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 The
secretary bird, a native of southern Africa, acquired its name by the supposed
resemblance of its black feathery head plumes to a secretary with a quill pen
behind its ear. Strange as it may be, the bird was aptly named as some of its
characteristics are appropriate to the secretarial profession.
ICSA Secretary Rusell Day must be given credit for ICSA adopting the secretary bird
as its crest in 1896. Through a study of the bird, he discovered that its most
prominent characteristics were alertness and its ability to successfully prey
on snakes. This signified the vigilant character to be instilled in every
chartered secretary. A creature of habit, the bird mates for life and is
fiercely protective of its territory being a classic, portrayal of a chartered
secretary's pursuit of high ethical standards.
Russell Day had also shipped from South Africa a specimen of the
bird to present it to the ICSA. The mascot was mounted in a glass case but
unfortunately was destroyed when the Institute's premises were bombed on 29
December 1940. However, it was later replaced and resumed its duty as a symbol
of high professionalism among chartered secretaries.
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