different from the free and uncomplicated flow of information that we can have when we talk about the Surf Scoter, or Warbling Vireo or Yellow Warbler.”
Sibley said that implementing a raft of name changes in field guides and other birding references will require a lot of time and adjustment, but it’s eminently doable: “The hardest part will probably be convincing the birding community that this is worth the trouble. Education will be key to that. It’s a small step in the big landscape of racial and social injustice, but I think it’s important and definitely worth doing.”
Luke George
On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 3:28 PM Robert Righter <rori...@earthlink.net> wrote:Hi:I would hope the American Ornithological Union would pause before changing common names of birds that are named after historic ornithologists as that could be divisive . Currently we are living in a period of time where accusations of racism are rampant and consequently we are currently judging past historic figures based on our current definition of how racist they may have been. This is how history becomes distorted and historic individuals unfortunately become misjudged. Let’s wait a decade or so and revisit the topic again when hopefully our lenses are clearer, less tainted. Why are we in such the rush to change the common names of birds that have been established for centuries. We all need to take a deep breath or two and wait to see what transpires.
Bob Righter
Denver, CO
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I think Says Phoebe should be called Sunrise Phoebe.
Megan MillerPueblo, Co
It seems that the AOU has drawn a pretty clear and discernible criterion for renaming , i.e., not naming any species after Homo sapiens. There can be only two objections to this- one - some what understandable but very weak , the other indefensible. The one that is somewhat understandable is that learning new names might be hard for those of us older birders who have used the old names for years. The second objection- the one that is indefensible- is that you are annoyed that we no longer choose to honor racists and enslavers. In order to avoid arguments about just how much racism merits a name change, the AOU has made a wise decision to elide the debate by agreeing that no Homo sapiens names should be attached to bird species. I say bravo ( even though I am old, and will now have to learn new names).Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 2, 2023, at 7:47 PM, Susan Rosine <u5b2...@gmail.com> wrote:
I’m all for names that relate to the birds, not the people who “discovered” them.My only suggestion for a new name:Stellar’s Jay should be called the Stellar Jay, because they are.Van RuddLouisville, CO
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On Nov 2, 2023, at 23:04, Megan Miller <megan.k.m...@gmail.com> wrote:
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On Nov 3, 2023, at 11:07 AM, Mark Minner-lee <markrmi...@gmail.com> wrote:
It’s been forever since I’ve seen such a passionate conversation about a birding topic so I’ll throw my two cents in.
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On Nov 4, 2023, at 6:23 PM, mvjo...@gmail.com <mvjo...@gmail.com> wrote:
And I have a question and hope I did not miss anything in this lengthy thread. Will AOS accept our suggestions for possible name changes? Seems like we in the field have an excellent grasp of possible features and habitats. Seems to me they should take a participatory and inclusive approach and invite suggestions and ideas.
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A lot of great opinions have already been expressed, but I have one more point of view to throw in the mix.
I’m including two quotes below about names, one by Mary Oliver, the other by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
I think of these words often because the name of a bird can be the least important thing about it, even though it’s sometimes the first thing I want to know. What about its song, its body contour, its bill shape, its place in the landscape? Most of our names are arbitrary and unrelated to what makes that bird that bird.
And yet…I do feel Oliver’s same “inexplicable delight” in knowing a bird’s name. When I can call a Wilson’s Warbler a Wilson’s Warbler and not just an amazing little yellow and black bird, I feel that I’m respecting them, as Kimmerer says, and taking the tiniest step towards a more reciprocal relationship.
But if we call birds by their names as a matter of respect, is calling them by the name of people who enslaved or degraded other people an act of respect?
“Little Bird in the Pepper Tree”
Don't mind my inexplicable delight
to know your name,
Wilson's warbler,
yellow as a lemon, with a black cap.
Just do what you do, dipping branch by branch
down to the fountain
to sip neatly; then fly away.
A name is not a leash.
-Mary Oliver
It's a sign of respect and connection to learn the name of someone else, a sign of disrespect to ignore it. And yet, the average American can name over a hundred corporate logos and ten plants. Is it a surprise that we have accepted a political system that grants personhood to corporations, and no status at all for wild rice and redwoods? Learning the names of plants and animals is a powerful act of support for them. When we learn their names and their gifts, it opens the door to reciprocity.
- Robin Wall Kimmerer
On Nov 4, 2023, at 22:13, Stephen H <hen...@shendrix.com> wrote:
I agree Robert. I don't find the arguments for removing all eponymous bird names here or elsewhere very convincing and believe this to be more about politics & power seeking from the activists involved.
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I’ve been a birder for 50+ years. I’m unproud to say my skills have not really advanced much in those years. I have no audio capabilities (too many voices in my head I think…) I haven’t added to my life list in a while and 90% of my lists were completed in an ornithology course in college and jungle trips in South America.
My undergraduate degree was in Environmental Education, but I screwed up and went to law school…. So birding and most wildlife viewing got in the back seat of my life at times. I still point out hawks sitting on light poles to whoever is sitting in the car or sometimes to no one. Then I try and figure out what type of hawk it is. Growing up in Ohio that was a real issue, versus here, red tailed…..
The one thing that I have also stumbled over/laughed/ at been curious about is bird names are always changing. I get excited when I see a sparrow hawk and then spend 10 minutes trying to remember what the new name is. I looked at some of my early bird books and a third of the names are now different. I seriously read these emails thinking “is that a new bird I don’t know about or have I missed another name change.”
Bird is the only wildlife accounting study where the names change. I’ve not seen a fungus name change announcement ever.
The American Bison, Wolf, Alligator etc. have not changed their names since my classes at The Ohio State University in the 70’s. I’ve always thought there were a group of egg head birders (figure that out) sitting around coming up with new names just to make birding more challenging for me (a personal issue in my mind).
So this latest round of changes have a reason in a lot of peoples minds, other than to just confuse me further. Sure at some point we will cease because we won’t know if Grunt & Doink, our Neanderthal cousins ate other Neanderthals so we can’t change the Purple Footed Doink to something else.
If it gets one more person into birding or liking birding or worrying about birding I’m all I favor of it.
If it protects one more bird, please continue to confuse me.
If Sibley has another book to sell, OK, hopefully he will come by on a book tour and I can sit in the back and wonder how he does it. Or I can write the new names in my old book because unlike humans, changing our name does not mean a trip to the salon (or saloon) to get a new hair color.
Obviously it is providing birders with something to talk about, as I sit here in my office trying to bird out the window, with computer glasses on that allow me to almost focus on the window.
Going to get my blow tube that I brought back from the jungle and sit on the deck birding and shooting outdoor cats. I love cats but they are indoor animals and the darts don’t have Curare on them…any more. I’m not good enough to hit the cats, and as long as I don’t cough and inhale a dart I can hit the fence and scare the cats away.
Just my $400 worth (I am an attorney so Yes I have an inflated value of myself)
Jim Moss
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