Kelly Mcallister wrote:

> Tweets,
>
> I've read with amusement the rationale behind changing the vernacular
> for the Oldsquaw to Long-tailed Duck because of the offensive nature
> of the former.

A couple true stories, but first let me state I have Indian blood--not
much (1/16), but enough to say that I have.

When we went to see the Crested Caracara at Neah Bay we were at a small
cafe that had a outside covered deck that overlooked the Marina. The
owner (Indian) gave me permission to set up the spotting scope. It was
raining naturally. As I was checking out the marina, several Indians (old
and young) gathered around and one of them asked me what I was looking
for, I said I was looking for an---you guessed it--Oldsquaw! Quicker then
you can bat an eyelash I whipped out my Peterson's Guide and showed them
a picture of it, saying "see here-- it's a duck. I am quite sure by their
non-reaction that it bothered me more then it bothered them. :-)

Last true story:

I was talking to a 76 year old Indian Lady and she said "once I was
working during a younger ladies day off and two young bucks came in
looking for the young lady and all they found was an old squaw (referring
to herself.) She laughed and laughed. Side note--she had the "happiest"
eyes I think I have ever seen.

I would think that as beautiful and the Oldsquaw Duck is, that the
elderly would take it as a compliment. I think it is a small minority
that takes offense. To those (minority) I would apologize if any thing I
said was offensive. It was not intended to be.

Jerry Converse
Grand Coulee, WA