Bird of the Year

Kea

The bogan of the bird world, the kea is born with a bad attitude, as well as a cunning ability to dismantle everything from cars to camping grounds.

BLOGS: Kea: A Bogan-tastic Bird & Our Sensational Snow Parrot 

Photo:  Andrew Walmsley 

Takahe

Like a pukeko on steroids, only much, much rarer. This bird seemed lost forever until - wonders of all wonders - a few takahe were found in Fiordland in 1948. 

BLOG: The Takahe: Not a Dodo, Campaign Manager for the Takahe, Joanna Cox 

Photo: Craig McKenzie

Bellbird

The bellbird or korimako might not look like much, but what a song! “A sequence of liquid notes,” “wonderful flute-like chimes,” “like small bells exquisitely tuned.” He’ll sing his way into voters’ hearts.

Penguin

Its jaunty yellow eyebrows make the rockhopper penguin the rock-star of our penguins, and no doubt this penguin will streak ahead in the polls. Nine types of penguin reside on our shores and surrounding islands - lots to choose from!

Grey Warbler

When you hear the grey warbler’s song you know that spring has sprung. It had plenty to sing about when it won Bird of the Year in 2007.

BLOG: Forget-me-not, Campaign manager for the Grey Warbler & Broadcaster, Graeme Hill. 

Photo: Courtesy of DOC

Australasian Bittern

A shag-pile of motley feathers, the bog-dwelling bittern can't exactly campaign on it's stunning good-looks, so it's resting it's campaign on personal endorsements. Thoreau once called this bird the 'genius of the bog'. 

Photo: C.D Roderick 

North Island Kokako

The Nick Cave of the bird world, our blue wattled crow has a song so haunting that you could throw a sheet over it and call it a ghost. Our kokako lives on tattered scraps of forest in the North island, however it is being re-introduced back into forests where it once existed. Kokako - coming to a forest near you!

BLOG: Blue Wattled Wonderful, Campaign Manager for the Kokako, Mandy Herrick 

Photo: Roger Colbourne 

Kiwi

It’s an odd choice for a national icon: brown, flightless and nocturnal – yet ever-popular.

BLOG: KIwi: Dethroned? Never. Campaign Manager for the Kiwi Executive Director of the BNZ Kiwi Trust, Michelle Impey 

Photo: Courtesy of DOC

NZ Harrier/Kahu

The harrier hawk does not rest its popularity on tugged heart strings, nor does it care for endangered lists – if anything it creates them. An elegant gent, a non chalant killer and a bird most worthy of Bird of the Year. 

BLOG: Kahu: Our Genteel, Murderous Hawk , Tom Kahu Hunt, Campaign Manager for the Kahu 

Kingfisher

The NZ kingfisher can't laugh like its cousin the kookaburra, but its stomach can perform mind-boggling tricks, like regurgitating the crust from crustaceans in a tidy little ball.

BLOG: The Kingfisher: A Little Bruiser, Campaign Manager for the Kingfisher, Stephanie Gray 

Photo: Tom Marshall 

Saddleback

This wattled bird got its saddle when maui lashed out after it failed to quench its thirst when he was busy lassoing the sun. The heat of his hand singed the bird's back and from that day forth, the saddleback wore a brown saddle. 

Photo: Marguerite Quin 

Bar-Tailed Godwit

These international travellers lap the world every year, flying to Alaska and back to New Zealand to breed. The godwit deserves your vote even if it is just for the sheer lunacy of undertaking this marathon flight every year, and coming back to tell the tale!

Photo: Rod Morris 

Kakapo

The Lothario of the bird world, the male kakapo performs an elaborate courtship ritual whenever rimu is in fruit. Although this giant nocturnal parrot was last year's winner, it is gunning for a win in 2009 by concentrating its campaign on it's two main attributes: its charm and its devastating good looks.  

 BLOG: The Kakapo: A Prize Battler, Dana Boyte, Campaign Manager for the Kakapo 

Albatross

NZ is the 'albatross capital of the world' with over half of the world's species living and breeding here. Give your vote to these magnificent ocean-going voyagers. 

BLOG - Winged Wonders, Campaign Manager for the Albatross, Mandy Herrick 

Photo: Courtesy of DOC

Tui

Handsome green-black suit and a song that is part music, part rusty gate. Our winner in 2005 

Photo: Craig McKenzie 

Wrybill

Do not adjust your set folks, this bird's beak is permanently bent off to one side. The reason? So it can get insects from underneath rocks. It is ONLY bird with a beak that bends off to one side. Give your vote to this bendy beaked beauty!

Photo: Tom Marshall

Grebe

Take your pick from the grebe family: there’s the weweia or NZ dabchick or the Puteketeke (Australasian crested grebe); in either case it is hard not to like a bird that carries its babies around on its back.

 Photo: Craig McKenzie

Gannet

The takapu’s yellow and white plumage is a welcome splash of colour among New Zealand’s often Plain Jane birds. Their chick can be heard from inside the egg yapping like a puppy!

Photo: Thomas Becker 

Rock Wren

Our only true alpine bird that lives and breeds in the alpine zone all year round, the diminutive mountain dweller appears to be in decline – possibly partly because of climate change. It needs your support!

Photo: Rod Morris 

Whitehead

Obviously not a lot of thought went into naming the whitehead, which has – you guessed it – a white head. But only the boys – the females’ heads are dull brown. But they’d still love to have your vote …

Photo: Jordan Kappely 

Pukeko

Our gregarious, polygamous swamp hen has a small cult following led by blogger and radio presenter Damian Christie. Give your vote to this bog-tastic bird! 

