Paul taylor makes comments about those mythical people who were
responsible for getting those common names for Australian birds wrong!.
Unfortunately was not Christitis & Boles who got it wrong, it was all of
us! When Chriustitis & Boles produced their new list of species , the
then RAOU set up a Committee with delegates from the major birding
groups throughout Australia, to review the English Names! The Committee
came up with a list of about 100 (from memory) of names for which there
was some degree of contention.. By negotiation this was reduced to about
40 contentious names. An article was publicised in "Wingspan" outlining
the prose and cons for names of each of the contentious species and then
all the members of all the bird clubs in Australia were invited to cast
their vote for the preferred names! Individuals & groups voted, about
3000 people had their say!
That is why we have Red-browed Finch (not Firetail), Heathwrens and
Rockwarblers, Major Mitchell Cockatoo (not Pink Cockatoo!) etc. So don't
blame Les and Walter blame the plebs! personally I think the RAOU did a
great job with the names, it was very democratic and everyone did have
their say!
Alan Morris
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