Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Megan Miller]

I am a freshly minted 31 year old and I have been part of Colorados birding
community for around 20 years. I grew up here, found my passion for birds
and wildlife here, and built a career out of it. It was very difficult and
now that I am here the path forward doesn’t feel any easier. We still have
great challenges to overcome to create a better planet for birds and people.

 A few years ago when discussion about changing bird names moved through
twitter and instagram I was also initially hesitant. I love Wilson’s
Warblers with all of my heart. But the more I learned about some (but not
all) of the men that described these species the more it seemed that they
were murderers first and avian hobbyists on the side. I think there are
plenty of platforms to remember the people who described and categorized
all these birds and it’s time to move on to new naming conventions.

I know for a lot of younger birders this feels important because we feel we
have so little power the change our world for the better. It feels like a
tiny step to building a community fitting to our and future generations. I
do think it’s inevitable and it is only a small change considering the
changes that could face us in the coming years.

I think Says Phoebe should be called Sunrise Phoebe.

Megan Miller
Pueblo, Co


On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 10:08 PM Eric DeFonso  wrote:

> I've just turned 56 and have now been birding for 30 years, but I am
> excited about the prospect of some significant name-changes. I too have had
> the opportunity to get to know a lot of young birders, and they get it,
> which delights me.
>
> Personally, yes, I cringed once I realized who John McCown was. That to me
> was an embarrassment, and now that I know who he was and what he fought
> for, there's no unlearning that. I'm glad to see that the common name for
> the bird no longer reflects the legacy of that really awful man. I can only
> imagine then what a letdown it was or would have been if I weren't a white
> person but wanted to get into birding. As we've seen, it was easy enough to
> change that common name out, and we now regularly refer to that bird as the
> Thick-billed Longspur. To me it's like taking down a statue of Robert E
> Lee. Doing so doesn't erase Lee (or McCown) from history, it only means we
> no longer celebrate what they did or represented. Similarly, I still look
> back in amazement at how long the former name of the Long-tailed Duck was
> retained. It was still in effect when I started birding and I remember
> being a bit surprised at its existence and use since it sounded so
> degrading to living people, so when it got switched, I felt better about
> referring to the bird.
>
> Moreover, I do look forward to the new names that we'll be finding for
> Townsend's Warbler, Solitaire, and Shearwater. It's a lot easier to
> advocate for the protection of birds (by us humans) when the very name of
> the birds you're seeking to protect aren't pointlessly offensive to other
> humans whose help and cooperation we need. It's all about respect. The next
> generation of birders needs to be larger and more diverse than we've been
> up until now, and the objective is to get lots more people to care about
> the long-term well-being of birds and their habitats. All hands on deck.
> I'm all for carrying out an easy reform that reflects a commitment to
> having as many people help out as can be. It's just a starting point to be
> sure, but why not.
>
> I agree that sometimes eponymic names seem preferable because unique and
> concise adjectival descriptors for some species can be difficult to come up
> with. (One can witness this firsthand upon reading the South American
> Classification Committee forum exchanges, where committee members routinely
> discuss necessary name changes for South American birds.) This will be
> especially true for so many tropical species, although the current
> initiative isn't really designed or aimed at those groups. I also know that
> not all eponyms derive from people who were awful. Some were at worst just
> mildly annoying or no more fallible or obnoxious than any of us. Some names
> have little or no connection to the people who actually first described the
> birds (William Swainson comes to mind on both counts.) Humboldt was
> practically exemplary of a great human being even by our modern standards,
> certainly way above his contemporaries. Many others, like Parker, lived
> concurrently with some of us and do seem worthy of commemoration. To that I
> would say, sure, although I also remember that the name changes we're
> discussing are only for the common names, and not the scientific names.
> That's because changing the Latinized species name is an essentially
> impossible process according to the longstanding and universal ICZN
> (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature) conventions. For that
> reason, even now the Thick-billed Longspur's scientific name is *Rhynchophanes
> mccownii*, and cannot be changed 

Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Eric DeFonso]

I've just turned 56 and have now been birding for 30 years, but I am
excited about the prospect of some significant name-changes. I too have had
the opportunity to get to know a lot of young birders, and they get it,
which delights me.

Personally, yes, I cringed once I realized who John McCown was. That to me
was an embarrassment, and now that I know who he was and what he fought
for, there's no unlearning that. I'm glad to see that the common name for
the bird no longer reflects the legacy of that really awful man. I can only
imagine then what a letdown it was or would have been if I weren't a white
person but wanted to get into birding. As we've seen, it was easy enough to
change that common name out, and we now regularly refer to that bird as the
Thick-billed Longspur. To me it's like taking down a statue of Robert E
Lee. Doing so doesn't erase Lee (or McCown) from history, it only means we
no longer celebrate what they did or represented. Similarly, I still look
back in amazement at how long the former name of the Long-tailed Duck was
retained. It was still in effect when I started birding and I remember
being a bit surprised at its existence and use since it sounded so
degrading to living people, so when it got switched, I felt better about
referring to the bird.

