A new committee will also be established to oversee the assignment of English common names of species within the AOS jurisdiction. The committee will include a “diverse representation of individuals”, the organisation has promised.
The public will also be “actively involved” in the process of selecting new English bird names.
“As scientists, we work to eliminate bias in science. But there has been historic bias in how birds are named, and who might have a bird named in their honor,” said Judith Scarl, AOS executive director and CEO.
“Exclusionary naming conventions developed in the 1800s, clouded by racism and misogyny, don’t work for us today, and the time has come for us to transform this process and redirect the focus to the birds, where it belongs.
“I am proud to be part of this new vision and am excited to work in partnership with a broad array of experts and bird lovers in creating an inclusive naming structure.”
A pilot programme to develop the new “open, inclusive, and scientifically rigorous” approach to bird naming will be conducted by the AOS in 2024.
Source link : https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/birds-name-change-america-canada-racism-b2471857.html
Author :
Publish date : 2024-01-01 03:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
