Hi Gary,
I read you post with interest and noted that you hate using the name
'Black-necked Stork'. The neck is actually black, with a blue-green sheen,
and although probably not the most appropriate name for the species it has
been in use in Asia and Australia since at least the late 1880's. The bird
books that I used when starting out birding many years back all called it
"Jabiru' and that is what I knew it as for many years. Having recently
completed my PhD studies on the species I am now a strong advocate for not
calling it "Jabiru'. The reasons for this are: it is not a Jabiru - a
Jabiru is a South American stork species which has only a few similarities
to our elegant bird; 'Jabiru' is a Tupi-Guarani name for the species which
means 'swollen neck', referring to its habit of inflating its bald neck
pouch, very different to our slender necked species; the south American bird
has precedence over the name which is also its generic name.
When I hear or read the name 'Back-necked Stork' I visualise the beautiful,
elegant bird that it is I don't lament the loss of a totally inappropriate
name for Australia's only stork species. However if 'Black-necked Stork' is
too much to bear you will be happy to know that when the New Guinea and
Australian populations of this species are separated out from the Asian
populations, which is likely in the future, the name 'Satin Stork' will,
hopefully, be applied to our birds. This name received support from the
Birds Australia Common Names Committee but it will only be with widespread
acceptance that it will become 'set in stone.' So far I have received a
large amount of support for the name. I hope you will also support it.
Greg Clancy
Ecologist
Coutts Crossing
NSW
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