Bird Conservation Initiatives in Iraq

Initiatives by Nature Iraq are conserving wild birds throughout the country, according to Mudhafar A. Salim, head of the Bird Division. He noted these current projects in particular.

* "Undertaken winter and summer surveys since 2005 for important migratory and resident species. These surveys were focused on the Lower Mesopotamian Marshlands, and then the area of the project was expanded to cover the whole Iraq now.

"During our last survey, we covered the main Important Bird Areas of the Middle of Iraq for the first time ever. It was just after the security conditions got better over these areas, that made it possible to do our surveys on birds and fish.

* "Conservation of the vulnerable Marbled Duck – awareness programme aimed at hunters in the southern Iraq region.

* "Surveying and detailed ecological studies of the endangered Basra Reed Warbler. The breeding main grounds of this endangered bird are the wetlands of southern Iraq only.

* "Undertaken winter and summer surveys since 2007 for important migratory and resident species in Kurdistan.

* "Seeking protection of vulnerable Lesser White-fronted Goose which winter in flocks of over 400 birds.

* "Producing national action plans for soaring migratory birds such as Egyptian Vulture and other threatened birds at the wetlands of Iraq.

* "Searching for the critically endangered Sociable Lapwing, which may winter in western Iraq.

Habitat conservation is underway at Auda Marsh restoration project. A highlight is the Eden Again Project, at the "confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers divides and separates into a drainage basin made up of a multitude of small waterways before emptying into the Persian Gulf," according to project details on the group's English version website.

This is an Important Birding Area project, with an expected core area of 59,000 acres, but a conservation area of 350,000 acres at the Mesopotamian marshlands. The partnership includes Nature Iraq, the project’s partners also include the Italian Ministry of the Environment, Land, and Sea, and Iraq’s Ministries of Environment, Water Resources and Municipalities and Public Works.

Among the 150 species that occur are "good populations" of Grey Hypocolius, endemic Basra Reed-warbler and Iraq Babbler. Eight globally threatened and vulnerable species recorded include the White-headed Duck, Marbled Teal, Imperial Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, and near-threatened Ferruginous Duck. Rare breeders seen have been the African Darter Anhinga and Sacred Ibis. About a third of all the species are classified with "conservation concern."

Dramatic changes at Iraq’s southern marshes were reported in February by the British Broadcasting Company, noting the marsh lands are shrinking due to "drought, intensive dam construction and irrigation schemes upstream on the Tigris, Euphrates, and other river systems."

Information on the country’s birds has been helped by pictures and sightings posted online. Salim promotes bird efforts on the Operation Iraqi Birds, including this message from October 2008:

"We used to suffer from the bad security conditions over some sites that we used to survey (or plan to survey). They are either inaccessible or being minefields. In fact, we have many stories that we faced during our fieldworks and really hindered our surveys! Nevertheless, I think we (Nature Iraq) have done, and still doing, good job (as they says) continuing our mission. As security conditions get better. We can include more sites to be surveyed."

Good Things are Coming

In the final bird session at the Middle Eastern Biodiversity Conference in Aqaba, Jordan, held October 22-23, 2008, participations identified several recommendations on birds, during a session labeled: "Good things are coming."

They were summarized by Salim:

• "Increasing the regional involvement, and using the active media
• "Creating a secretariat, forum, website, periodical publications, regional database.
• "Taking the 'sensitive' issues into consideration when future planning (Israel).
• "Sharing expertise among other specialized areas of action (other than birds).
• "Encouraging the academic studies and funding the research proposals and the academic studies.
• "Building capacity by training on monitoring, birdwatching and conservation actions.
• "Inviting decision-makers and scientists to attend the regional biodiversity conferences.
• "Creating human and financial base/resources, and supporting the regional voluntary work."

Nature Iraq bird team during field survey. Courtesy of Mudhafar A. Salim.

Salim and others soon started preparing for further field surveys on winter birds. The most recent started in January, "visiting our sites at different areas in Iraq," he said, "starting, as usual, from the extreme south in Fao-Basra to cover Amara, Nassiriya, Middle Euphrates, and (for the first time) Dyala (Himreen Lake), Salahiddeen (Samarra Dam), Anbar (Tharthar, Hadeetha, and Habbaniya Lakes). We got good observations during our long trip that continued for more than one month and half, and we are now entering these into our database" of bird records.

"Generally, the large number of migratory waterfowl (including threatened species) that we observed during our Jan-Feb, 2009 surveys, comparing with our former surveys, was the most important observation we got from our last surveys."

Bird sightings from Iraq are also features of the MidEast birds forum. Early in March 2009, a soldier from Ohio reported spring activities at Al Asad airbase, with news of a snipe, identified through discussion as a Jack Snipe, a seasonal migrant noted by Randy Rogers.

Salim noted the importance of the details: "Congratulations for your Sociable Plover. I, as member of the Iraqi Bird Recording Committee IBRC, would like to add this recording as one of our current 'formal' bird observations. Thank you for your keen birding, and keep up your good job!" (Tue, 3 Mar 2009 00:39:52 -0800 (PST)

"I would like to thank Nature Iraq family for their hard work," Salim said, "also Richard Porter (Middle East bird expert) was of great help anytime we need him. He was with us step-by-step since our early beginning in 2005.

"We look forward to continuing to conserve the bird diversity of Iraq. The most urgent issue that Nature Iraq Bird Section has an emphasis on is to engage more birders to be included in our increasing surveys and conservation efforts. This demands more training and building-capacity programs to form reliable base to face the sources that threaten our nature and wildlife; also, we are working on how to direct the communities to use the natural resources sustainably by educational, conservation-oriented projects that target local communities."

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Blogs and photo libraries feature many of the 387 birds species identified.

Iraq Photo Gallery, by Matt Pike

Birds of Iraq Photo Gallery, by Laura Erickson

Nature Iraq is a non-governmental organization registered in Iraq, accredited to the United Nations Environment Programme and is the first and only affiliate to Birdlife International.

Developing an International Standard for English Bird Names

Having a standard set of names for birds has been constantly changing ever since Carl Linnaeus of Sweden placed animals into groups in his Systema Naturae issued by the volume in the 1750s.

Revisions in nomenclature are continuous and ongoing. Proper names are introduced and changed as new species get discovered, and various authorities attributed names, and scientific attributions.

In 1810 Alexander Wilson published a list of species for a growing America, based on a review of what was then known for names: common, proper, scientific and otherwise. More articles, books and general history spread the history of avian taxonomy and nomenclature.

With the mid-1880s, the newly established American Ornithologists Union (AOU) published a list of species, with an intent for giving people that watched birds and published their observations, a standard list of names to use. Their principles for a standard nomenclature and taxonomy, used a set of names that follows a particular, essential tenet: each species would have only one name which is different from any other name, and this would include a scientific name. At this time, the more important consideration was recognizing who had first named a species and the name they used.