Moreover, I do look forward to the new names that we'll be finding for
Townsend's Warbler, Solitaire, and Shearwater. It's a lot easier to
advocate for the protection of birds (by us humans) when the very name of
the birds you're seeking to protect aren't pointlessly offensive to other
humans whose help and cooperation we need. It's all about respect. The next
generation of birders needs to be larger and more diverse than we've been
up until now, and the objective is to get lots more people to care about
the long-term well-being of birds and their habitats. All hands on deck.
I'm all for carrying out an easy reform that reflects a commitment to
having as many people help out as can be. It's just a starting point to be
sure, but why not.

I agree that sometimes eponymic names seem preferable because unique and
concise adjectival descriptors for some species can be difficult to come up
with. (One can witness this firsthand upon reading the South American
Classification Committee forum exchanges, where committee members routinely
discuss necessary name changes for South American birds.) This will be
especially true for so many tropical species, although the current
initiative isn't really designed or aimed at those groups. I also know that
not all eponyms derive from people who were awful. Some were at worst just
mildly annoying or no more fallible or obnoxious than any of us. Some names
have little or no connection to the people who actually first described the
birds (William Swainson comes to mind on both counts.) Humboldt was
practically exemplary of a great human being even by our modern standards,
certainly way above his contemporaries. Many others, like Parker, lived
concurrently with some of us and do seem worthy of commemoration. To that I
would say, sure, although I also remember that the name changes we're
discussing are only for the common names, and not the scientific names.
That's because changing the Latinized species name is an essentially
impossible process according to the longstanding and universal ICZN
(International Code of Zoological Nomenclature) conventions. For that
reason, even now the Thick-billed Longspur's scientific name is *Rhynchophanes
mccownii*, and cannot be changed unless a major change in our understanding
of its systematics arises (which in its case seems very unlikely now).

Similarly, Townsend's name will persist in scientific names like that of
the solitaire *(Myadestes townsendi*), etc. As will Parker's if it ever
comes to that with the tropical Parker's Antbird
*(Cercomacroides parkeri).*


---
Eric DeFonso
Boulder County, CO


On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 7:58 PM nic korte  wrote:

> As an old guy lucky enough to go birding now and then with some
> 20-somethings…they are very passionate about this.   They are the future.
>
>  (I agree with Kenn Kaufman, however, the loss of an honorific such as
> Parker’s Antbird, would seem wrong. Besides, some of those families are so
> similar that meaningful descriptive names are impossible.)
> Nic Korte
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Nov 2, 2023, at 7:47 PM, Susan Rosine  wrote:
>
> 
> Let's face it -- a lot of bird names are stupid in general. They are not
> descriptive.
> So, don't just get rid of white men's names --
> Junco - Spanish for reed. ?
> Mallard -- old French/English for Drake ?
> Wren -- who knows? Haha
> Loon -- they aren't crazy (haha)
> Waterthrushes are Warblers. Fix that.
>
> ***WOMEN - how do you feel about Ruby-crowned Kinglet? The female is not
> ruby-crowned! And what about:
> Red-Winged Blackbird
> Ring-necked Pheasant
> Red Crossbill
> Brown-headed Cowbird
> Chestnut-collared Longspur
> Purple Finch
> Rose-breasted Grosbeak
> 

Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Susan Rosine]

Serious question -- are there people who actually cringe? I have African
and American Indian ancestors, and I've never cringed. I've also never
looked up these men and read all about them. Just some dude named Wilson or
Steller or McCown or Townsend. Oh wait, I am related to Townsend, so I do
know a bit about him. (yeah yeah he wasn't perfect, I know).

I care more about the birds, and saving them (we've lost BILLIONS since I
was a little girl) than getting their name changed to be acceptable to
humans. It just seems like there are way, way more important things than a
bird's name.

What if they changed Wilson's Warbler to Black-capped Warbler? Hardly fair
to the female. Shouldn't that make me cringe as a woman?

Susan Rosine
Brighton


On Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 4:27 PM T. Luke George  wrote:

> 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 
> 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
>>
>
>
> --
> *​T. Luke George, PhD*
> *Master Instructor, **​Colorado ​State University*
> *Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology*
> *Wagar 110*
> *970-491-3311 (o)*
> P​rofessor Emeritus, Humboldt State University
> 707-499-4053 (c)
> *t.luke.geo...@gmail.com *
> "what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Mary
> Oliver
>

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Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[nic korte]

As an old guy lucky enough to go birding now and then with some 
20-somethings…they are very passionate about this.   They are the future.

 (I agree with Kenn Kaufman, however, the loss of an honorific such as Parker’s 
Antbird, would seem wrong. Besides, some of those families are so similar that 
meaningful descriptive names are impossible.)
Nic Korte

Sent from my iPad

On Nov 2, 2023, at 7:47 PM, Susan Rosine  wrote:


Let's face it -- a lot of bird names are stupid in general. They are not 
descriptive.
So, don't just get rid of white men's names --
Junco - Spanish for reed. ?
Mallard -- old French/English for Drake ?
Wren -- who knows? Haha
Loon -- they aren't crazy (haha)
Waterthrushes are Warblers. Fix that.

