Weird common names is part of our Aussie culture. (we are still defining our
culture so why not keep what we have got)
The Scientific name is constant.
I use still use Jabiru, know of Blue Cranes and Bluejays, have never heard of
Eechongs and Peewees is just not right.
I use Magpie-Lark but they will always be known to me as the Murray magpie.
It makes everything more interesting.
Cheers from the land of Fritz and Farmers Union Iced Coffee.
Peter.
Peter Pfeiffer
Technical Officer
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Bedford Park SA 5042
Tel: (+61 8) 8201 2604
Fax: (+61 8) 8201 2905
Email:
Web: http://www.flinders.edu.au/science_engineering/caps/home.cfm
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus On Behalf Of
Geoff Ryan
Sent: Friday, 20 January 2017 7:03 AM
To:
Subject: Willy Fantails
Surely it is more sensible to change anachronistic and confusing common names
even if it upsets our possessive addiction to those names in common use.
I know several people who still insist on calling the Australian Black-necked
Stork a Jabiru. The up-coming generation of birders will not thank us oldies
who refuse to adopt sensible common names. I grew up calling White-faced Herons
- 'Blue Cranes'; Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes - 'Bluejays'; Rufous Whistlers -
'Eechongs' and still have trouble not calling Magpie Larks - 'Peewees'. I am
glad more appropriate and less confusing common names have been adopted for
these species.
Common names listed in Field Guides and species lists are not just used by
parochials but by international birders - the less confusing and ambiguous the
better.
I'll probably be using the name Willy Wagtail up until the day I die but hope
that the more sensible choice of Willy Fantail has replaced Willy Wagtail on
the adopted lists of common names.
Geoff
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