[mou] Birder's shorthand: Question

[Brad Bolduan]

Regarding rules used in creating the names:

I remember reading a very good article on this subject.  I think it came out
around 1993 and I think it was in "Birding".  The 1992 index lists an
article "Simple Four-letter Code for the Birds of North America" Birding 24
(6):377.  Unfortunately my copy of that issue appears to be missing, but I
suspect that is the article I recall.  I would recommend that article (if it
is the one I remember)for anyone who is quite curious about the subject.

>From what I recall there were several complicating factors in assigning
codes.  For example; codes were different if words were merged, separate, or
hyphenated.  Think of species like Black and White Warbler or Black Crowned
Nightheron.  I strongly suspect I got the puncutation wrong on at least one
of these.  I also believe the Night-Heron was changed not too long ago
(Nightheron vs. Night Heron vs. Night-Heron), but I don't remember which way
it went.  That leads to a entirely different set of rules - hyphenated
common names.


Brad Bolduan
Windom, MN

-----Original Message-----
From: mou-net-bounces at moumn.org [mailto:mou-net-bounces at moumn.org]On
Behalf Of Emily Hutchins
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 11:01
To: mou-net at moumn.org
Subject: [mou] Birder's shorthand: Question


I have used the shorthand abbreviations for bird names for a number of years
but was wondering if there's a "formal" list somewhere of all US birds.  I
have had a number of questions on this system:  For instance, what are the
rules when the first 2 letters of a 2-word name are the same for 2 different
birds, such as in bank swallow and barn swallow?  Barn swallow supposedly is
BARS and bank swallow is BASW.  Just looking for some guidelines or a list
in writing on the naming system.

Thanks!

Emily Hutchins
Private Lands Specialist
MN Department of Natural Resources
Area Wildlife Office
8485 Rose St.
Owatonna, MN  55060
Phone:  (507) 455-5841
Fax:  (507) 446-2326
emily.hutchins at dnr.state.mn.us




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