Bird of the Year, to show we care

Forest & Bird’s Bird of the Year campaign is on again, with voting closing at 5pm this Sunday. 

How to choose one’s five favourite and most worthy birds? It’s a big ask but the hundreds of native and endemic species have been narrowed to a list of about 70, which makes it a little easier. 

But how to decide between the kākāpō or the kōkako? Kākāpō - the world’s heaviest parrot with an alluring scent and the male’s amazing deep, booming mating call. The kōkako with its Zorro mask, bright blue wattles and ethereal song of organ-like notes, once heard never forgotten. The South Island kōkako is on the list but it’s most likely extinct, so is that a wasted vote? That’s a bit harsh! 

What about pukunui, the southern dotterel? Only 101 birds survive on Rakiura Stewart Island, where they nest on the mountaintops and commute to the beaches for feeding. Or another shore bird, tūturuatu, the shore plover, also with a Zorro-type face mask - a very cute bird. It was reduced to surviving on a couple of Chathams offshore islands but is now almost local with a population (thanks to human intervention) on Waikawa Portland Island. 

I think some of the lesser-known birds are well worth considering. The NZ scaup (pāpango) - a small, blackish diving duck with bright yellow eyes. The fernbird (mātātā) - slightly bigger than a sparrow, with a dark-spotted breast similar to a song thrush and a long frayed tail. They are secretive and are reluctant to fly. If you are near a wetland you may hear their “tchip” or “uu-tick” calls but not see them. NZ dabchick (weweia) - a lake bird that carries its zebra-striped young on its back and is a proficient diver. There are only about 2000 birds in scattered populations, mostly in Te Ika a Māui. 

All of the above birds are endemic and therefore incredibly special, being found nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, most of them are in varying degrees of trouble. You could vote for some of the more common but still good ones such as the tūī, weka, silvereye, kererū, riroriro grey warbler etc. 

There are also five penguins, two petrels, one kiwi, one albatross and some skuas and terns. Mustn’t forget the seabirds. 

Check out birdoftheyear.org.nz for the full list. Happy voting. It lets the birds know that we care. 

Grant Vincent 

Chair, Forest & Bird Gisborne Tairāwhiti branch