Hi,
I haven't been following this debate very closely I have to admit but I
wouldn't assume that all bird have an indigenous name.
I remember that when I was working on finches (Star and Crimson) at the
Pormpuraaw community on Cape York Peninsula (on the Gulf) I was
interested in the names given to the birds. I know finches were all
given one name Minh something or other. It seemed to denote their lack
of importance to people! On the other hand there were multiple names for
things of economic (food or resource related) importance to denote
different sexes, ages etc.
Now it could be that all the bird species had different names and many
of them have since been forgotten but I think I lean towards their just
having a different way of looking at species to the way English-speaking
European- origin man does. When you are living off the land it makes
sense to have the most descriptive names relating to species that you
need to know intimately such as Magpie Goose, ducks etc. LBJ's (little
brown jobs) like thornbills and gerygones would be pretty low down the
scale of importance to survival I reckon.
Plains-wanderer.... well, I can't imagine it being regarded as
significant. If there is a known indigenous name well and good.
Cheers
Mick
?--
Michael Todd
Wildlifing: Images of Nature: www.wildlifing.com
PhD Candidate- Tasmanian Masked Owl
School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 05, Hobart, Tasmania 7001
Mobile: o41o 123715
Alan Gillanders wrote:
Laurie,
By, "Perhaps a species that fits in a class of its own, such as the
Plains Wanderer might be a suitable candidate for having an indigenous
name," do mean one that the rest of us use? Very few birds would not
have an indigenous name.
Regards,
Alan
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