Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Annette Aguero]

I love this! Very well put!Sent from my iPhoneOn Nov 3, 2023, at 11:07 AM, Mark Minner-lee  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.1.  Call the birds whatever you want, my priority in life is to enjoy them and advocate for their continued existence.  The name in my humble opinion the name has only been a marker of distinction not of importance.  2. If people are truly not interested in helping with conservation/protection over the name of a bird then they are already not focused on helping birds anyway.  Changing the name isn’t going to make a difference in driving their ultimate support.3.  Let’s stop stepping over hundred dollar bills to pick up pennies - there are a multitude of issues with more significance and impact that we can devote our energy to if it is the welfare or birds that we are truly interested in.    Let’s make the changes and move on to bigger and better things!In other words at the end of the day just go out and keep enjoying birds while they are still here - the names do not matter.Regards,Mark Minner-LeeErie, COSent from my iPhoneOn Nov 3, 2023, at 9:19 AM, Susan Rosine  wrote:I would vote for Marsh Hawk, Sunrise Phoebe and Stellar Jay! I would also like Rufous-sided Towhee back. The ones in the Pacific Northwest aren't very spotted, and have more rufous than ones in Colorado. Susan Rosine Brighton On Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 9:10 AM Peter Ruprecht  wrote:Megan's suggestion for a wonderfully lyrical new name for our "dryland phoebe" delights me. A descriptive name is an improvement over an eponym, but a descriptive name that poetically celebrates the essence of the bird is even better. "Thick-billed" certainly beats "McCown's", but does it really do justice to a bird whose buoyant song-flight over an open prairie at dawn is a true wonder of nature? Perhaps we can follow the example of the odonates community who standardized the common names for dragonflies with creative and mellifluous ones like "boghaunter" and "sundragon".If we think about naming a species for its habitat, let's keep in mind that its breeding habitat or the area that we most associate with it might not be where it lives for most of the year. In Colorado, Lincoln's Sparrow could accurately be called Willow Sparrow, but that might be confusing to people who see it in its nonbreeding range (where it spends the majority of its time). Similarly with Baird's -> Tundra Sandpiper.We may also want to consider the current preferred names for parts of a bird, particularly the upper front of the torso. These days, something like "Crescent-chested" sounds better to a lot of people than "Buff-breasted".Finally, while we're at it, could we please consider reverting Northern Harrier to Marsh Hawk? :)Peter RuprechtSuperiorOn Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:04 PM Megan Miller  wrote: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 MillerPueblo, Co 




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Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Edward Landi]

80% of the world’s biodiversity is under the management of indigenous
people. They are responsible for what’s left. If we want to conserve more
birds and bird habitat, building relationships and collaborations with
indigenous communities is essential.

I don’t see collaborations happening with indigenous communities if we
continue to name birds after people that dug up their ancestors’ grave
sites. Townsend and Audubon showed no respect for indigenous people when
they dug up skulls and kept them like souvenirs.

Also, bird conservation is all about convincing non-bird people and the
public to give their support.
My career has involved a lot of this and I can’t tell you how confused the
public gets when they hear an honorific names:
“You mean you want to protect the Caspian Sparrow?”
We just don’t name any other things like this unless it belongs to someone.
Honorific names are cumbersome and I have trouble getting people to
remember the name. How is the public supposed to care about a grassland
bird like the Cassin’s Sparrow if they can’t even remember the name?


On Fri, Nov 3, 2023 at 1:53 PM Pamela Dowd 
wrote:

