I liked Gene's "weedpeekers" (isn't that what you meant, Gene?), but I
think sparrows deserve that term. And the comments by Greg Gillson were
good, including the correct way to write bird names in series: Western and
Mew gulls, with "gulls" not captalized when used generically in this way.
Few writers follow that convention nowadays. Bird common names have been
made proper names (I guess by custom, not international law), which is why
we mostly agree they can be written capitalized. But some journalists
insist on lower-casing them, which is also proper. Ornithological journals
insist on capitals for recognized English names.

Another massive change that's taken place in the language in the past
decade or so is the use of nouns as verbs. Starting with "prioritize," it's
extended in all directions. I really think no noun is exempt from this
treatment. Landscapers talk about "treeing" and "shrubbing," politicians
about "busing" and ... I can't think of any more at this moment. It's
probably fine to do this, but to me it's fascinating that it has been done
so much in recent years. I think the trend is to brevify our language
because we all have to talk faster because we all have to get more done per
unit time. Whew. Of course "birding" is our own wonderful but fortunately
long-established example. Quicker than "going out in glorious nature (or
inglorious sewage ponds) to look for birds."

It's funny we're all pursuing words, when the world outside is full of
birds. Just around my house in Maple Leaf in the past two weeks there have
been hundreds of birds moving about, many in obvious southbound migration:
robins, cedar waxwings, occasional hawks and waterfowl. The hills are alive
with the sound of finches: flocks of siskins & goldfinches, fewer flocks
of crossbills and evening grosbeaks. Sparrows and juncos pouring in. It
has been wonderful for sheer avian numbers, even without a single rarity
(and there's always that expectation).


Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound email: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416