Voting for Bird of the Year ends this Monday at 5pm and our amazing campaign managers have fought tooth and nail (or feather and claw) to get their bird ahead. We’ve seen videos, memes, scandals, even smear campaigns. But at the end of it all, it is their stories and passion for birds that could win hearts and […]
The pīwakawaka, commonly known as the fantail, is a familiar sight in gardens across New Zealand. Science communicator Amy Smith puts forward her case for why these chirruping birds deserve a second term as “Bird of the Year”. While other common garden birds spend their time in the tree tops, living their lives high above us, […]
With #BirdOfTheYear off to a flying start, science communicator Ellen Rykers investigates how some of our native birds could be affected by climate change. We all know that climate change threatens the existence of the polar bear. Haunting images of one balancing on thin ice means it has become the poster child for melting ice and a […]
So what does it take to get ahead in Bird of the Year? Kōkako campaigner Oscar Thomas shares his simple six-step program to success for this year’s fast-paced competition. 1. Hatch a plan The most essential aspect of any great campaign is planning. Start a brainstorm with your team and prepare for a long two […]
Forest & Bird’s annual Bird of the Year competition is off to a flying start and the kea is out in front with over 2,500 votes. Read how Kimberley Collins went searching for the world’s only alpine parrot in Nelson Lakes National Park, New Zealand. Photos by David Buckton. You need to be sneaky if you want to […]
Peter Moore studied southern royal albatrosses on Campbell Island for many years. Here, he talks about his experience and gives you an idea why this handsome ocean wandered deserves your vote for #BirdOfTheYear. I was fortunate enough to spend several field seasons on Campbell Island over a 22-year period, and never lost my awe of […]
My name is George Hobson. I love birds, and am the campaign manager for the amazing pohowera (banded dotterel) in this year’s Bird Of The Year competition. I am really really enjoying this awesome role! I’m a twelve year old “bird nerd”, so I love anything to do with birds AT ALL! I do many other “birdy” things, like […]
Do we love kea because we see so much of ourselves in them? Bold, curious, and highly intelligent, kea are always looking for new ways to explore and exploit their world – to survive, and survive well. Like humans, kea are born scientists. They observe, hypothethise, and experiment. We humans think we’re studying kea… but […]
It’s nearly that time of year again! Forest & Bird’s annual Bird of the Year competition will kick off on October the 5th, so get ready to vote for your favourite bird. Over 50 birds will fight it out to be crowned our Bird of the Year. This year it’s about more than glory as […]