> Mark’s comments are well stated. What does it matter the names when over
> 1000 birds die in one night crashing into buildings.
>
>  Is not more important to focus on both protecting the birds and the
> environment than to be a part of rewriting history to cover a past that
> makes some people feel uncomfortable.
>
> Thousands of dead migrating birds make me feel uncomfortable.
>
> Before moving to Colorado I helped picked up those birds.
>
> Respectfully,
> Pam Munroe
> Parker, CO
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Nov 3, 2023, at 11:12 AM, Susan Rosine  wrote:
>
> 
>
> WELL PUT! BRAVO!!
>
> Susan
>
> On Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 11:07 AM Mark Minner-lee 
> 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.
>>
>> 1.  Call the birds whatever you want, my priority in life is to enjoy
>> them and advocate for their continued existence.  The name in my humble
>> opinion the name has only been a marker of distinction not of importance.
>>
>> 2. If people are truly not interested in helping with
>> conservation/protection over the name of a bird then they are already not
>> focused on helping birds anyway.  Changing the name isn’t going to make a
>> difference in driving their ultimate support.
>>
>> 3.  Let’s stop stepping over hundred dollar bills to pick up pennies -
>> there are a multitude of issues with more significance and impact that we
>> can devote our energy to if it is the welfare or birds that we are truly
>> interested in.Let’s make the changes and move on to bigger and better
>> things!
>>
>> In other words at the end of the day just go out and keep enjoying birds
>> while they are still here - the names do not matter.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Mark Minner-Lee
>> Erie, CO
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Nov 3, 2023, at 9:19 AM, Susan Rosine  wrote:
>>
>> 
>> I would vote for Marsh Hawk, Sunrise Phoebe and Stellar Jay! I would also
>> like Rufous-sided Towhee back. The ones in the Pacific Northwest aren't
>> very spotted, and have more rufous than ones in Colorado.
>> Susan Rosine
>> Brighton
>>
>> On Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 9:10 AM Peter Ruprecht  wrote:
>>
>>> Megan's suggestion for a wonderfully lyrical new name for our "dryland
>>> phoebe" delights me. A descriptive name is an improvement over an eponym,
>>> but a descriptive name that poetically celebrates the essence of the bird
>>> is even better. "Thick-billed" certainly beats "McCown's", but does it
>>> really do justice to a bird whose buoyant song-flight over an open prairie
>>> at dawn is a true wonder of nature? Perhaps we can follow the example of
>>> the odonates community who standardized the common names for dragonflies
>>> with creative and mellifluous ones like "boghaunter" and "sundragon".
>>>
>>> If we think about naming a species for its habitat, let's keep in mind
>>> that its breeding habitat or the area that we most associate with it might
>>> not be where it lives for most of the year. In Colorado, Lincoln's Sparrow
>>> could accurately be called Willow Sparrow, but that might be confusing to
>>> people who see it in its nonbreeding range (where it spends the majority of
>>> its time). Similarly with Baird's -> Tundra Sandpiper.
>>>
>>> We may also want to consider the current preferred names for parts of a
>>> bird, particularly the upper front of the torso. These days, something like
>>> "Crescent-chested" sounds better to a lot of people than "Buff-breasted".
>>>
>>> Finally, while we're at it, could we please consider reverting Northern
>>> Harrier to Marsh Hawk? :)
>>>
>>> Peter Ruprecht
>>> Superior
>>>
>>> On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:04 PM Megan Miller <
>>> megan.k.miller2...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
 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, 

Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Van Rudd]

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, COSent from my iPhoneOn Nov 2, 2023, at 23:04, Megan Miller  wrote: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 MillerPueblo, 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 

Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Charlie Paterson]

How did American ornithology wind up with a committee that has the
oxymoronic task of giving birds "official" common names, anyway?
Everything biological already has a "universal" scientific name.
Charlie Paterson
Colorado Springs

On Fri, Nov 3, 2023 at 11:11 AM Susan Rosine  wrote:

> WELL PUT! BRAVO!!
>
> Susan
>
> On Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 11:07 AM Mark Minner-lee 
> 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.
>>
>> 1.  Call the birds whatever you want, my priority in life is to enjoy
>> them and advocate for their continued existence.  The name in my humble
>> opinion the name has only been a marker of distinction not of importance.
>>
>> 2. If people are truly not interested in helping with
>> conservation/protection over the name of a bird then they are already not
>> focused on helping birds anyway.  Changing the name isn’t going to make a
>> difference in driving their ultimate support.
>>
>> 3.  Let’s stop stepping over hundred dollar bills to pick up pennies -
>> there are a multitude of issues with more significance and impact that we
>> can devote our energy to if it is the welfare or birds that we are truly
>> interested in.Let’s make the changes and move on to bigger and better
>> things!
>>
>> In other words at the end of the day just go out and keep enjoying birds
>> while they are still here - the names do not matter.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Mark Minner-Lee
>> Erie, CO
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Nov 3, 2023, at 9:19 AM, Susan Rosine  wrote:
>>
>> 
>> I would vote for Marsh Hawk, Sunrise Phoebe and Stellar Jay! I would also
>> like Rufous-sided Towhee back. The ones in the Pacific Northwest aren't
>> very spotted, and have more rufous than ones in Colorado.
>> Susan Rosine
>> Brighton
>>
>> On Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 9:10 AM Peter Ruprecht  wrote:
>>
>>> Megan's suggestion for a wonderfully lyrical new name for our "dryland
>>> phoebe" delights me. A descriptive name is an improvement over an eponym,
>>> but a descriptive name that poetically celebrates the essence of the bird
>>> is even better. "Thick-billed" certainly beats "McCown's", but does it
>>> really do justice to a bird whose buoyant song-flight over an open prairie
>>> at dawn is a true wonder of nature? Perhaps we can follow the example of
>>> the odonates community who standardized the common names for dragonflies
>>> with creative and mellifluous ones like "boghaunter" and "sundragon".
>>>
>>> If we think about naming a species for its habitat, let's keep in mind
>>> that its breeding habitat or the area that we most associate with it might
>>> not be where it lives for most of the year. In Colorado, Lincoln's Sparrow
>>> could accurately be called Willow Sparrow, but that might be confusing to
>>> people who see it in its nonbreeding range (where it spends the majority of
>>> its time). Similarly with Baird's -> Tundra Sandpiper.
>>>
>>> We may also want to consider the current preferred names for parts of a
>>> bird, particularly the upper front of the torso. These days, something like
>>> "Crescent-chested" sounds better to a lot of people than "Buff-breasted".
>>>
>>> Finally, while we're at it, could we please consider reverting Northern
>>> Harrier to Marsh Hawk? :)
>>>
>>> Peter Ruprecht
>>> Superior
>>>
>>> On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:04 PM Megan Miller <
>>> megan.k.miller2...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
 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


