Wilsons warbler newsmag summer 2024 blog post june 2024 res
Wilson's warbler, one of the birds that may be renamed
What’s in a Name?
Written By: Shawndra Miller
Date Published: June 19, 2024
Shawndra Miller
Today is Juneteenth. The federal holiday celebrates the day in 1865 when Union troops told the remaining enslaved people they were emancipated.
As we mark this day in our nation’s past, it’s a good time to consider an aspect of history reflected in our conservation work. The common names of countless species reflect our nation’s racist past.
Calls for change began amid concerns about memorializing people who perpetrated injustices. Numerous birds are named after enslavers, for example. Many take their common name from officials who participated in forced removal and killing of Native Americans.
The same goes for large numbers of other animals and geographic places. Today, for many, these names get in the way of enjoying nature.
That’s why birds like Cooper’s hawks, Swainson’s thrushes, and Wilson’s warblers may soon be renamed. The change is part of a growing movement to rectify historical racism.
In the birding world, the McCown’s longspur was first to be addressed.
John P. McCown was a Confederate general who fought to maintain slavery. Before the Civil War, he waged war on native tribes. As a collector of bird specimens, he was given a place in the ornithological lexicon.
The American Ornithological Society (AOS) initially denied a request to strip the bird of his name. But in 2020, the organization agreed to the change. Now the bird is known by a more descriptive moniker, “thick-billed longspur.”
In November 2023, the AOS announced plans to take the change wider. Any American bird named after a person will eventually have a new English common name.
A pilot project focuses on six species of North American birds. The new names will be based on birds’ characteristics and/or behavior. These names might be more intuitive to learn and remember. But more importantly, the project signals an effort to be more welcoming to all communities.
On Juneteenth and every day, our organization looks to be part of the shift toward greater inclusion. With nature under ongoing threat, we commend any move to expand support for conservation.
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Vice Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
April 16, 2020
A letter from our executive director As we make our way through this uncertain time, we at CILTI are keeping all of our members, supporters, volunteers and friends in our thoughts. We send all good wishes your way for safety and health, and that of your loved ones.
Enews,Newsroom,Properties
March 19, 2020
A letter from our executive director As you may have guessed, we are cancelling our upcoming events. But we’re here to remind you, during this difficult time, that nature isn’t closed. Even though travel has been restricted in many places across Central Indiana, we can take notice of nature [...]
Enews,Newsroom,Properties
February 6, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 6, 2020 Unique hanging garden to attract butterflies at White River Bluffs nature preserve The Central Indiana Land Trust Inc. (CILTI) has closed on its final purchase of land from Highland Golf and Country Club, which means the land-conservation organization can proceed with plans to [...]
Homepage,Newsroom,White River Bluffs
