Thanks John, you make good points.
Re accessing the OED, as you probably know, some years ago, when the previous Cth govt starved the National Library (along with other national cultural institutions) of funds, the
Library was forced to cancel its subscription. Great news, however: their improved funding position means that they have now resubscribed. Access it via eResources
https://www.nla.gov.au/app/eresources
Best wishes – David
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of calyptorhynchus via Canberrabirds
Sent: Wednesday, 1 January 2025 5:49 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] First use of the term 'birdwatching' in English
Hi David
I suggest that those OED entries in fact refer to other things than bird-watching in the modern sense.
The 1712 entry refers to augury via sightings of birds
The other two entries referring to bird-watchers are to individuals (usually small children) posted in fields to scare birds away from newly planted seeds, or crops that are coming to fruition. (The poet John Clare was often employed in
this capacity when young as he was very small and not strong enough to do anything else, and he nearly froze to death several times doing it in wintry weather).
I access the OED through the ACT Library system, but ever since the OED has had a face-lift my ACT Libraries credentials have been rejected and so I can't consult it online to make sure that is what it is referring to, but those are my
guesses.
cheers and Happy New Year
On Wed, 1 Jan 2025 at 16:49, David McDonald (Personal) <> wrote:
Many thanks to the editors of and contributors to the current—Dec. 2024—issue of
Canberra Bird Notes. Another fascinating and informative issue.
Kevin Windle’s fine review of Russell McGregor’s
Enchantment by birds… makes me want to rush out and purchase it without delay! Though I note Kevin’s informing us that McGregor states that ‘Birdwatching is a fairly recent recreational activity; the term was coined only in 1901 (p. 59)’.
A quick check of the Oxford English Dictionary suggests otherwise:
-
Birdwatching: ‘1846 It appears that the little fellow was employed in ‘bird-watching’ in a field adjoining the sea. N. Devon Journal 19 March
-
Birdwatcher: ‘1712 Auspex does not signify a Favourer or Promoter of any Work or Undertaking, but a
Soothsayer, a Consulter of Omens, a Bird-watcher, whenever it is applied to Person’.
W. Oldisworth in translation of Horace, Odes vol. II. i. vii. Notes upon Notes 34/1
Birdwatcher: ‘1803 Pictures of the lonely bird-watcher and of the hay-field group contrasted.’
J. Kenney, Society, with Other Poems 41
Still, the book sounds great. Thanks for such an interesting review, Kevin.
David
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David McDonald
1004 Norton Road, Wamboin NSW 2620, Australia
Mobile: 0416 231 890 | Tel: (02) 6238 3706
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