An emphasis for naming changed, and a very basic proposition noted a few decades later in 1920, in the Auk, the journal of the AOU was that: "Each species shall be given a name which shall be distinct and applicable to the species as a whole." Other items given in correspondence by Harrison F. Lewis, asked that "clumsy descriptive names shall not be introduced," with three others related to providing names based on a geographic locale, not using a person's name in a birds' name, and avoiding the use of modifiers for a species in a particular geographic range. Of course, there was a response provided by Witmer Stone, presenting an alternative view with his primary comment being: "Fortunately we have not and cannot have a code covering the use of popular names."

Dr. Frank B. Gill, residing in Pennsylvania U.S.A., has been a leader in issuing updates of a standardized list of English names for birds around the world, under the auspices of the International Ornithological Congress.

"Walter Bock then Secretary General and later President of the I.O.C. asked me in 1994 to take over the I.O.C. English Names Project started by Charles Sibley in 1990 but which then faltered after the death of Burt Monroe Jr. Initial partners in the project included Dr. Robert S. Ridgely and Minturn T. Wright III," Dr. Gill said.

"It was and still is our belief that a standardized and simplified scheme of English names would help communication in world ornithology and world bird conservation. It would also save everyone a lot of time and headaches trying to equate one list (or field guide) with another."

There are lists developed by several references, including Howard and Moore, Sibley and Monroe, Clements, the American Ornithologists' Union committee, the British Ornithologists' Union, and the Handbook of Birds of the World. There are also regional guides which convey bird names in the local language.

"We responded to the call of world leaders to help fill a need, if not a void," on a standard list, Gill said. "If we have done a good job, people will use it simply out of convenience. But there is a natural, strong and sometimes tribal reaction to anything that smacks of external authority and no one can legislate 'names' or even classifications."

The original I.O.C. list was based on participation, consensus, and compromise of leading ornithologists in different regions of the world, Dr. Gill said, commenting on the variety in bird names.

"The six editions of The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World were one man's (excellent) presentation of a working world list for birders. It also includes subspecies, which the current versions of I.O.C. list do not. Clements also maintains a bias to the Americas and the views of the American Birding Association, whose members have been its primary sales market. The I.O.C. strives to a global perspective with regional expertise and is deliberately separate from Sibley and Monroe’s seminal list, which is not popular on some continents outside the Americas. If all goes as planned the I.O.C. will be updated more frequently and strive to be more current with latest changes in classification than will other lists."

Dr. Frank B. Gill, ornithologist. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Dr. Gill has the background to tackle the nomenclature problem, as a retired professional ornithologist, with experience dating back to when he received a Doctorate in Zoology in 1969 from the University of Michigan, after which he chaired the ornithology department of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. He was there from 1969 to 1995, and two particular notable efforts included creating VIREO (Visual Resources for Ornithology) and completing the encyclopedia on "The Birds of North America," which presents a detailed account for each species of the continent.

His interest in birdlife has taken him around the world to study and observe different species in their native habitats around the world, with a trip to the Pacific pending. During 1998-2000, he was president of the American Ornithologists' Union. In 1978 he was elected as a lifetime member of the prestigious International Ornithological Committee. Dr. Gill's efforts have been recognized with his receiving the William Brewster medal, the highest honor bestowed by the AOU.

"I have a weakness for launching or managing large scale projects," citing examples such as the encyclopedia on "The Birds of North America," three editions of Ornithology, "the principal textbook for college students on this topic," and eBird, the online bird record repository now provided by the Laboratory of Ornithology, at Cornell University, and the National Audubon Society.

The English Names Committee of the International Ornithological Committee, released their most recent version - version 2.0 - in January 2009.

"The IOC World Bird List 2.0 contains 10,331 species classified in 39 Orders, 224 Families and 2199 Genera.  This is a major update that includes revisions of the family classification as well as species taxonomy." - IOC World Bird List

Their English names were devised from ten principles to "guide the choice of recommended English names of birds." The list includes newly discovered species and splits of previous lumped species that are newly recognized as distinct species due to further studies or a newly available technique, DNA analysis.

"The I.O.C. list differs from the A.O.U. list only modestly, mostly no hyphenation of compound group names, except for bird-bird names," Dr. Gill said. "The first editions of the I.O.C. closely followed the A.O.U. species taxonomy, but changed a few English names in the spirit of compromise with other world committees. Recent versions of the I.O.C. list are deliberately more progressive with respect to splits than is the proudly conservative A.O.U. list. But looking ahead we are eager to align the two as closely as possible.

"The I.O.C. list has more traction and momentum outside the Americas than here in the United States, partly because of the very conservative nature and independent styles of American ornithologists."

One item not acceptable to the Committee on Classification and Nomenclature of Birds of American Ornithologists' Union, was a proposal submitted for eliminating the use of hyphens, with the English names for 126 species. Their reasoning, given in a note published in the Auk in 2007, was: "Hyphens in compound group names indicate relationships and separate the members of the groups from less closely related forms (e.g., Whistling-Ducks from other ducks and Storm-Petrels from petrels in the Procellariidae)."

The group working on the world bird names nomenclature published their response in the Auk in latter 2008, basically urging the acceptance of a standard list.

The IOC World Bird List content by Dr. Gill and his collaborators, receives "roughly 4000 unique visitors each month, which is encouraging as is the increasing number of formal adoptions, uses in new websites etc. And beyond birders, we know that editors welcome standardization of names and simplification of orthography. In the end publishers of field guides may hold sway in a united way?"

This effort has been a learning process for Dr. Gill, and he mentioned two notable items:

"#1 How strongly some people feel about their favorite bird names and how emotionally resistant are some colleagues to seemingly minor changes.

"#2 How divided people are to the concept of working together to agree on bird names."

Developing the I.O.C. list has been "a big group effort - a long and growing list of colleagues (acknowledged in Gill and Wright 2006, and now on the website) devoted countless hours to discussions and technical applications of guidelines that they adopted.

"Minturn Wright and I were the coordinators and arbiters of the project," Dr. Gill said. "The chairs of the regional committees were the true champs. I hope that we have acknowledged their efforts sufficiently. And now David Donsker leads the compilation of taxonomic updates from the world literature and discussions.

"The broad and constructive participation by colleagues worldwide has been truly heartening and invaluable with constructive feedback growing weekly. I'm thrilled by their interest, enthusiasm and above all their critical scholarship. Nothing is better than to have dozens (hundreds?) of critical eyes all devoted to catching errors and improving the quality of this big work."

Though the most current list has 10,331 species of extant bird species, Dr. Gill expects the number of species on the list to increase as "we recognize deserving allospecies." Other expected changes are pending, including a revision of the taxonomic relationships of babblers and white-eyes, Gill said. Also pending is "a resorting of the taxonomic boundaries of New World buntings, tanagers, warblers, finches, and grosbeaks."

