Wrong side of the road for Oxyura .............. !!
M
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Thursday, 14 May 2015 9:37 PM
To:
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] name the new hide at Kellys
Really whatever works is fine by me.... Mark makes as fair a point as any other, except I think a better way to involve those who are not already involved, is to make information more accessible, rather than less. Whatever, I think the names should be short. The hides are also used by people just to stop for a rest and admire the view or for their own, generally nocturnal intimate pleasure purposes and other things. The world doesn’t revolve around birds. I’m told (and I have mentioned this before) from at least 2 lady friends that it is a good location to go to for the skyfire events (much easier parking than at Commonwealth park). ........ The issue is that the average person has no real need to wonder what a e.g. Ardea is, to even think it is a bird or have a book about birds. How or why would someone care to make that link if it is not obvious?............ Where would some average person source information on Pseudonaja? If there really are platypus there I would like that as a name but Ornithorhynchus would just be pompous...... I’m a little surprised Mark is not advocating Oxyura.
Philip,
What better way to get people to learn a bit more about birds than to have them look up their scientific names. After all, all field guides have both the common (English) name and their scientific name. While I do agree with both you and Geoffrey Dabb about possibly using non bird names (see his suggestion about Pseudonaja), the hides are primarily used by people for bird watching with only the occasional native mammal – for example your Rakali – (which I quite like) being seen.
Mark
Why should it all be birds? Or I am suggesting it shouldn’t. What about Rakali (the water rat). I also think the scientific names are not a good idea if we wish to be inclusive of most people, who won’t know them........
Philip
From: m("act.gov.au","Michael.Maconachie");">
To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 04:46:01 +0000
Subject: [canberrabirds] name the new hide at Kellys
As those who have visited Jerra Wetlands recently will have noticed a new screen and hide is being constructed at Kellys Swamp. My understanding is the existing 5 hides were named (officially or otherwise) by COG or a COG member. I therefore ask the group to come up with a suitable name for the new hide.
Current names at Kellys are Ardea, Bittern, Cygnus and the two on Jerra Creek are tadorna and fulica. Will see what the response is but maybe you can hold a vote at the next indoor meeting after we have a list of candidates ?
Michael Maconachie
Senior Ranger
Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve
ACT Parks and Conservation Service
TAMS Directorate
0428 113 533
www.jerrabomberrawetlands.org
