The AOS announcement is NOT the resolution we had hoped for. Plowing ahead with a "pilot program" to change six bird names is moving forward with their previous decision just expressed in a slightly different way.
As stated in our petition:
“We challenge the AOS to produce evidence that bird names are having a negative impact on the stated goals of the organization or birding in general. ...changing bird names, many of which were described and named in a different era, and trying to hide ornithological history will not remedy this history. In all reality this decision will have little to no impact in removing obstacles to minorities in ornithology and birding.... (the AOS) has never polled membership or the public regarding a decision that will impact the entire world-wide birding community."
We are still waiting for the AOS to produce evidence that bird names are “harmful." And we are still waiting to be asked if the majority want any bird names to be changed at all.
And where is the real action they are planning to take to remove obstacles to minorities in birding? A pilot program to change bird names? This is their solution?
The petition says to the AOS: "Rather than a total purge of eponyms, we suggest that the previous case-by-case method be resumed to remove offensive names rather than dishonoring the many people who founded ornithology in the Americas, many of whom are inadvertently disgraced by guilt by association."
They have not gone back to their previous method. They have just invented a new more complicated way to make changes that most of us do not agree with.
We MUST stay engaged.
The AOS is accepting comments concerning this pilot project. The deadline is May 31 and comments are limited to 1,000 characters.
Please take a moment to read through their blog post. And note the use of the word “harmful.” This is the writing of a social justice action committee, not a scientific organization.
https://americanornithology.org/english-bird-names/aos-pilot-project-to-change-harmful-english-common-bird-names/ and then click below to reach the page where comments are accepted.
Please take a moment and submit your comments here: https://shorturl.at/Zux1J