Oh boy, birds vs. words! The classic list battle.

I'm with Kelly: SIOP.

These codes are not intuitive.

First, there are conflicts:

BLGR = Blue Grosbeak or Blue Grouse?
SASP = Sage Sparrow or Savannah Sparrow?
BAOW = Barred Owl or Barn Owl?

Second, names change. Looking back from now at older lists, what's a:

SOVI = Solitary Vireo?
NOOR = Northern Oriole?
COBU = Common Bushtit?
COBA = Common Barn-Owl?

Third, there are schemes and schemes for just English names. The North
American bird-banders' set of codes is not the only one in use.

For those who type a lot of bird lists, it's possible to write a little
computer routine that will plug in the full name of a species every time you
type your preferred code for it (or whistle the first few notes of its
assigned theme song).

Or maybe we can save wear and tear on those carpal tunnels by just not
listing for public consumption every doggone species we see every last time
we go out?

Yours in good provocative fun,

Hal Opperman
Medina, Washington
hal at catharus.net