May 3, 2024
In person (preferred): Skok 100, St. Paul Campus, UMN
Remote access: https://umn.zoom.us/j/91550013711
Bird names for birds
Jordan Rutter
Communication Director, American Bird Conservancy
Abstract
Eponyms (a person after whom a discovery, invention, place, etc., is named or thought to be named) and honorific bird names (a name given to something in honor of a person) are problematic because they are poor species descriptors and they function as verbal statues, reflecting their colonial roots. As a result of the Bird Names for Birds campaign, the American Ornithological Society has recently announced its decision to rename eponymously named birds in North America.
Join Jordan Rutter, co-founder of Bird Names for Birds, for a presentation and Q&A about this topic.
Recommended Reading and Resources:
Bird Names for Birds website: www.birdnamesforbirds.wordpress.com
Historical Biographies of the people birds are currently named after: https://birdnamesforbirds.wordpress.com/historical-profiles/
Additional articles and resources related to this topic: https://bit.ly/BirdNameArticles
Biosketch
Jordan Rutter is a life-long birder with a passion for connecting others to the natural world through birds. She is currently American Bird Conservancy's Director of Communications and the co-founder of Bird Names for Birds. Jordan has an M.Sc. in conservation biology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and over ten years of experience in ornithology and science communication. Her previous service positions include Birdability's Board of Directors as secretary and the Wilson Ornithological Society communications committee as chair. Jordan's interest in improving birding accessibility is connected to her passionate belief that the joy of birds belongs to everyone.