What’s in a Name? Birding’s Own Confederate Shadow
By Brian Kluepfel
The May confrontation in Central Park between a white woman walking a dog off-leash and a Black birder asking her not to threw into sharp contrast many divisions in our republic.
And it just went to show that no matter how we try to escape – even through a seemingly peaceful birding walk – we cannot get away from the inherent prejudices and problems of the larger society.
While opinions may vary, birders tend to range across the political and social spectrum. I even introduced the notion that our local Audubon chapter not participate in Amazon’s Smile program because of the company’s questionable business and employment record (I lost).
In 2018 – seemingly eons ago in pandemic time – birding activists led by an East Carolina University ornithology graduate student requested that McCown’s longspur, named for a Confederate soldier who was also an amateur birder, be re-named. The concept had precedent in the American Ornithological Society (AOS); a duck once called “old squaw,” under a bit of worldwide pressure, was re-designated as long-tailed duck in 2000.
In response to the McCown controversy, which the AOS initially denied, the organization released a new set of naming guidelines for birds. Its North American Classification Committee (NACC) included a Special Considerations section in their guidelines, which in part stated:
“At present, 142 English names of NACC bird species are eponyms…some refer to individuals or cultures who held beliefs or engaged in actions that would be considered offensive or unethical by present-day standards.”
But will they change names? This requires a two-thirds vote within NACC. “The NACC will change well-established eponyms only in unusual circumstances, but these situations may occur.” In the case of McCown, the wording of the document gives further clues.
“By itself, affiliation with a now-discredited historical movement or group is likely not sufficient for the NACC to change a long-established eponym.” So being part of the Confederacy maybe gives you a pass.
However: “In contrast, the active engagement of the eponymic namesake in reprehensible events could serve as grounds for changing even long-established eponyms, especially if these actions were associated with the individual’s ornithological career.” McCown rose to the rank of general and led troops not only against the Union but against native tribes. He was no bystander to history.
It seems the AOS is a bit stodgy and resistant to change, so name changes will probably come slowly, if they come at all.
I did my own research in the “Eponym Dictionary of Birds,” one of my favorite resources, and came up with a few examples and decisions of my own. (I’m a committee of one, which makes things simple.)
Fernandina’s Flicker (Cuba). Named for Jose Maria de Jesus Damiano de Herrera y Herrera, Conde de la Fernandina. Described as an 18th century “nobleman and head of a notable Cuban landowning family,” this guy had to have been a slaveowner if he owned property in Cuba then. Decision: Rename.
Warszewicz’s Rainbow (Rainbow Starfrontlet, Ecuador). This has to be the greatest bird name of all time, and for that reason alone I hesitate to change it. Josef Warszewicz Ritter von Rawicz was a Lithuanian-Polish botanist who worked at the Berlin Botanical Garden, moved to Guatemala, collected in Peru and Ecuador, caught yellow fever and returned home. “He is regarded as one of the greatest orchid collectors of all time.” Josef was a poor nobleman who took part in an uprising, was exiled and dedicated his life to science. Decision: Maintain name.
Laura’s Woodland Warbler (Mrs. Boulton’s Woodland Warbler, Africa). Laura Theresa Boulton was the wife of ornithologist Wolfrid Rudyard Boulton, who named this lovely African bird in her honor. Laura was a noted musicologist who collected musical instruments and compositions, and made field recordings across Africa. She said that her goal was “to capture, absorb, and bring back the world’s music; not the music of the concert hall or the opera house, but the music of the people …” Decision: Very cool woman. Maintain name.
I argue that we should examine these eponyms on a case-by-case basis. And remember that in parts of the globe, dead white person’s names aren’t used at all: toucan (tukani) and aracari, for example, are indeed original Tupi words from the Amazon.
The world changes as we learn and educate ourselves; hopefully things change for the better. We honor those who deserve honoring, and the ongoing discussion reveals our true intentions and values as a society.
Now who went and changed the Gray Jay to the Canada Jay?
Brian Kluepfel is a writer and correspondent for Lonely Planet travel guides, Westchester Magazine and Birdwatching Daily. He lives in Ossining with his lovely wife Paula, who is a much more observant and patient birder than he. For more of Brian’s writing, visit www.thewritingkoop.com.