"We are just going do the best job that we can and hope that world ornithology finds value in the product, which we believe they will."

Song of Praise on the Arrival of Birds in the Spring

Whilst a German was wandering round Lake Superior in the summer and early fall of 1855, he gave particular attention to picture writing by some preeminent men of the tribe residing at L'Anse Bay.

A simple spring song in particular was conveyed by "Bebamisse," — or in translation "L'Oiseau Voltigeur" — and was a "song of praise on the arrival of birds in the spring."

The writing, or song was undoubtedly sung with vivacious gusto — apparently at some appropriate time — from right to left, since the birds are arranged in order from earliest to latest in arrival during the spring season.

Here is further interpretation given by Johann G. Kohl in reminiscences from his wanderings. There was nothing provided on how to convey these basics into a lyrical expression.

The bird at No. 1, was an "oiseau de passage," or pluvier, with its arrival the first of a warming spring.

Although this bird of passage was considered to be a plover — based on other known terminology of the historic era — this is not the case as indicated by the drawing. The species resembles a goose with its large body and long neck, more than it might a diminutive plover, such as a killdeer. More appropriate, would be recognition for the Canada goose or snow goose as obvious signs of spring, since the "wild goose" and "we-we's" which would fly past in great flocks on their seasonal passage to the north lands.

No. 2: "the little duck, which the Indians call 'kangkangouè,'" or, "which always keeps timidly a great distance from land."

This is another questionable interpretation. It does not look like a duck, or any species of waterfowl, but appears similar to a larger songbird. There are no ancillary interpretations to assist in any determination of a particular type of bird.

No. 3: another type of duck; "called by the Ojibbeways 'jishib,' and by the Voyageurs canard de France."

There is a good chance that this would be the wood duck.

No. 4: "Voilà l'aigle, ou le migissi, qui, s'élève pour prendre son air."

This roughly translates to: "Here are l' eagle, or the migissi, which, s' raise to take its air" or, instead of here, it was translated to "sail."

The large size and term "aigle" indicate this would be a raptor, and more specifically an eagle. The definition for the following glyph seems to pertain more to this particular depiction.

No. 5: "That is the great kiniou, which the Voyageurs call 'le quiliou,' (the celebrated war-eagle, from which the Indians derive their handsomest war-ornament). 'Descending from the heavens, he brings with him the fine weather.'"

This species might be a crow or raven, or some other large bird whose identity will remain unknown.

"And next to the kiniou will be seen, at the top of the fir-tree, the piskiniou, which the Voyageurs call the quiliou bâtard. These are the two birds which fly the highest in our land, and are nearly always in the uppermost clouds."

This is a large-sized bird, perhaps a species of grouse, which, with the arrival of spring, is atop the trees feeding on fresh buds.

No. 7: "the hopping crane, the 'adjijag,' which arrives the last, and brings the summer with it."

The term given, designates well to crane based on other historic tribal terminology for birds, which most predominantly would be the gray crane, or sandhill crane, well known for its glorious spring dancing. There is a lesser chance it would be an attribution for the less prevalent whooping crane.

No. 8: "C'est le chèfre du beau temps. He brandishes a knife, and is adorned with numerous wampum necklaces and a belt, and summons the birds and the spring."

Would this be the bird man of the tribe there on the western extent of the great lakes.

Traveler Kohl provided this bit of an interpretive summary:

"I say that in this song something may be recognised bearing a resemblance to a song of spring, or a poem on the arrival of the birds. In the soaring eagle and the descending kiniou some pastoral allusions may also be traced. A Voyageur, before whom I laid this drawing, to me it is true that the birds really arrived, or, as he said, 'd'après leur naturalité,' in a very different succession; but it is too much to expect fidelity to natural history in a song."

Despite what the author may have considered, obviously the picture writing did convey the sequential arrivals of various migrants, something which is readily known by close watchers of the birds.

This is probably the first known pictorial depiction for a spring migratory schedule anywhere on the continent.

This memoir also has an exquisite bit of pictorial writing on birch-bark. The object was a possession of an Indian from the northern interior of Wisconsin. It is worth is own bit of study, but in summary refers to a boy watching a flying bird, a flying eagle, a bird hovering above, as well as other essential lore of tribal importance at this time more than 150 years ago in history.

Chippewa Language Preeminent in Historic Terms for Birds

Annals of history from across decades indicate that the Chippewa Tribe had a vivid and rich variety of terms related to birds. The wordly expanse of the language shows a definitive knowledge of species and how the winged ones were a prominent aspect of tribal lore and mythology.

The history started with details published in 1778, from the journal of John Long, wherein there weren't any notes on living birds, but was a fine set of terminology from Nipigon Bay. The following list provides a designated term based on the term given in the published source, and the tribal term.

Term Designation - Given Term - Native Term

Bird - All small birds - pennyshance

Bird - Fowl, or birds - pennyshis

Crane - Crane - kitchee carbo

Crow, American - Crow - cark cark

Duck - Wild duck - sheshib

Egg - Eggs - wark in

Feather - Feathers - pequim

Goose - Wild goose - neecark

Loon - Loon - maunk

Nest - Nest - wesshepatchta

Plover - Plover - gueveshew

Ptarmigan - Partridge - peenay

Swan - Swan - kitchee meework

Turkey, Wild - Wild Turkey - weenecobbo

Wing - Wing - gwimbitch

The list conveys how the people knew a number of the prominent species of the tribal territory.

A relatively short few year later, there was another set of terms issued, based on the J. Long, publishing his account in 1791 of "Voyages and travels of an Indian interpreter and trader, describing the manners and customs of the North American Indians; with an account of the posts situated on the river Saint Laurence, Lake Ontario, &c. to which is added a vocabulary..."

Bird - All small birds - pennyshance

Bird - Fowl, or birds - pennyshis

Crane - Crane - kitchee carbo

Duck - Wild duck - sheeshib

Duck - Wild duck - sheshib

Eagle - Eagle - meegeezes

Egg - Egg - manneguk

Egg - Eggs - wark

Feather - Feathers of birds - pequim

Fowl - Birds, or fowl - pinneyshis

Goose - Wild goose - neecark

Loon - Loon - maunk

Plover - Plover - gueveshew

Quail - Partridge - peenay

Swan - Swan - kitchee meework

Turkey, Wild - Turkey - weenecobbo

Wing - Wing of birds - gwimbitch

In 1828, John Summerfield wrote a sketch of the grammar of the Chippeway language from tribes in Michigan, which was issued by the Canada Conference Missionary Society. There were more than twenty terms of interest. This particular source was interim between the reminiscences of explorers and the details given by missionaries which followed, and were requisite for the holy men to communicate with the native people, in their efforts to convert them to a white-man's religious beliefs.

