Racist birds!? CNN: Nearly 80 bird species names with racist roots are about to be changed

[rangerrebew]

Racist birds!? CNN: Nearly 80 bird species names with racist roots are about to be changed
By Marc Morano
November 8, 2023
5:11 pm

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/02/us/bird-species-names-changing-scn-cec/index.html

CNN —
After years-long discussion, birds will no longer be named after people — a decision meant to dissociate the animals from problematic eponyms.

The American Ornithological Society announced Wednesday that all common English-language names of bird species named after people will be changed, along with other monikers that have been deemed offensive. In total, approximately 70-80 birds — primarily in the US and Canada — will be renamed.

“There is power in a name, and some English bird names have associations with the past that continue to be exclusionary and harmful today,” said Colleen Handel, president of the AOS, in a statement.

Many birds sport names that come from White men with “objectively horrible pasts,” according to the group Bird Names for Birds, a grassroots initiative that has been advocating for this change. Having their names memorialized in this manner is similar to building a statue in their honor, the group argues.

https://www.climatedepot.com/2023/11/08/racist-bird-names-cnn-nearly-80-bird-species-names-with-racist-roots-are-about-to-be-changed/

[catfish1957]

I propose changing the name of all species of Loons to the "American Ornithologist Society"

[jafo2010]

I am so tired of this racist nonsense.  Most species are named after the person that first found the species.  I don't care what their beliefs were.  Literally.

Take George Washington.  He was a slave owner, Thomas Jefferson too.  These are just two notable Americans that supported slavery in their lifetime.  Are we to undo everything they accomplished for this country because they owned slaves?  This is idiocy, and one more example of what black culture in America has brought us. 

Destruction of our republic, destruction of our heritage, destruction of everything, and now, including bird names.  Does this benefit the people of America?  I say not.  All this horsesh*t is pure idiocy.

[roamer_1]

don't mess with the tits and boobies... half my shtick will pass away. 

[Fishrrman]

Keep a few old "bird books" around so you'll have proof of their REAL names after the commies try to erase and re-write this particular corner of ornithology.

[Smokin Joe]

I am so tired of this racist nonsense.  Most species are named after the person that first found the species.  I don't care what their beliefs were.  Literally.



Destruction of our republic, destruction of our heritage, destruction of everything, and now, including bird names.  Does this benefit the people of America?  I say not.  All this horsesh*t is pure idiocy.

The emboldened statement is true, for not only living species, but fossil ones. And does it matter what they believed otherwise? Don't denigrate their accomplishments because you don't like other aspects of their lives, or their skin color, or beliefs. They did what they did and should get credit where credit is due.
As for the rest of your comment, I agree wholeheartedly.   Rather than disrupt binomial nomenclature (which has been going on a long time), how about keeping racist fingers off what actually is established science?