***WOMEN - how do you feel about Ruby-crowned Kinglet? The female is not 
ruby-crowned! And what about:
Red-Winged Blackbird
Ring-necked Pheasant
Red Crossbill
Brown-headed Cowbird
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Purple Finch
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
American Redstart
Hooded Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
And on, and on, and on.

If AOS REALLY wants to be inclusive, and not offend anyone, how about we stop 
offending half of the human population?

Done with my rant. Probably.
Susan Rosine
Brighton


On Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 5:13 PM Bonnie Morgan 
mailto:compassrose...@gmail.com>> wrote:
why aren't we worried about renaming birds named for women's body parts?

On Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 6:28 PM Evan Wilder 
mailto:evan.d.burg...@gmail.com>> 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
 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.

  *   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 
mailto:rorigh...@earthlink.net>> wrote:
Hi:


I would hope the American Ornithological Union would pause before 

Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Susan Rosine]

Let's face it -- a lot of bird names are stupid in general. They are not
descriptive.
So, don't just get rid of white men's names --
Junco - Spanish for reed. ?
Mallard -- old French/English for Drake ?
Wren -- who knows? Haha
Loon -- they aren't crazy (haha)
Waterthrushes are Warblers. Fix that.

***WOMEN - how do you feel about Ruby-crowned Kinglet? The female is not
ruby-crowned! And what about:
Red-Winged Blackbird
Ring-necked Pheasant
Red Crossbill
Brown-headed Cowbird
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Purple Finch
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
American Redstart
Hooded Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
And on, and on, and on.

If AOS REALLY wants to be inclusive, and not offend anyone, how about we
stop offending half of the human population?

Done with my rant. Probably.
Susan Rosine
Brighton


On Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 5:13 PM Bonnie Morgan  wrote:

> why aren't we worried about renaming birds named for women's body parts?
>
> On Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 6:28 PM Evan Wilder  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
>> 
>> 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
>> 
>> .
>>
>>- 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 
>> 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 

[cobirds] Red-throated Loon, Adams County

[Adam Vesely]

Hi all,

There's currently a Red-throated Loon at Ken Mitchell Park/Reservoir in 
Brighton (Adams County). 

Adam Vesely
Thornton, CO 

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Re: [cobirds] Melanerpes lewis over Ken Caryl Valley, JeffCo this afternoon

[Ajit Antony]

Very witty, David, regarding your proposed name for the species!

Ajit Antony
Central Park,  Co


On Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 5:17 PM David Suddjian  wrote:

> I was surprised to look up to see the bird soon-to-be-formerly-known-as
> Lewis's Woodpecker flying south over my neighborhood. I have had them on
> occasion in such fashion, but this one is later in the season. If they
> change the common name, then I vote for Merry Weather Woodpecker. (Ding! if
> you get that :-), but will the other remain *M. lewis*?
>
> David Suddjian
> Ken Caryl Valley
> Littleton, CO
>
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> 
> .
>

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Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Mel Goff]

It could be David Sibley just wants to sell more field guides with the new 
names. 
 
Mel Goff
Colorado Springs
 

> On 11/02/2023 4:21 PM MDT T. Luke George  wrote:
>  
>  
> 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  mailto:rorigh...@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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> > 
> 
>  
> --
> T. Luke George, PhD
> Master Instructor,  Colorado State University
> Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
> Wagar 110
> 970-491-3311 (o)
> P rofessor Emeritus, Humboldt State University
> 707-499-4053 (c)
> t.luke.geo...@gmail.com mailto:t.luke.geo...@gmail.com
> "what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Mary Oliver
> 
>  
> 
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[cobirds] Melanerpes lewis over Ken Caryl Valley, JeffCo this afternoon

[David Suddjian]

I was surprised to look up to see the bird soon-to-be-formerly-known-as
Lewis's Woodpecker flying south over my neighborhood. I have had them on
occasion in such fashion, but this one is later in the season. If they
change the common name, then I vote for Merry Weather Woodpecker. (Ding! if
you get that :-), but will the other remain *M. lewis*?

David Suddjian
Ken Caryl Valley
Littleton, CO

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Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Bonnie Morgan]

why aren't we worried about renaming birds named for women's body parts?

On Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 6:28 PM Evan Wilder  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
> 
> 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
> 
> .
>
>- 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 
> 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 cobirds@googlegroups.com
>> 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/

Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Evan Wilder]

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

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

.

   - 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 
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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> * 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/
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Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[T. Luke George]

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 
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
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> * 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/
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> 
> .
>


-- 
*​T. Luke George, PhD*
*Master Instructor, **​Colorado ​State University*
*Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology*
*Wagar 110*
*970-491-3311 (o)*
P​rofessor Emeritus, Humboldt State University
707-499-4053 (c)
*t.luke.geo...@gmail.com *
"what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Mary
Oliver

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[cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Robert Righter]

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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