The South American Classification Committee was founded in 1998. Its mission is to create a standard classification, with English names, for the bird species of South America. This classification is subject to constant revision by the proposal system established in 2000 to allow incorporation of new data. Eventually, a hard-copy version will be published.
SACC became affiliated with the American Ornithological Society in August 2002, but is no longer affiliated with the AOS, as of 1 November 2023, when the AOS leadership decided that all eponymous names were to be purged and that the South American Classification Committee would no longer be in charge of English names. SACC is now affiliated with the International Ornithologists' Union as a regional committee working with the IOU's Working Group Avian Checklists (WGAC), whose goal is to produce a global classification of birds.
N.A. ornithologists who are SACC members:
J. V. Remsen, Jr. (Acting Chair), Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University
Mark B. Robbins, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas
F. Gary Stiles, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá
Kevin J. Zimmer, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Steven L. Hilty, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, Inc., & Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas
On Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 9:04:11 PM UTC-6 Susan Rosine wrote:
Chuck,
I had a strong reaction to them using the word "harmful" as well. Glad I'm not alone.
They've obviously made up their minds how this is gonna go, and aren't really open to other views.
Plus, it's quite clear they never heard the expression "sticks and stones may break my bones, but NAMES will NEVER HURT me".
Susan Rosine
Brighton
The AOS response has been inadequate, and their characterization of the names deemed in need of change as "harmful" doesn't further healthy debate. The fact that even though they profess that they are listening to the SACC and the IOU they, thus far, don't seem to "get it." I find the response of Luis Olathe of Neotropical Birding and Conservation pretty spot on:
"A long and boring explanation has been published by the American Ornithological Society. "Harmful" they wrote, not surprising at all, very much in accord to mainstream biased news writing style. Well, "hasta la vista, baby", SACC has now joined IOU. Yet these name changes will affect Spanish names. If coherent, and subsequently, the AOS's appropriation of the hemispheric name "American" should be turned into: United States Ornithological Society, USOS. Any chance?"
Chuck Aid
Evergreen, CO
On Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 7:59:58 PM UTC-6 Jared Del Rosso wrote:
For anyone who wants to engage with or learn more about this process, see this note on the AOS blog post that Rachel Hopper linked to in the original post. It does seem like you have to be a registered attendee of the annual meeting to attend (I think).
AOS Public Forum on English Common Names at 2024 Annual Meeting in Estes Park
The AOS will be hosting a public forum on English common names for those attending our annual meeting in Estes Park, Colorado, in October 2024. At this forum we plan to provide an update on the current status of the pilot project as well as discuss some of the topics addressed above. We invite everyone to submit suggestions for discussion topics and potential formats for the forum itself using the online form below.
- Jared Del Rosso
Centennial, CO
COBirders,
Posted with permission of the moderator.
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