why aren't we worried about renaming birds named for women's body parts? On Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 6:28 PM Evan Wilder <[email protected]> wrote:
> Robert, > > What if we instead consider this issue from the perspective of an > ever-evolving scientific community? We failed to acknowledge the > destructive effects of colonialism and racism in the past, but we have a > chance to improve upon that now. If we choose to “pause” our evolution now, > when might it be more prudent to resume? > > It's undeniable that America's history has been fraught with racism. This > effort by the AOS specifically shines a light on the colonial disparities > that saturated the 19th century. I will quote below a paragraph from the AOS's > full report > <https://americanornithology.org/about/english-bird-names-project/english-bird-names-committee-recommendations/> > on the naming decision. > > "A disproportionate number of eponyms were coined in the American West in > the mid-1800s. One member of the committee found that, of the 78 eponyms in > Tier 1 [the first wave of names being analyzed], 62% are from the West, > primarily the Southwest; 77% of these were named between 1825 and 1875. > Prior to that time and place, eponyms were relatively rare: Only 9 of the > potentially 78 eponyms in Tier 1 were named before 1825. The eponyms from > the American West largely honor and were conferred by “soldier scientists” > traveling with the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War and various > Indian wars." > > Since the American Ornithological Society published extensively about its > decisions, let me bring a few more of their points into the conversation. > Quoted segments are from the same report quoted above > <https://americanornithology.org/about/english-bird-names-project/english-bird-names-committee-recommendations/> > . > > - Eponymous names are poor descriptors. Names that describe the bird > (e.g., Spotted Sandpiper, Red-breasted Nuthatch), its habitat (e.g., Marsh > Wren, Pinyon Jay), its range (e.g. Eastern Wood-Pewee, Mexican Chickadee), > or something else about the species (e.g., Fish Crow, Northern Mockingbird) > convey more information. > - Alternative methods of naming nature that do not imply ownership > should be used. Eponyms, bestowed as honors and awards to specific people, > not only ignore and conceal attributes of birds, they imply ownership or > possession of an entire species by one human. > - We must also ask ourselves whose history we are commemorating > through this list of names. Equating these names with the history of > ornithology, or implying that ornithological history will be lost with the > changing of these names, disregards the contributions and knowledge of > populations that are not represented. > - Instability from such accepted name changes is regularly tolerated > and expected across users of bird names.Name changes occur annually, and > dozens of name changes occurred in 1957 and 1973 (American Ornithologists’ > Union 1957, Eisenmann et al. 1973). > > Many eponymous bird names came about by being the first white man to > "discover" the species and codify the name within standard scientific > taxonomy, which has historically been overseen by white men as well. The > natural history and scientific history of birds goes well beyond this > homogeneous approach, and maintaining our current naming system diminishes > the role of birds in America's pre-colonial past – and the role of > indigenous peoples in caring for them and their habitats. > > Thank you for your time. > - Evan > > On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 3:28 PM Robert Righter <[email protected]> > 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 >> >> -- >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en >> * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. >> Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate >> * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Colorado Birds" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/F5EC9754-69CF-4CD5-A901-9ACC3BA5C169%40earthlink.net >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/F5EC9754-69CF-4CD5-A901-9ACC3BA5C169%40earthlink.net?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "Colorado Birds" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en > * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include > bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate > * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Colorado Birds" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAC%2B%2BxB%2BVksyR9WdYsTAEYo2FWZUnwt3t%3Dd5BTR%2BNChv4a9CnNg%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAC%2B%2BxB%2BVksyR9WdYsTAEYo2FWZUnwt3t%3Dd5BTR%2BNChv4a9CnNg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CADAG%2Bc0K2Hi_w-qVQHpYtyYcBGfSN0VNkb2%2BLf77saYNLfeSpw%40mail.gmail.com.
