Hooray for common and local names, to heck with lingual globalization and standardization! If we're confused by someone's reference to a common name or engaged in a discussion in which the finer divisions of taxonomy are paramount, then it's time to haul out Linnaeus and his dead language. Until then, I vote for "Robin" (American as opposed to what, here in East Tennessee?), "Cardinal" (Northern as opposed to what, here in East Tennessee?), "Bullbat," "Raincrow," "Butcher bird," "Fish hawk," and "Bluebird." I still miss my Sparrow Hawks (for that matter, I miss my American Kestrels, too). Liz Singley Kingston Tn Homo sapiens philistinii -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [TN-Bird] Re: Plover pronunciation Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 20:01:04 EDT From: Thornius2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Reply-To: Thornius2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Isn't it a bit pretentious to be using bird names that only scientists can understand? I see an important part of birdwatching as getting as many people as possible involved in bird awareness and conservation, not form a clique of stuck-up, snobby, exclusive, elitists. Is it easier to say American Robin, and instantly be on familiar ground with the non-birders we are trying to reach, or call it Turdus Migratorius and instantly alienate people? I think it is Very important to know scientific names but it is even more important to use terms that non-birders, especially children, can be comfortable with. By doing this we can expand the ranks of birders and help to protect and increase the numbers of endangered birds and other species. Any little thing we can do to win people to our cause must not be wasted. Nat Winston III Hermitage, Tn. =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ======================================================== =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ========================================================