Regarding rules used in creating the names: I remember reading a very good article on this subject. I think it came out around 1993 and I think it was in "Birding". The 1992 index lists an article "Simple Four-letter Code for the Birds of North America" Birding 24 (6):377. Unfortunately my copy of that issue appears to be missing, but I suspect that is the article I recall. I would recommend that article (if it is the one I remember)for anyone who is quite curious about the subject.
>From what I recall there were several complicating factors in assigning codes. For example; codes were different if words were merged, separate, or hyphenated. Think of species like Black and White Warbler or Black Crowned Nightheron. I strongly suspect I got the puncutation wrong on at least one of these. I also believe the Night-Heron was changed not too long ago (Nightheron vs. Night Heron vs. Night-Heron), but I don't remember which way it went. That leads to a entirely different set of rules - hyphenated common names. Brad Bolduan Windom, MN -----Original Message----- From: mou-net-bounces at moumn.org [mailto:[email protected]]on Behalf Of Emily Hutchins Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 11:01 To: mou-net at moumn.org Subject: [mou] Birder's shorthand: Question I have used the shorthand abbreviations for bird names for a number of years but was wondering if there's a "formal" list somewhere of all US birds. I have had a number of questions on this system: For instance, what are the rules when the first 2 letters of a 2-word name are the same for 2 different birds, such as in bank swallow and barn swallow? Barn swallow supposedly is BARS and bank swallow is BASW. Just looking for some guidelines or a list in writing on the naming system. Thanks! Emily Hutchins Private Lands Specialist MN Department of Natural Resources Area Wildlife Office 8485 Rose St. Owatonna, MN 55060 Phone: (507) 455-5841 Fax: (507) 446-2326 emily.hutchins at dnr.state.mn.us --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. Mailing list membership available on-line at http://moumn.org/subscribe.html. ----- To unsubscribe send a blank email to mou-net-request at moumn.org with a subject of unsubscribe.
