Blackface

["Tim Low" <>]

Ian

I am suggesting that abbreviations be used, by agreement among birders, for common birds, especially those that are encountered regularly by non specialists, i.e. garden and farm birds. Please keep in mind the purpose behind the proposal, which is both bird conservation (the more that people become involved with birds, then hopefully the greater their concern) and the public benefit of more people enjoying their birds. Black-faced cormorants and black-faced monarchs are not the sort of birds that most need abbreviated names. If there was common agreement among birders that black-faced cuckooshrikes, because they are the only 'blackfaces' that visit most Australian gardens, should be the one bird for which the abbreviation would apply, then there would be no confusion. I am suggesting the creation of a list by Birds Australia of recommended abbreviated names for those common Australian birds that lend themselves well to abbreviation. Please do not make it sound more difficult than it really would be. 

Tim