In response to yesterdays statement of "Supposedly Politically Correct"; is an explanation from an excerpt from a proposed book on bird names by naturalist Gary Meiter. The following is the excerpt; if you like conspiracy theories this is good stuff!!!

Until 2000, this duck was known by the picturesque name "Oldsquaw". That year the American Ornithologist's Union changed it to the prosaic British name Long-tailed Duck. This is perhaps the only bird to have its name changed because it was deemed politically incorrect, although the AOU says it would never change a name for that reason alone.The stated reason for the name change was to conform to the longstanding British one, but the truth is that a group of U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service biologists working in Alaska petitioned the AOU Committee on Classification and Nomenclature to change the name, because they assumed that it was offensive to American Indians, whose cooperation was needed in the conservation of this species. The biologists were apparently ignorant of the fact that the Cree Indians originated the name Oldsquaw in the first place. But they apparently decided for the Indians that they should be offended. The Oldsquaw got its name, because it is a very talkative duck, whose melodious calls carry for a mile or more across water.
Continuing on another note: The invasion of the spring of 2010 is probably the most Long-tailed Ducks ever seen in Northeast Ohio. Something I think is really cool, is that how appropriate that the 2009-2010 Migratory Bird Hunting & Conservation Stamp is of a pair of Long-tailed Ducks. To commemorate this exciting bird chapter get out and purchase a stamp and help pay our way as birders.

Bob Lane / Damascus
 


                                          
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