Annual Bird of Preeminence for the Year 2025, Known as Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau
Bird of the Year 2025: Celebrating New Zealand's Avifauna and Conservation
The Bird of the Year competition, a significant event in New Zealand, is set to return for its 20th anniversary in 2025. This nationwide competition, organised by Forest & Bird, aims to raise environmental awareness and engage the public in native bird conservation.
Over the years, the competition has supported various native bird species, such as the huia, ruru, takahē, toroa/northern royal albatross, and many more. In 2021, the pekapeka took the crown, and for 2025, voters will have the chance to choose from the takahē, kiwi, kākā, kererū, godwit, kea, albatross, ruru, huia, or one of New Zealand's native ducks.
The competition not only highlights the plight and successes of these native birds but also serves as a platform to galvanize conservation support, increase public engagement, and celebrate New Zealand’s unique avifauna.
One of the key impacts of the Bird of the Year competition is boosting public awareness and appreciation of native birds. This increased interest can translate into greater support for habitat protection and species recovery initiatives. The competition also provides educational opportunities through storytelling, media coverage, and associated materials. For instance, a book titled "Bird of the Year: Twenty years of ruffled feathers - A celebration of the birds of Aotearoa" by Ellen Rykers will be published by Penguin Random House New Zealand in late August. Royalties from the sale of each book will go to Forest & Bird to support its work.
Moreover, the competition strengthens the connection between communities and native species, encouraging grassroots and volunteer conservation actions that supplement formal environmental management. This connection is crucial in fostering a cultural and ecological connection to these species.
In the past, winners like the kakī black stilt and the kākāpō have used their Bird of the Year wins to rally support for conservation programs. The kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) is one of the birds participating in the competition this year.
Voting for Bird of the Year 2025 opens at 9am on Monday, 15 September, and closes at 5pm on Sunday, 28 September. To become a campaign manager for Bird of the Year 2025, sign up at forestandbird.org.nz/applyboty2025. The winner will be announced on Monday, 29 September.
Forest & Bird is using the anniversary of the Bird of the Year competition to remind voters that their vote counts for native birds in trouble. To learn more about the competition and the participating birds, visit www.birdoftheyear.org.nz.
References:
- Bird of the Year competition
- Conserving native birds - introduction
- Kākāriki Karaka: A quiet conservation success worth public attention
- Bird of the Year: Twenty years of ruffled feathers - A celebration of the birds of Aotearoa
- Call of the huia: how NZ's bird of the century contest helps us express 'ecological grief'
- Pūteketeke - it's OK to laugh at Bird of the Century
The Bird of the Year competition, in its 20th anniversary year, not only celebrates New Zealand's unique avifauna but also encourages home-and-garden enthusiasts to contribute to conservation efforts by voting for their favorite native bird. This event, organized by Forest & Bird, also provides an opportunity for lifestyle readers to learn more about New Zealand's native birds and support habitat protection and species recovery initiatives.
