Dozens of bird species in the United States and Canada will get “imaginative” new names that reflect their traits and habitats rather than the names of people, the American Ornithological Society announced Wednesday.
The society plans to remove all human names from the common names for birds within its jurisdiction, to create a more inclusive environment for people of diverse backgrounds interested in bird-watching and ornithology. The public process, yet to be fully defined, will include 70 to 80 birds in the U.S. and Canada, the society stated.
Following years of controversy over bird names linked to people with racist and genocidal histories, the society’s decision thrills ornithologists and scientists who supported a campaign to name birds for themselves.
“I’m really excited about this change,” said Corina Newsome, an ornithologist who was among a group of dozens of Black outdoor enthusiasts that launched the first Black Birders Week in May 2020.
https://news.yahoo.com/dozens-birds-renamed-effort-shun-130308239.html