 --
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>>> Groups "Colorado Birds" 

Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Chip Dawes]

I agree that time will likely reveal this historical rewrite to be a short
lived (from a historical perspective) phenomenon.
The practice of excising notable individuals from the historic record goes
way back to ancient Egypt where Hatshepsut
 and Akhenaten
(King Tut's father) were
but two notable examples from antiquity.
More recent examples can be found in the French and Russian revolutions.
The historical record is usually recovered in part and the historical
rewriting practice deprecated.
This latest bout of historical cancellation will likely go through the same
convulsions as past practices of this type of behavior.

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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> 
> .
>

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Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Pamela Dowd]

Mark’s comments are well stated. What does it matter the names when over 1000 birds die in one night crashing into buildings. Is not more important to focus on both protecting the birds and the environment than to be a part of rewriting history to cover a past that makes some people feel uncomfortable.  Thousands of dead migrating birds make me feel uncomfortable. Before moving to Colorado I helped picked up those birds. Respectfully,Pam MunroeParker, COSent from my iPhoneOn Nov 3, 2023, at 11:12 AM, Susan Rosine  wrote:WELL PUT! BRAVO!!SusanOn Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 11:07 AM Mark Minner-lee  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.1.  Call the birds whatever you want, my priority in life is to enjoy them and advocate for their continued existence.  The name in my humble opinion the name has only been a marker of distinction not of importance.  2. If people are truly not interested in helping with conservation/protection over the name of a bird then they are already not focused on helping birds anyway.  Changing the name isn’t going to make a difference in driving their ultimate support.3.  Let’s stop stepping over hundred dollar bills to pick up pennies - there are a multitude of issues with more significance and impact that we can devote our energy to if it is the welfare or birds that we are truly interested in.    Let’s make the changes and move on to bigger and better things!In other words at the end of the day just go out and keep enjoying birds while they are still here - the names do not matter.Regards,Mark Minner-LeeErie, COSent from my iPhoneOn Nov 3, 2023, at 9:19 AM, Susan Rosine  wrote:I would vote for Marsh Hawk, Sunrise Phoebe and Stellar Jay! I would also like Rufous-sided Towhee back. The ones in the Pacific Northwest aren't very spotted, and have more rufous than ones in Colorado. Susan Rosine Brighton On Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 9:10 AM Peter Ruprecht  wrote:Megan's suggestion for a wonderfully lyrical new name for our "dryland phoebe" delights me. A descriptive name is an improvement over an eponym, but a descriptive name that poetically celebrates the essence of the bird is even better. "Thick-billed" certainly beats "McCown's", but does it really do justice to a bird whose buoyant song-flight over an open prairie at dawn is a true wonder of nature? Perhaps we can follow the example of the odonates community who standardized the common names for dragonflies with creative and mellifluous ones like "boghaunter" and "sundragon".If we think about naming a species for its habitat, let's keep in mind that its breeding habitat or the area that we most associate with it might not be where it lives for most of the year. In Colorado, Lincoln's Sparrow could accurately be called Willow Sparrow, but that might be confusing to people who see it in its nonbreeding range (where it spends the majority of its time). Similarly with Baird's -> Tundra Sandpiper.We may also want to consider the current preferred names for parts of a bird, particularly the upper front of the torso. These days, something like "Crescent-chested" sounds better to a lot of people than "Buff-breasted".Finally, while we're at it, could we please consider reverting Northern Harrier to Marsh Hawk? :)Peter RuprechtSuperiorOn Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:04 PM Megan Miller  wrote: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 MillerPueblo, Co 




