What names are you referring to? It's my understanding that what we used to call an Oldsquaw is now properly called a Long-Tailed Duck. Are there other birds whose names are being changed? The quotation below is from Wikipedia, but similar commentaries are found in other references:
"The English word *squaw* is an ethnic and sexual slur <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs>,[1] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-Vowel-1-1>[2] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-NMAI-2>[3] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-AIM-SC-3> historically used for Indigenous North American <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas> women.[4] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-BNews1-4> Contemporary use of the term, especially by non-Natives, is considered offensive, derogatory <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans>, misogynist <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogyny> and racist <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism>.[1] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-Vowel-1-1>[2] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-NMAI-2>[3] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-AIM-SC-3>[4] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-BNews1-4>[5] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-Hirschfelder-5>[6] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-AICRJ-6> The word is not used among Native American <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States>, First Nations <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nations>, Inuit <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit>, or Métis <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9tis> peoples." Surely ornithologists and amateur birders alike don't wish to perpetuate ignorant and disparaging slurs. On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 5:26 PM Carl Steckler <simmshil...@gmail.com> wrote: > First it was statues, then military bases. > Now the target of the woke crowd are birds. > The American Ornithological Society is thinking about changing the names > of some birds because they have a past that some call racist. > > Common people there is no room for political correctness in bird watching, > > Or did I just miss the memo? > > Please don’t let this hysteria ruin our hobby. > > There may be scientific reasons to change the name but unit for political > reasons. > > Birding is and should be open and available to every person, period. > What is next, ABA verses Audubon? > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
