Subject: [Tweeters] The Dreaded Shitepoke , ect
Date: Mar 18 14:28:45 2011
From: RH Johnston - rhjohnston9587 at comcast.net


Well, I'm a very amateur birder, but it seems the purpose of a name is to identify a bird. If everyone knows what a Rufous-Sided Towhee is, why change to Spotted Towhee. There is always the scientific name which is the same the world over. Marsh hawk to Northern Harrier is another example. I never could understand why Blue Grouse were called Blue till I encountered the variety living around the Salmon River Country in Idaho. They were a beautiful powder blue and the light dawned. Now I'm wondering, are they Sooty or Dusky? My grandparents called Great Blue Herons, Shipokes or Thunderpumps both descriptive names but everyone knew what they were referring to. Common names may be somewhat confusing but I doubt they are going away any time soon and they do have their own charm. Not worth criticism on a hobby list in my opinion. The use of initials causes me more problems than out of date names. Bob Johnston, University Place, WA
----- Original Message -----
From: jeff gibson
To: tweeters
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 11:15 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] The Dreaded Shitepoke , ect


In my Seattle youth one of my nature-loving friends used the term Shitepoke to refer to Great Blue Herons - he picked up the word from his Grandpa.