BBC: Bird names will be changed

Several bird species in the US and Canada will receive new names based on their habitats and traits rather than people’s names, the American Ornithological Society has announced.

“Exclusionary naming conventions developed in the 1800s, clouded by racism and misogyny, don’t work for us today, and the time has come for us to transform this process and redirect the focus to the birds, where it belongs,” the society’s CEO, Judith Scarl, said in a statement.

How do these people keep sneaking in?

Dr. Scarl has a strong passion for and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in science and conservation, indispensable assets to help diversify the society. Her extensive connections with a broad network of conservation partners, her deep understanding of the need to support students and early-career professionals, and her passion for expanding inclusivity and equity in the field of ornithology will drive key areas of program development for the society.

Oh, she was invited in.  The American Ornithological Society was looking for this when they were searching for a new CEO.  I added the bold font to this passage from the American Ornithological Society .

I couldn’t name a bird that is named after a person, but believe that history and tradition are important.  Nobody really cares that a bird is named after a racist.  DIE radicals like Dr. Scarl should be driven out of society.

Earlier this year the National Audubon Society, a bird conservation organisation, decided to retain its name despite a push for a change.

James John Audubon, a famous American naturalist and wildlife illustrator, also owned slaves and held “harmful attitudes toward Black and Indigenous people”, the NAS has acknowledged.

Good for the National Audubon Society.  The organization wasn’t named after him because he owned slaves.  He was a renowned wildlife illustrator and shouldn’t be a role model for how to treat Black and Indigenous people.

“The name has come to represent so much more than the work of one person, but a broader love of birds and nature, and a non-partisan approach to conservation,”  Susan Bell, who is on the society’s board, said.

Good for you Dr. Scarl.  You just took something that nobody gave two shits about and made it a contentious and partisan issue.  A moderate approach would be to grandfather the old names and use the new naming convention for new species of birds. 

May the woke American Ornithological Society lose influence and credibility as it eventually dies.