IOC does have Phil Gregory, Leo Joseph and Dick Schodde on their panel.
BirdLife Australia does follow HBW / BLI for the species names (with
some exceptions), but there weren't names for the sub species. So
RACC (BA's Research & Conservation Committee) created WLAB (Working
List of Australian Birds) and decided to include the sub species.
This was a huge effort, and so after WLAB was initially completed the
English Names Committee was created as a sub committee reporting to
RACC in about June 2016. I was nominated to represent BirdLife
Western Australia. Note that RACC decides on the taxonomy, basically
following HBW / BLI. ENC then recommends the names to RACC. So that
is a very brief history.
Some decisions have been made, but there is work to be done. Even at
species level we do not accept all the HBW / BLI names. We cannot
accept Hooded Dotterel for example, as there is far too much
recognition of Hooded Plover through the various recovery teams. Yes
the ENC has been in existence since June, but time has been taken on
terms of reference, some decisions, etc.
Updating the taxonomy and the names is a major undertaking for BA and
its branches. There are databases (birdata), projects, pamphlets,
signage, web sites, powerpoint presentations, etc, etc, etc. So BA is
trying to limit updates. Minor updates will probably be done
annually, but major updates will probably be every 5 years or more.
That is life. Previous updates were 1978, 1994 and 2008! So things
are moving faster ... (slowly!).
So the ENC will begin to address issues with the bird names, and I am
sure that a lot more attention will be paid to sub species names.
Once this becomes regular, I hope that RACC will be recognised
internationally and that our decisions (including the ENC
recommendations) will be taken into account favourably such as SACC
is for South America.
Personally I completely agree with Martin about Kimberley Flyrobin
(or Flycatcher), Western Fieldwren and Paperbark Flycatcher. I have
put these on the list for ENC to review. Remember this is not whether
they are full species or not, but what the name of the taxa should be.
Black-necked Stork / Jabiru / Satin Stork is a troublesome issue that
I am sure will have a lot of discussion. Probably not as much as
Black-winged / White-headed Stilt which was finally decided to use
Pied Stilt to follow the NZ name, and to recommend this to HBW / BLI
(but they have not split this yet as far as I am aware). Hopefully
IOC will adopt Pied Stilt, as White-headed does not match the bird. I
am surprised that both 'White-headed' and Banded have the same
specific name (leucocephalus) but different genera of course. I
thought it was a rule to avoid the same specific name in the same
family where possible.
_________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA
http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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