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[cobirds] Surf Scoter - Baseline Reservoir, Boulder County

[Peter Burke]

COBirders,
Peter Gent discovered a female Surf Scoter at Baseline Reservoir this
morning, which has since been well photographed by John Salisbury and
others from the north end along Baseline Rd. The bird was actively feeding
and occasionally seen in flight. A Common Loon was also spotted on the
western side of the Res., more easily viewed from Cherryvale Rd.

Good birding!

Peter Burke
Boulder County

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Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Eric DeFonso]

Sunrise Phoebe - EXCELLENT!

I think a lot of inspiration can come from seeing the kinds of English
names given to hummingbirds in the neotropics. These names are a delight
and if nothing else add greatly to the fun involved in searching them out
and of course in finding them. I have perceived the value of an
appropriate, catchy, or distinctive name for a bird, and I'm sure I'm not
the only one. It adds to their charisma, and I would submit that anything
that helps people feel more connected to the birds and thus to the natural
world, even if it operates on an unconscious level, has a value. Names are
part of language, and language is fascinating.

Sure, I'd still chase a dull-colored cardinal if one shows up in Boulder
County, but I love the fact that on that magical day when someone finds it,
I'll be seeing messages with PYRRHULOXIA splattered all over the subject
lines instead. :)

Eric

p.s. There really is a bird called the Dull-colored Grassquit in South
America. It's an accurate name, for what it's worth.

---
Eric DeFonso
Boulder County, CO


On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:04 PM Megan Miller 
wrote:

> 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 

Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Susan Rosine]

WELL PUT! BRAVO!!

Susan

On Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 11:07 AM Mark Minner-lee 
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.
>
> 1.  Call the birds whatever you want, my priority in life is to enjoy them
> and advocate for their continued existence.  The name in my humble opinion
> the name has only been a marker of distinction not of importance.
>
> 2. If people are truly not interested in helping with
> conservation/protection over the name of a bird then they are already not
> focused on helping birds anyway.  Changing the name isn’t going to make a
> difference in driving their ultimate support.
>
> 3.  Let’s stop stepping over hundred dollar bills to pick up pennies -
> there are a multitude of issues with more significance and impact that we
> can devote our energy to if it is the welfare or birds that we are truly
> interested in.Let’s make the changes and move on to bigger and better
> things!
>
> In other words at the end of the day just go out and keep enjoying birds
> while they are still here - the names do not matter.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mark Minner-Lee
> Erie, CO
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Nov 3, 2023, at 9:19 AM, Susan Rosine  wrote:
>
> 
> I would vote for Marsh Hawk, Sunrise Phoebe and Stellar Jay! I would also
> like Rufous-sided Towhee back. The ones in the Pacific Northwest aren't
> very spotted, and have more rufous than ones in Colorado.
> Susan Rosine
> Brighton
>
> On Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 9:10 AM Peter Ruprecht  wrote:
>
>> Megan's suggestion for a wonderfully lyrical new name for our "dryland
>> phoebe" delights me. A descriptive name is an improvement over an eponym,
>> but a descriptive name that poetically celebrates the essence of the bird
>> is even better. "Thick-billed" certainly beats "McCown's", but does it
>> really do justice to a bird whose buoyant song-flight over an open prairie
>> at dawn is a true wonder of nature? Perhaps we can follow the example of
>> the odonates community who standardized the common names for dragonflies
>> with creative and mellifluous ones like "boghaunter" and "sundragon".
>>
>> If we think about naming a species for its habitat, let's keep in mind
>> that its breeding habitat or the area that we most associate with it might
>> not be where it lives for most of the year. In Colorado, Lincoln's Sparrow
>> could accurately be called Willow Sparrow, but that might be confusing to
>> people who see it in its nonbreeding range (where it spends the majority of
>> its time). Similarly with Baird's -> Tundra Sandpiper.
>>
>> We may also want to consider the current preferred names for parts of a
>> bird, particularly the upper front of the torso. These days, something like
>> "Crescent-chested" sounds better to a lot of people than "Buff-breasted".
>>
>> Finally, while we're at it, could we please consider reverting Northern
>> Harrier to Marsh Hawk? :)
>>
>> Peter Ruprecht
>> Superior
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:04 PM Megan Miller <
>> megan.k.miller2...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>> --
>> 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/
>> ---
>> You 

Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Mark Minner-lee]

It’s been forever since I’ve seen such a passionate conversation about a birding topic so I’ll throw my two cents in.1.  Call the birds whatever you want, my priority in life is to enjoy them and advocate for their continued existence.  The name in my humble opinion the name has only been a marker of distinction not of importance.  2. If people are truly not interested in helping with conservation/protection over the name of a bird then they are already not focused on helping birds anyway.  Changing the name isn’t going to make a difference in driving their ultimate support.3.  Let’s stop stepping over hundred dollar bills to pick up pennies - there are a multitude of issues with more significance and impact that we can devote our energy to if it is the welfare or birds that we are truly interested in.    Let’s make the changes and move on to bigger and better things!In other words at the end of the day just go out and keep enjoying birds while they are still here - the names do not matter.Regards,Mark Minner-LeeErie, COSent from my iPhoneOn Nov 3, 2023, at 9:19 AM, Susan Rosine  wrote:I would vote for Marsh Hawk, Sunrise Phoebe and Stellar Jay! I would also like Rufous-sided Towhee back. The ones in the Pacific Northwest aren't very spotted, and have more rufous than ones in Colorado. Susan Rosine Brighton On Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 9:10 AM Peter Ruprecht  wrote:Megan's suggestion for a wonderfully lyrical new name for our "dryland phoebe" delights me. A descriptive name is an improvement over an eponym, but a descriptive name that poetically celebrates the essence of the bird is even better. "Thick-billed" certainly beats "McCown's", but does it really do justice to a bird whose buoyant song-flight over an open prairie at dawn is a true wonder of nature? Perhaps we can follow the example of the odonates community who standardized the common names for dragonflies with creative and mellifluous ones like "boghaunter" and "sundragon".If we think about naming a species for its habitat, let's keep in mind that its breeding habitat or the area that we most associate with it might not be where it lives for most of the year. In Colorado, Lincoln's Sparrow could accurately be called Willow Sparrow, but that might be confusing to people who see it in its nonbreeding range (where it spends the majority of its time). Similarly with Baird's -> Tundra Sandpiper.We may also want to consider the current preferred names for parts of a bird, particularly the upper front of the torso. These days, something like "Crescent-chested" sounds better to a lot of people than "Buff-breasted".Finally, while we're at it, could we please consider reverting Northern Harrier to Marsh Hawk? :)Peter RuprechtSuperiorOn Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:04 PM Megan Miller  wrote: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 MillerPueblo, Co 




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[cobirds] Fwd: Huerfano County: Red-throated loon

[Polly Neldner]

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Polly Neldner 
> Date: November 3, 2023 at 10:04:09 AM MDT
> To: Colorado Rare Bird Alert 
> Subject: Huerfano County: Red-throated loon
> 
> We are currently watching a pair of Red-throated Loon together with Three 
> Common Loon at Lathrop State Park
> Red-throated Loon is a new Huerfano County bird for us!
> 
> Lathrop  State Park
> North Martin Inlet
> Huerfano County
> 
> Polly Wren and Paul Neldner 
> Sent from my iPhone

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Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Susan Rosine]

I would vote for Marsh Hawk, Sunrise Phoebe and Stellar Jay! I would also
like Rufous-sided Towhee back. The ones in the Pacific Northwest aren't
very spotted, and have more rufous than ones in Colorado.
Susan Rosine
Brighton

On Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 9:10 AM Peter Ruprecht  wrote:

> Megan's suggestion for a wonderfully lyrical new name for our "dryland
> phoebe" delights me. A descriptive name is an improvement over an eponym,
> but a descriptive name that poetically celebrates the essence of the bird
> is even better. "Thick-billed" certainly beats "McCown's", but does it
> really do justice to a bird whose buoyant song-flight over an open prairie
> at dawn is a true wonder of nature? Perhaps we can follow the example of
> the odonates community who standardized the common names for dragonflies
> with creative and mellifluous ones like "boghaunter" and "sundragon".
>
> If we think about naming a species for its habitat, let's keep in mind
> that its breeding habitat or the area that we most associate with it might
> not be where it lives for most of the year. In Colorado, Lincoln's Sparrow
> could accurately be called Willow Sparrow, but that might be confusing to
> people who see it in its nonbreeding range (where it spends the majority of
> its time). Similarly with Baird's -> Tundra Sandpiper.
>
> We may also want to consider the current preferred names for parts of a
> bird, particularly the upper front of the torso. These days, something like
> "Crescent-chested" sounds better to a lot of people than "Buff-breasted".
>
> Finally, while we're at it, could we please consider reverting Northern
> Harrier to Marsh Hawk? :)
>
> Peter Ruprecht
> Superior
>
> On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:04 PM Megan Miller 
> wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
>>
>> --
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
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> 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/
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> 
> .
>