Bird - Cock; bird has derived its name from its crowing; so nearly all birds - pahkahahquay

Blackbird - Black-bird - ahsegenak

Bobwhite, Northern - Quail - mahskoodaysay

Coot, American - Mud-hen - mahnoomenekashee

Crane - Crane - ahshahgeh

Crow, American - Crow - kahgahgehshee

Duck - Duck - shesheeb

Duck - Duck species - ahahwa

Eagle - Eagle - megezeh

Feather quill - Feather, quill - megwon

Fowl - Fowls - penasewug

Goose, Canada - Wild goose - nekah

Grouse - Partridge - penaih

Gull - Gull - kahyask

Meadowlark, Eastern - Meadow-lark - moonegwana

Nest - Nest - wahzeswon

Owl - Owl - kookookoo-ooh

Pigeon, Passenger - Pigeon - omemee

Rail - Water-hen - ahjegahdashib

Raven, Common - Raven - ahndaig

Robin, American - Robin - opecheh

Turkey, Wild - Turkey - mezhesay

Wing - Wing - onegwegun

Woodpecker - Wood-pecker - pahpahsay

When Rev. Frederic Baraga was a missionary in the upper peninsula on the shore of Lake Superior, an essential aspect of his unforgettable legacy is a dictionary of the language of the native people he talked with on an intimate, conversational basis among the northern woods.

This priest of the Roman Catholic religion went west in 1843 to a place now called L'Anse — a place on the upper peninsula of a state now called Michigan because of some big inland lake — to teach Indians about the great heavenly spirit to which meaningful prayers should be directed. Communication with some understanding was essential, so during the subsequent years, Father Baraga obviously learned the intricacies of the native language, and wrote down the details on some type of paper or parchment, for later compilation and eventual publication.

Father Baraga's profound result was "A Dictionary of the Otchipwe Language, Explained in English," for the Chippewa Tribe, also applied to ancillary tribes, designated as the Ottawa, Pottawattamie and Algonquins.

Lake Superior — Otchipwe-kitchigami — was the "sea of the Chippewas" and its western lands were a focal point for this sublime investigation of the words used by the local tribe where the father spent his valuable time.

For the birds known to tribes-men, Rev. Baraga's dictionary provided several new terms for tribal language known for the annals of historic ornithology. The terminology is among the best because of its variety of defined words for the winged ones. This 662-page dictionary conveys a vivid understanding for a language rich in verbiage beyond simplistic terminology. There are terms of many variations for very specific, particular actions. Such subtlety is given.

This is a list of so many bird-related terms among the multitude of definitions, providing an interpreted term, the English term given in the dictionary, and the original, tribal term, though without any of the particular typographic subtleties given within the original volume published at Cincinnati:

The same year the dictionary was published, Reverend Baraga became a bishop in the church.

Term Designation	Given Term	Native Term
Beak	Beak	okoj
Beak	It has a long beak	ginikoje
Beak	It has a short beak	takokoje
Beak	Raven's beak	kagagiwikoj
Beak	The bird carries something in his beak	nimaige bineshi
Bill	Bill	masinaigans
Bird	A kind of bird	pashkandamo
Bird	A kind of white bird	odamaweshi
Bird	A large bird	binessi
Bird	A small bird	bineshi
Bird	Another kind of nightingale	sasina
Bird	bastard-loon	ashimang
Bird	Eagle-fighter (bird)	mi'gi-san-na-nis'-si
Bird	Giant's bird	windigobineshi
Bird	Honey-bird	nonokasse
Bird	Nightingale	gaskaskanedji
Bird	Red bird	natchinamanessi
Bird	Redbreast (bird)	memiskondini-manguneshi
Bird	South bird	ja-wa'-ni-bi-ne'-shi
Bird	Tamed bird	awakan
Bird	Young animal or bird	oshki-aiaans
Bird	Young little bird	panadja
Bird, female	Female of birds	najesse
Bird, male	Male of birds	nabesse
Bittern	Bittern	moshkaossi, ganawabimogisissweshi
Blackbird	A kind of black bird	makateinnak
Blackbird	A kind of black bird	segibanwanishi
Blackbird	Starling (bird)	assiginak; nadjinamanessi
Bluebird	A kind of blue bird	ojawane
Chicken	Chicken	panadja; pakaakwens
Claw	Eagle's claw	magisiwiganj
Claw	Loon's foot	mangosid
Crane	Crane	adjidjad
Crane, Whooping	White crane	wabadjidjak
Crest	Cock's crest	pakaakwe o patakibinweon
Crop	Crop or craw of a bird	omodai
Crop	This bird has a large crop	mangomodais aw bineshi
Crossbill	Cross-bill, cross-beak	ajidekoneshi
Crow	The cock crows	masitagosi pakaakwe
Crow, American	Crow	andek
Crow, American	Young crow	andekons
Curlew	Curlew	patashkanje
Dove, Mourning	Dove (domestic pigeon)	wabmimi; wab?minsi
Dove, Mourning	Turtle-dove	omimi
Dove, Mourning	Young turtle-dove	omimins
Down	Small soft feather (down); down (soft underfeather)	missegwanan
Duck	A kind of autumn duck	pikwakoshib
Duck	A large kind of duck	ininishib
Duck	A very fat duck	pakojishib
Duck	Another kind of duck	ansig; jingibiss; kinishtinokweshib; siamo; wakeiawishib
Duck	Beaver-duck	amikoshib
Duck	Duck	jishib
Duck	Duck with a long neck	ginogweiaweshib
Duck	Duck with a short neck	du-qua'-que-we'-shib
Duck	Duck; pigeon-tail (a kind of wild duck)	aawe
Duck	White duck	wabansig; wabininishb
Duck, American Black	Black duck	makateshib
Eagle	Another kind of eagle	wabijakwe
Eagle	Black eagle	missansi
Eagle	Eagle	migisi
Eagle	War-eagle	kiniw
Eagle	Young eagle	migisins
Egg	Egg	wanan
Egg	Gull's egg	guiashkwawan
Egg	Hen's egg	pakaakwewawan; pakaskwawawan
Egg	Hen's egg	pakaakwawawan
Egg	Small egg	wawanons
Egg shell	Shell of an egg	wawan anugaawana
Egg white	White of the egg	wabawan; wabishkag wawan
Egg yolk	Yolk of an egg	miskwawan; miskwawandjigan; osawag wawan; osawawan
Feather	Feather	migwan
Feather	Feather of a large bird	binessiwigwan
Feather	Feather of a small bird	binashiwigwan
Feather	I have a plume of feathers on my head	nin nimashkaige
Feather	Large feather	kitchigwunan
Feather	Plume of feathers	nimashkaigan; migwangena; patakibinweon
Feather	The bird is naked, has no feathers	pashkosi, papashkosi bineshi,
Feather	White feather	wabigwan
Flight	Flight	ojimowin
Flight	Flight (of birds); flying	bimissewin
Flight	The bird flies low	tabassisse bineshi
Flight	The bird flies quick	kijisse bineshi
Flight	The bird has his wings closed	nabwangeshka bineshi
Flight	The bird starts	pasigwao bineshi
Flock	The birds are together, by troops	bimaamog binessiwag
Fly	I fly up in the air	nind ombisse
Fly	It flies about	babamisse
Fly	It flies around	giwitasse
Fly	It flies from	ondjisse
Fly	It flies from	ondjibide
Fly	It flies hither	bidjibide; bidjisse
Fly	It flies in	pindigesse
Fly	It flies off (something)	madjibide
Fly	It flies out (a bird)	sagidjisse
Fly	It flies round	bijibasse
Fly	It flies up	ombibide
Goose	Another kind of wild goose	obijashkissi
Goose	Wild goose	nika
Goose, Snow	White goose	wabwewe
Grouse	Marsh-partridge	mashkodesse
Grouse	Partridge	bind
Grouse	The partridge shakes his wings	gwigwinguso bind
Grouse	Tree on which the partridge shakes his wings	gwigwingwaowatig
Grouse	Young partridge	bindus
Gull	Gull	guiashk
Gull	Young gull	gaiashkons
Hen	Hen	pakaakwe; ikwe-pakaakwe
Hunting ducks	I hunt ducks	nin nandoshibe; nin nodjishibe
Hunting partridge	I hunt partridge	nin nand abinewe
Hunting pigeons	I hunt pigeons	nin nandaomimi; nin nodjomimiwe
Jay	Jay	pikwakokweweshi
Jay, Gray	A kind of gray bird	okanisse
Junco, Dark-eyed	Snow-bird	wabaningosi
Kingfisher, Belted	Fisher (bird)	okishkimanisse
Kingfisher, Belted	Kingfisher (bird)	ogishkimanissi
Lapwing, Northern	Lapwing (bird)	meningwane
Lark	Lark	kikibikomeshi
Loon	Loon	mang
Loon	Young loon	mangons
Magpie	A kind of small magpie	gwingwishi
Magpie, Black-billed	Magpie	apishkagogi
Merganser	Saw-bill	ansig
Moult	The bird is moulting	pinigwane bineski
Nest	Nest	wasisswan
Nest	The bird builds its nest	wasisswanike bineshi
Osprey	Fish-hawk	mitchiyigwans
Owl	A kind of small owl	kokobo
Owl	A kind of small owl	gwengowia
Owl	Another kind of owl	peshkwe
Owl, Great Horned	Horned owl	wewendjigano
Pigeon, Passenger	Wild pigeon	omimi
Pigeon, Passenger	Young wild pigeon	omimine
Pigeon, Rock	Domestic pigeon	wabomemi
Pigeon, Rock	Young domestic pigeon	wabmimins
Plover	Plover (bird)	tchitchwishkiwe
Pluck	Pick; I pick a bird	nin pushkobina bineshi
Raptor	A kind of prey-bird	tehains
Raven, Common	Raven	kagagi
Screech-Owl, Eastern	Screetchowl	kakabishe
Shoveler, Northern	Spoonbill (bird)	jede
Snipe, Wilson's	Snipe	padashkaanji; manominikeshi
Song	The bird warbles	masitagosi bineshi; wiiagweweto
Swallow	Swallow (bird)	jashawanibissi
Swan	A kind of small swan	manabisi
Swan	Swan	wabisi
Swan	Young swan	wabisins
Tail	Tail of a bird	wanashkid
Tail	Tail of a large bird	binessi-wanashkid
Tail	Tail of a small bird	bineshi-wanishkid
Teal	Teal (duck)	sagataganishib; wewibingwange
Thrasher	Trasher [thrasher]	apagandaigewinini
Thrush	Thrush (bird)	opitchi
Turkey, Wild	Turkey (bird)	misisse
Turkey, Wild	Wild turkey	pagwadji-misisse
Turkey, Wild	Young turkey	misissens
Vulture, Turkey	Vulture	winange
Wing	Wing	ningwigan
Woodcock, American	Woodcock	padjashkaanji
Woodpecker	White wood-pecker	wabipapasse
Woodpecker	Wood-pecker	meme; pakweamo; papasse; bigwakokweoweshi

