The American Ornithological Society is renaming dozens of birds and wants the public’s help.
A number of birds will get new names this year, and bird lovers have an opportunity to be a part of the re-naming process.
This article from High Country News says the American Ornithological Society's governing council has decided to change bird names that "may have harmful or offensive historical and cultural associations".
The effort is being initiated in order to focus attention "on the unique features and beauty of the birds themselves" according to the article.
For example, in recent informal public polls to rename the Say’s phoebe, a small long-tailed flycatcher named the Say's phoebie (whose feathers shift in color from gray above to burnt orange on its belly) was suggested to be renamed the mesa phoebe, cinnamon phoebe and sunset phoebe by bird lovers.
Interested in participating? Click here to learn more.
Stellar's Jay, shown in photo above, is one of the birds slated for re-naming.
This article from High Country News says the American Ornithological Society's governing council has decided to change bird names that "may have harmful or offensive historical and cultural associations".
The effort is being initiated in order to focus attention "on the unique features and beauty of the birds themselves" according to the article.
For example, in recent informal public polls to rename the Say’s phoebe, a small long-tailed flycatcher named the Say's phoebie (whose feathers shift in color from gray above to burnt orange on its belly) was suggested to be renamed the mesa phoebe, cinnamon phoebe and sunset phoebe by bird lovers.
Interested in participating? Click here to learn more.
Stellar's Jay, shown in photo above, is one of the birds slated for re-naming.