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Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Peter Ruprecht]

Megan's suggestion for a wonderfully lyrical new name for our "dryland
phoebe" delights me. A descriptive name is an improvement over an eponym,
but a descriptive name that poetically celebrates the essence of the bird
is even better. "Thick-billed" certainly beats "McCown's", but does it
really do justice to a bird whose buoyant song-flight over an open prairie
at dawn is a true wonder of nature? Perhaps we can follow the example of
the odonates community who standardized the common names for dragonflies
with creative and mellifluous ones like "boghaunter" and "sundragon".

If we think about naming a species for its habitat, let's keep in mind that
its breeding habitat or the area that we most associate with it might not
be where it lives for most of the year. In Colorado, Lincoln's Sparrow
could accurately be called Willow Sparrow, but that might be confusing to
people who see it in its nonbreeding range (where it spends the majority of
its time). Similarly with Baird's -> Tundra Sandpiper.

We may also want to consider the current preferred names for parts of a
bird, particularly the upper front of the torso. These days, something like
"Crescent-chested" sounds better to a lot of people than "Buff-breasted".

Finally, while we're at it, could we please consider reverting Northern
Harrier to Marsh Hawk? :)

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:04 PM Megan Miller 
wrote:

> 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
>
>
>

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Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Susan Rosine]

Van,
I love your new name as much as I love Stellar's Jays!
Megan,
Sunrise or Sunset would both be nice names!
Eric,
Since Townsend is a relative on mine, how about Town's End Warbler and
Town's End Solitaire? After all, neither bird likes big cities 
And I thought it was hilarious what McCown had to say about the
Confederates. Plus, he owned no slaves. And I didn't even know who he was
until they changed the name of the bird.

Susan
Brighton


On Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 7:41 AM Van Rudd  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 Rudd
> Louisville, CO
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Nov 2, 2023, at 23:04, Megan Miller 
> wrote:
>
> 
> 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 

Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

[Susan Rosine]

So then, take men off our coins and paper money who owned slaves and/or
were cruel to American Indians--even though that was (sadly) normal and
typical behavior for the times they lived in.
McCown had no slaves, but Washington and Jefferson did.
Susan Rosine
Brighton

On Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 11:10 PM Martin Gerra  wrote:

> 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  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 
> 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 

[cobirds] Sunrise Phoebe

[Ted Floyd]

>From Megan:

>
> I think Says Phoebe should be called Sunrise Phoebe.
>
>
What a marvelous suggestion. The name "Phoebe" refers to a sun deity
(masculine or feminine or both; things were rather gender-fluid back in the
day) and indicates brightness or radiance. Which, if you've ever seen the
bird on the prairie in the sunrise, is the essence of perfection.

I hope someone's listening. :-)

Ted Floyd
Lafayette, Boulder Co.




> Megan Miller
> Pueblo, Co
>
>

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[cobirds] Red-necked Grebe at Waneka Lake, Boulder Co., right now

[Ted Floyd]

Hey, all.

Moments ago this mild Fri. morning, Nov. 3, I got back in from a quick
check of the *cackling goose* mothership flock on Waneka Lake,  Boulder
Co., where I discovered that, somehow, a single *red-necked grebe* had
gotten swept up into the mighty anserine throng.

"Fortunately," the mass ascension of geese went down (or went up, I
suppose) as I was leaving, and there is just a single, rather
obvious, red-necked grebe out there right now.

In a COBIRDS twofer, let me also use this opportunity to say that the
November installment of the monthly *"Lafayette Birds!" *activity is upon
us. We'll meet this coming *Sun., Nov. 5, at "The Shack" at Greenlee
Wildlife Preserve; we'll get underway at 1pm. *And don't forget to "fall
back"! Lots of stuff still at the preserve & environs: passerines hanging
on; a few shorebirds still; ducks galore; geese galore-to-the-galore; and
more. *All are welcome; no RSVP needed; no experience necessary; just show
up at *(or slightly before) 1pm—and we'll be on our way!

Ted Floyd
Lafayette, Boulder Co.

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