So notable here from this historic work worthy of special appreciation, is the array of various terms — active and passive, or, noun and verb — for different birds and related aspects of avian focus. The translative variety applies to the entire specter of daily living for the tribe. This was a rich language equivalent with the subtle nuances of any modern language.

The Indians readily knew a variety of fowl in their tribal area which is now part of upper Michigan, and though given in the lexicon, particulars on the species are lacking through some limitation in interpretation. Despite this, there are no other known dictionaries, which have such a variety of terms for egg, or for fly or flight, for example. There are obviously some vague definitions for terms that are just too limited to allow giving an identity for a particular type of bird species.

No other linguistic source mentioned the tree upon which the partridge shakes its wings, or the notable term, gwigwingwaowatig with its uncertain pronunciation unknown in an era more than 150 years beyond its inscription.

"Kijisse bineshi," would be a good exclamation for when particular birds are going low across the horizon.

Or, when doing a survey for a bird atlas project, the term "nimaige bineshi," would certainly be apropos to note an adult bird taking food to its young.

Considering the multitude of other terms within the dictionary, it seems it would be readily possible to write something using an interpreted understanding of the original Indian language. What an interesting endeavor this would be!

With the burgeoning publication of specific article on birds due to the arrival of various ornithological journals, W.W. Cooke paid particular attention to a somewhat focused nomenclature. His list issued in 1884, in the first volume of the Auk, was prepared from knowledge of the Chippewa of White Earth, Minnesota, gained from a three years' residence. The introductory text indicated that the tribal members knew more about species present in the winter — when birds were scarce — than during the summer. The men of the tribe were recognized for an extraordinary skill in identifying ducks in flight at a distance. The birds also were recognized for their importance in tribal mythology for youngsters.

