Gooday birders
Now that I have a bit of the history of this birds name I am happy to
call it "Djagana". I was proud of the word Jabiru until I was informed
that it is not even indigenous and is also applied to overseas birds.
Black-necked Stork, while descriptive is too much of a mouthful. Djagana
sounds great.
Greg Little
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Denise
Goodfellow
Sent: Thursday, 26 July 2007 4:20 PM
To: Greg; michael hunter; Birding-aus
Subject: Whats in a name
Most of my American birding clients call the bird Jabiru. Years ago I
recommended Djagana (Kunwinjku), or Australasian Jabiru. So Greg, how
about
the former? At least my Indigenous relatives in the Top End will feel
they're at long last getting some sort of recognition!
Denise
Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow
1/7 Songlark Street
BAKEWELL NT 0832
Ph. 61 08 89 328306
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On 26/7/07 3:01 PM, "Greg" <> wrote:
> As I am presently putting the finishing touches to my PhD thesis on
the
> Black-necked Stork I had been avoiding the temptation to enter the
naming
> debate but as the stork's name has been raised (AGAIN!!) I feel I must
> reply.
> Michael you are able to call the Black-necked Stork "Jabiru' or even
> 'Policemanbird' if you like but please, when communicating with
others,
> particularly those learning the 'accepted common names', don't create
more
> confusion than is already the case.
>
> The people who imposed 'Black-necked Stork' on us are no longer with
us so
> it is no point blaming current 'authorities'. The name 'Black-necked
Stork'
> has been applied to the species in India since at least 1890 (Hume
1890) and
> in Australia at least 1900 (Campbell 1900).
>
> I agree that the name is not popular but to call our bird 'Jabiru' is
akin
> to calling our Emu an 'Ostrich'. Because Black-necked Stork is an
unwieldy
> word with little colour I recommended that our birds (Australia and
New
> Guinea) be called the 'Satin Stork' when the species is finally split
from
> the Asian birds and this name has been accepted by Bird Australia. It
won't
> be
> happening in the upcoming Christidis and Boles as more genetic work is
> required but initial results indicate that there are two species.
>
> Without wanting to be rude (to the Jabiru) it is not that similar to
our
> stork and is certainly not as beautiful. Our birds are closer to the
> Saddlebill Stork of South Africa so maybe we should call our birds
> 'Australian Saddlebills' - no, just joking!!!
>
>
> Greg Clancy
>
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