Term Designation	Given Term	Native Term
Bittern, American	American bittern	mosh-ka-was-shi
Bittern, Least	Least bittern; the bird that looks at the sun	ga-na-wa'-bi-mo-gi'-zis-si-swesh'-in
Blackbird	Blackbird	as-sig'-g-nak
Blackbird, Red-winged	Red-winged blackbird; red-shouldered bird	me'-mis-ko-di'-ni-mang-a-ne'-shi
Blackbird, Yellow-headed	Yellow-headed blackbird; little Sioux blackbird	bwan-ence'-as-sig'-gi-nak
Bluebird, Easter	Bluebird, the blue colored bird; blue colered bird	o-zou-wash'-ko-bi-ne'-shi
Bobolink	Bobolink; Chicago bird; skunk bird, from the white stripe down back	shi-ka'-go-bi-ne'-shi
Brant	Brant	we'-we
Bufflehead	Butterball; shot eater, because it is so hard to hit	wa-ke'-i-a'-wi-shib'
Bunting, Snow	Snow bunting; morning star bird	wa'-bu-nong-o'-zi
Catbird, Gray	Catbird	ma-ma'-dwe-bi-ne'-shi
Chickadee, Black-capped	Black-capped chickadee	kitch'-i-kitch-i-ga'-ne-shi
Coot, American	American coot; legs hanging down behind	a'-tchi-ga-deg'
Cormorant, Double-crested	Double-crested cormorant; raven duck	ka-gog'-i-shib
Cowbird, Brown-headed	Cowbird; small blackbird	a-ga'-jid-as-sig'-gi-nak
Crane, Sandhill	Sandhill crane	a-gi-gak'
Crane, Whooping	Whooping crane	wab'-a-gi-gak'
Crossbill	Crossbill; having a crossed bill	a'-ji-de-ko-ne'-shi
Crow, American	Crow	an-deg'
Cuckoo	Cuckoo	pi-gua-o-ko'-que-o-we'-shi
Dove, Mourning	Mourning dove; tame dove; white pigeon	wa'-ba-mi'-mi
Duck	Duck; a beaver duck	a-mik'-o-shib
Duck, American Black	Black mallard; black duck	muk-ud-e'-shib
Duck, Ring-billed	Ring-billed blackhead; fall duck	tu-gua'-go-shib
Duck, Wood	Wood Duck	si-a-mo'
Eagle, Bald	Bald eagle	mi'-gi-zi
Eagle, Bald	Man eagle	ini'-ni-zi
Eagle, Golden	Golden eagle; war eagle of the Chippewas	gi-neu'
Flicker, Northern	Yellow-shafted flicker; bird with dirty colored wings	mo-ning'-gua-ne'
Golden-Plover, American	Golden plover; yellow crane sandpiper	o-za'-wa-gi'-gak-o-chu-is-ki-wen'
Goldeneye, Common	American golden-eye; arrow duck	mud-we-ang'-ge-shib; pi-kwa'-ko-shib
Goldfinch, American	American goldfinch	bi-yung'
Goose, Canada	Canada Goose	ni-ka'
Goose, Greater White-fronted	White-fronted goose	a-pish'-ni-ka'
Goose, Snow	Snow goose; suspect it is the snow goose	ma'-na-bi-si
Goshawk, Northern	Goshawk	ki-bwan'-i-si
Grackle, Common	Purple grackle; big blackbird	chi-as-sig-gi-nak
Grebe, Horned or Eared Grebe	Horned grebe, or eared grebe; big diver	kitch'-i-shin'-gi-bis
Grebe, Pied-billed	Thick-billed grebe	shin'-gi-bis
Grosbeak, Evening	Evening grosbeak	pash-kan'-da-mo
Grosbeak, Pine	Pine grosbeak	o-ka-nis'-se
Grouse	Grouse	bi-ne'
Grouse, Ruffed	Ruffed grouse	wen'-gi-da-bi-ne'
Grouse, Spruce	Canada Grouse; prairie bird	mus-ko-de'-se
Gull and terns	Gulls and terns	kai-osk'
Harrier, Northern	Marsh hawk; snake hunter	o-no'-gi-gi-neb-i-que'-si
Hawk	Cooper's hawk and sharp-shinned hawk	ke-kek'
Hawk	Hawk	ke-kek'
Hawk, Cooper's	Cooper's hawk; hairy hawk	mish'-i-ke-kek
Hawk, Red-tailed	Red-tailed Hawk; small red hawk	mis'-qua-na-ni'-si
Hawk, Rough-legged	Rough-legged hawk; black hawk	mu-ku-de'-ke-kek'
Hawk, Swainson's	Swainson's hawk	tchai-ince'
Heron, Great Blue	Great blue heron	shu-shu'-ga
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated	Ruby-throated hummer	non-o-ka'-si
Jay, Blue	Blue jay	jan-di'-si
Jay, Gray	Canada jay	guin-gui'-shi
Junco, Dark-eyed	Black snowbird	bu-te'-shi-wish
Kestrel, American	Sparrow hawk	pi-pi'-gi-wi-zance'
Killdeer	Killdeer; big prairie sandpiper	mus-ko-de'-chi-chi-ji'-twish-ki-wen'
Kingbird, Eastern	Kingbird; cannibal bird	win'-di-go-bi-ne-shi
Kingfisher, Belted	Kingfisher	o-gish'-ki-mun-is-si'
Kite, Swallow-tailed	Swallow-tailed kite; big swallow	kitch'-i-shau-shau'-won-ni-bi'-si
Lark, Horned	Shore lark; yellow snow bunting	o-za'-wa-wa'-bu-nong-o'-zi
Loon	Loon	mang
Magpie, Black-billed	Magpie	a-pish'-ka-gog-i'
Mallard	Mallard; female mallard; white mallard	wab'-i-ni-ni-shib'
Mallard	Mallard; man duck	i-ni'-ni-shib'
Martin, Purple	Purple martin; black swallow	mu-ke-de'-shau-shau'-wun-ni-bi'-si
Merganser	Sheldrakes	an'-zig
Merganser, Common	American Sheldrake; big sheldrake	kitch-i-an'-zig
Merganser, Hooded	Hooded sheldrake; sharp-billed duck	gi-ni-ko-ne'-shib
Merganser, Red-breasted	Red-breasted merganser; yellow sheldrake	o-ga-wan'-zig
Nighthawk, Common	Nighthawk	besh-que'
Nuthatch, Red-breasted	Red-bellied nuthatch	ki-ki-bi'-di-ko-me'-shi
Nuthatch, White-breasted	White-bellied nuthatch	chi-chi-ga'-nam-da-we'-shi
Oriole, Baltimore	Baltimore oriole; poplar or willow bird	wa-do'-pi-bi-ne'-shi
Osprey	Fish hawk	mi'-gi-ki-qua-ne'
Owl	Owl	o-ko'-ko-ko-o'
Owl, Barn	Barn owl	bo'-du-wi-dom-be'
Owl, Barred	Barred owl	wen'-gi-du-ko-ko-ko-o'
Owl, Great Gray	Great gray owl	we-wen'-gi-ga-no'
Owl, Great Horned	Great horned owl	o-tow'-i-ge-o-ko'-ko-ko-o'
Owl, Snowy	Snowy Owl	wa'-bi-o-ko'-ko-o'
Pelican	Pelican, both species	she'-de
Pigeon, Passenger	Pigeon	o-mi'-mi
Pintail, Northern	Pintail; long-necked duck	kin-o-gua'-ya-we-shib
Prairie-Chicken, Greater	Prairie hen	a-gusk'
Raven, Common	American raven	ka-gog-i'
Redhead	Redhead; big fall duck	kitch'-i-tu-gua'-go-shib
Robin, American	American robin	o-pi'-che
Sandpiper	Sandpiper	ji-twish'-ki-wen
Scaup	Scaup ducks; spirit ducks	ma'-ni-do-shib'
Screech-Owl, Eastern	Little screech owl	ka-kab'-i-shi
Shoveler, Northern	Shoveller; shovelling duck	ma-da-i-ga'-ni-shib
Shrike, Northern	Shrike; big cannibal bird	kitch'-i-win'-di-go-bi-ne'-shi
Snipe, Wilson's	Wilson's snipe	pa-dash'-ka-an'-ja
Sora	Sora rail; rice bird	mo-no'-min-i-kesh-i'
Sparrow, Song	Song sparrow	kos-kos-ko-ni'-chi
Swallow	All other swallows; little bird that tumbles over and over in the air	shau-shau'-wun-ni-b-sence'
Swan	Swan; white bird	wa'-bi-si
Swift, Chimney	Chimney swift; wooden quills, in allusion to the stiff tail-feathers	me-mit'-to-go-ning-gue-ga-ne'-si
Tanager, Scarlet	Scarlet tanager	o-da'-gi-na-ma ne'-shi
Teal, Blue-winged	Blue-winged duck	we-wi'-bing-guang-ge'
Teal, Green-winged	Green-winged Teal; spunk duck; also called big teal	sug-gu-ta'-ka-ni-shib
Thrasher, Brown	Brown thrush; big thrush	chi'-a-nuk'
Thrush, Swainson's	Thrush, olive-backed	a-nuk'
Towhee, Eastern	Towhee bunting; black thrush	muk-ud-e'-ai-a'-nuk
Turkey, Wild	Turkey	mi-sis'-si
Veery	Wilson's thrush	an-wak'
Vulture, Turkey	Turkey buzzard; dirty wing	wi-nong'-a
Warbler, Black-throated Blue	Black-throated blue warbler	o-ja'-wa-no
Warbler, Yellow	Summer yellowbird	o-za'-wa-bi-ne'-shi
Waxwing, Bohemian	Bohemian waxwing; crested bird	o-ze'-gi-ban-wan'-i-shin
Waxwing, Cedar	Cedar waxwing; the bird that is king or chief	o'-gi-ma-bi-ne'-shi
Whip-poor-will	Whippoorwill	gwen-go-wi-a'
Woodcock, American	Woodcock; big snipe	kitch'-i-pa-dash'-ka-an'-ja
Woodpecker	Hairy and downy woodpecker	pa-pa'-se
Woodpecker, Pileated	Pileated woodpecker	me'-me
Woodpecker, Red-headed	Red-headed woodpecker	pa-que-a-mo'
Wren, House	House wren	o-du-na'-mis-sug-ud-da-we'-shi
Wren, Marsh	Marsh wren	mus-ko'-zi-bi-ne'-shi

This is a profound, scholarly work with importance beyond the time of its origin.

During the same era, another study of the Chippewa tribal language was underway by someone with the most intimate knowledge of the tribe and its lexicon. The history on the Ottawa and Chippewa of Michigan written by Andrew J. Blackbird, whose father was Macka-de-pe-nessy, or Black-hawk, which should have been the proper last name for Andrew. He attended a couple of educational institutions in the 1850s, but his degree was based on his life experiences, not from a piece of paper from some institution.

This selection provides the final portion of the tribal language being considered.

Term Designation	Given Term	Native Term
Bird	Bird	pe-nay-shen
Crane	Crane	au-dje-djawk
Crow, American	Crow	awn-dayg
Duck	Duck	she-sheb
Eagle	Eagle	wing-ge-zee
Grouse	Partridge	pe-nay
Gull	Gull	kaw-yawshk
Hawk	Hawk	pe-nay-se
Jay, Blue	Bluejay	tchin-dees
Loon	Loon	mong
Pigeon, Passenger	Pigeon	o-me-me
Prairie-Chicken, Greater	Prairie hen	ke-wo-nee
Robin, American	Robin	au-pe-tchi
Thrasher, Brown	Thrasher	au-nawk
Turkey, Wild	Turkey	me-zhe-say
Woodcock, American	Woodcock	may-may
Woodpecker	Woodpecker	paw-paw-say

This set of terms reveals — once again — a number of the most typical bird species of the tribal area, which was the area of Harbor Springs, where Mr. Blackbird was the postmaster in 1858, and the same area where he was born.

Wonders of the Chippeway Tribe

The terminology opens a new realm for the native language given in bird history, which could readily be a focus of study for time undefined, depending only on someone's particular interest. Tribal terms for quilt, for sewing, for knitting, are even included for those which may have an interest in this type of an indoor endeavor. The words, given in two variations — tribal to English and English to tribal — are a sublime work of scholarly work far beyond the basic responsibilities of a missionary.

The terms given here are an addition to the terms previously presented from other sources that convey this aspect of bird history. This particular instance of bird lore from more than a century in the past, or basically times long forgotten except for treasured annals of history, can be readily appreciated since someone took the time to write it down and get it into print of some manner so it can be easily remembered and reviewed.

This terminology ellicits a new appreciation for the appreciation of the birds during the endless centuries they have been known by people of the continental lands.

Birdly Aspect of Names for Ojibways in the Pembina Band

People of the Pembina Band had a number of names derived from a birdly aspect. These natives lived among the prairie lands in the northeast corner of North Dakota, and were recognized as the most westerly dwelling tribe of the Ojibway nation.

"The following are some of the names, with their meanings, of that part of the band located on White Earth reservation who were living there in 1878," as reported by J.A. Gilfillan. This roster is based on a sample of the 194 names given for the 543 Indians and half-breeds which received annuities at this reserve. The list, given by this particular scribe, started with the chief, but it was his wife that was the first person given with a name related to some aspect of birds. This following material is directly from the article published in 1908.

Caa-tou-see, an Ojibwa. Originally painted by Charles Bird King. Lithographed, colored and published ca. 1836-44 by J.T. Bowen.

There is so much unsaid for this list, where nothing is given to denote how the name was attributed, or to, perhaps, graphically show the name. None-the-less, the information is part of the expansive record of historic ornithology known for another band of the first people that had once been resident on their expansive lands and territories.

¶ Se-se-gush-ik, She-who-is-afraid-as-she-flies.

¶ Kek-kek-wash, Flies-like-a-hawk.

¶ Gin-u-wash-ik, She-flies-as-a-war-eagle (N.B. The war eagle is considered by the Ojibways the noblest of all birds. So she flies very nobly).

¶ Wa-bi-ke-kek, White-hawk.

¶ A-bi-ta-ke-kek, Middle-hawk.

¶ Ka-bon-e, He-alights, (as a bird does, ceasing flying).

¶ Ke-be-givim-e-ash, He-who-with-his-feathers-sails-the-whole-course-to-the-end, (as a bird does).

¶ Nud-we-ash-ik, She-makes-a-sound-in-flying, (as a bird does.)

¶ Go-dji-ash-ik, She-tries-to-fly, (as a young bird does.)

¶ Man-i-do-bin-es, Spirit-bird, (not an ordinary bird, but supernatural).

¶ O-nub-i-win-i-ni, The-man-who-is-going-to-settle-on-a thing, (As a bird would hover over its nest about to sit or as a man would be about to settle on a piece of land.)

¶ Te-bus-ash-ik, She-flies-low, (as a bird does.)

¶ Azh-i-de-as-um-ok, The-woman-who-emits-lightnings-crosswise, (the thunder-bird, who according to their belief, causes thunder and lightning - the former his voice, the latter the flashes from his opening eyes - sometimes emits one flash and then another crosswise to it.)

¶ Gi-zhi-go-bin-es-ik, The-heavenly-bird-woman, (That is one conception of a woman, she is a bird, but this one is not an earthly bird, but a heavenly one.)

¶ Mesh-a-ki-wim-i-bin-es-ik, The-woman-bird-who-comes-down-out-of-the-sky-over-head-to-the-earth-and-remains, (we often see a bird do this. This is another conception of a woman as a being who has come down from Heaven to this earth.)

¶ Me-cud-e-wi-gum-eb, He-who-is-black-feather-sitting, (this man wears a black feather and is known by it.)

¶ O-zha-wush-ko-gin-u, The-blue-war-eagle.

¶ Bin-es-i-wi-gi-zhig, Sky-full-of-birds, (We often see such a sky.)

¶ Ga-ga-gi-wi-gwun, Raven-feather.

¶ Wa-bi-gin-u, White-war-eagle, (as has been said above the Indians consider the war eagle the noblest of all birds and consequently wear its feathers in their hair.)

¶ Ga-ki-zhi-ash-ik, The-woman-who-keeps-flying-fast-from-time-to-time, (she always keeps flying fast.)

¶ Sa-gi-qua-um-ok, The-woman-of-the-thunder-birds-that-come-out-in-the-open, (We often see a thunder cloud - in which are the thunder birds according to the Indians' ideas - rising just above the horizon mounting higher in plain sight. This woman is one of those thunder birds in that cloud.)

¶ Bin-es-i-wun-ga-wid-dji-wad. He-who-went-with-the-birds, (the birds of thunder or some other distinguished birds were flying over; he rose in the air and went with them.)

¶ Mes-co-gwun, Red Feather, (he wears that kind in his hair.)

¶ Ge-wuz-is-wun-e-bik, Woman-sitting-upon-and-hiding-her-nest, (As a bird does. She is such a one.)

¶ Ga-gin-u-ash, War-eagle-flying.

¶ Min-o-gwun-e-ash, Pleasant-feather-sailing (or flying.)

¶ Gin-u-ga-min-o-ta-go-zit, War-eagle-that-makes-a-pleasant-sound, (The war eagle, as before explained, is considered by the Indians the noblest of all birds; this man is such a one, and in addition makes a pleasant sound when he sings.)

¶ Ke-be-gwin-e, He-has-feathers-(or is feathered) all-the-way-to-the-end, (he lives to be extremely old but his feathers never drop off. He never becomes bald.)

¶ Ne-na-ash, Adjusts-his-feathers-as-he-flies, (a bird does thus.)

¶ O-zha-wush-ko-bin-es, Green-bird, (has green plumage.)

¶ O-djan-i-mi-bin-es, Hurry-flying-bird, (Sometimes we see a bird darting hither and thither in great agitation. He is such.)

¶ Na-na-i-gwun-e-ash, Keeps-adjusting-his-feathers-as-he-flies.

¶ Gi-zhi-ba-no-din-ong-e-bid, A-bird-that-is-going-to-fly-round-and-round-in-a-whirlwind.

¶ Mes-co-givun-eb, Red-feather-sitting, (he has a red feather in his hair.)

¶ Bi-wa-bik-co-gwun-eb-ik, Iron-feather-sitting-female, (The feather she wears is iron.)

¶ Od-ay-and-dji-gwun-eb-ik, She-who-changes-her-feathers-as-she-sits, (A woman can change her clothes sitting, take off one dress and put on another, changing, as it were, her feathers. This woman is such a changing feather bird.)

¶ Ni-ta-wi-gwun,eb-ik, She-know-how-to-sit-with-her-feathers, (as a bird does.)

¶ Mem-we-we-ash, He-who-sounds-lovely-when-flying, (the motions of his pinions through the air, or his voice as he calls.)

¶ Ga-bid-we-ash-ik, She-whose-sound-comes-towards-us-as-she-flies-approaching-us, (a bird's sound comes toward us as it approaches flying, so she.)

¶ Ge-now-i-gwun-eb, He-sitting-with-long-feathers.

¶ Ko-ko-ko-ons, Little-owl.

¶ Kek-kek-onsh-ish, Bad-little-hawk.

These names are another perspective which so vividly conveys — in a distinctly unique manner — what role birds and their lore and habits meant to the first people, and how the local species were honored by evocative names. Many of the names allude to bird behavior, with only a few seemingly derived from a particular species.

Jack-o-pa the Six, a Chippewa chief. Originally painted by Charles Bird King. Lithographed, colored and published ca. 1836-44 by J.T. Bowen.

The proper names are much more than a simple attribution like a plain Jane or simple Joe. They convey action and behavior and motions and other notable attributes deriving power from nature. When tribal members talked with each other using their given name of this time in history, meaning and characteristics were an essential consideration and understanding.

Subtle, yet profound, tribal lore and mythology is inherent in some of the proper names, evoking a profound intimacy which the people had with the land and its natural residents. Different species were significant in the earthly realm through the mythical knowledge of tribal elders.

The following were from a subsequent list of names that received tribal annuities at Wild Rice River, in 1895. This locality is now within Norman County, Minnesota.

¶ O-za-wi-ke-kek, Yellow-hawk.

¶ Shi-shi-bens, Little-duck.

¶ Me-shuk-ki-a-bun-dunk, He-who-descending-from-the-sky-overhead (as a bird does) looks-down-to-the-bottom-of-the-water-and-sees-the-thing.

¶ O-me-zhuk,ki-wi-bi-es, Bird-that-flies-downward-to-the-earth-from-the-sky-overhead-and-remains, (That is one conception of a man, namely, that he is a bird that has come down from the sky.)

¶ Kish-ki-mun-i-se, The-kingfisher.

¶ Ke-ke-kon-shish, The-bad-little-hawk.

¶ Se-se-gash-ik, She-who-is-afraid-as-she-flies.

This set of names has at least one particular reference to a particular species. Raptors and ducks, two common species of the tribal territory, continued to be a basis for naming.Another continues the mythical consideration of women and men having descended to an earthly existence, from the great skies above.

This tribal crest for the Anishinaabe People, of the Ojibway, mimics the great thunder bird, so the winged ones were obviously of some importance.