BLOG: Pukeko: Swamped in Controversy , Campaign Manager for the Pukeko, Writer and Radio Presenter, Damian Christie.

Spoonbill

You’ve got to love a bird that carries its cutlery at the end of its beak. A brilliant blend of the majestic and the absurd.

VIDEO BLOG: Billed to Win? Jeremy Wells, Campaign Manager for thre Royal Spoonbill. 

 Photo: Craig McKenzie

Silvereye

Believed to have arrived in New Zealand as a stowaway in the rigging of sailing ships from Australia but has made itself at home. That’s good enough to count as a Kiwi isn’t it?

Photo: Nga Manu 

Skua

According to Collins Guide to the Birds of NZ, skuas have “hooked beaks and piratical habits” attack gulls and other seabirds and eat offal, which makes them possibly the underbird in Bird of the Year. Perhaps their bad boy appeal might help?

Photo: Don Merton 

Tomtit

Like a cross between a robin and a fantail, only with a black head and 10 times as cute.

Photo: Don Merton

Shag

Can we guilt trip you into voting for the black shag? Thanks to a reputation among fishermen for robbing them of trout, from 1890-1940 there was a bounty on their heads and many shag colonies were destroyed. So make up for the wanton destruction of the past and vote shag in BOTY!
 

Photo: Pied shag,Jordan Kappelly

Stilt

The black stilt (kaki) is the world’s rarest wading bird. Its pied cousin is more numerous but just as lovely – and it is Sam Hunt’s favourite bird.

BLOG: Doubtless, Sam Hunt, Campaign Manager for the Pied Stilt. 

Photo: Craig McKenzie

Kereru (Wood Pigeon)

A favourite of Kiri Te Kanawa's, this dove-like bird plays an important role in seed distribution.    

BLOG: A berry, berry important bird, Kiri Te 'Kereru' Kanawa, Campaign Manager for the Kereru 

Photo: Courtesy of DOC

Morepork

Seldom seen, often heard, unmistakable.

BLOG: Ruru:Midnight Marauders, Campaign Manager for the Morepork, Stephen Clark  

Photo: Chris Turner 

Yellowhead

Not a long and deep thought process going into the naming here, better go with their other name: mohua. Desperately in danger of being wiped out by pests, they need all the help they can get – vote yellowhead in Bird of the Year!

Heron

The most striking heron in New Zealand is the white heron, or kotuku, which is turned out like a virginal bride and breeds in just Okarito, south Westland.  Writer Steve Braunias is rooting for its more numerous cousin - the White Faced Heron.  

Photo courtesy of DOC

NZ Dotterel

Numbers of this shorebird are perilously low. Their problem is that they love the same beaches that we love. A mere scrape in the sand is a NZ dotterel nest, which is little protection from humans or animal predators.

Photo: Craig McKenzie

Kaka

The kaka loves to get together with its mates in the early morning or early evening. They sound like garrulous geezers propping up a bar once they’ve got a glug of nectar down their throats.  

BLOG: Screechingly Good, Campaign Manager for the Kaka & Blogger, David Farrar

Photo: Brent Bevan

Weka

They might be small, flightless and mousy-looking but they’re fast, crafty and can whip a sandwich out of your hand before you have time to swallow.

Whio (Blue Duck)

The whio is a whitewater lover, unlike most other ducks in the world. With fewer than 3000 whio left, they’re precious.

Photo: Craig McKenzie

Fantail

Who couldn’t love the darling piwakawaka – which flicks its long tail and chatters away as it follows you up the forest path.

BLOG: Fantail: The Cutest Forest Companion, Campaign Manager for the Fantail & Broadcaster, Kim Hill 

Photo: Craig McKenzie

Robin

These forest midgets spend their summers singing. The Chatham Island black robin was down to one female – for which Forest & Bird’s Old Blue award is named – who helped save her species from extinction during the early 1980s.

Photo: Don Merton 

Muttonbird

Also known as the sooty shearwater – or titi in Maori – this seabird travels between the southern and northern hemispheres. Near Stewart Island is a breeding colony where Maori have harvested chicks for generations. 

Photo: Dick Veitch 

Rifleman

You might miss this itsy-bitsy bird, which stands just 8cm tall, but its high-pitched call should catch your attention

VIDEO BLOG: I  ♥  Rifleman, Simon Fordham, Campaign Manager for the Rifleman

Photo: Simon Fordham 

Kakariki

Why this New Caledonian immigrant decided to fly onto our shores is a mystery to us all - we're just thankful it adds a little vibrancy and colour to our forests.  

BLOG: Kakariki, International Bird of Mystery  Phil Bilbrough, Campaign Manager for the Kakariki. 

Photo: Red-crowned parakeet, photo: Don Merton 

Fernbird

This secretive, inquisitive bog-dwelling bird has a bunch of hard-working campaigners vying for your vote, so who knows, it may recieve the crowning title of Bird of the Year

BLOG: Fernbirds forever 

Photo: Craig McKenzie

Fairy Tern

Help! This is New Zealand’s rarest endemic breeding bird, with fewer than 40 left. It’s competing with humans and predators in its struggle for survival on beaches north of Auckland.

Photo: Courtesy of DOC

Karearea/NZ Falcon

The boy racer of our skies. These guys can reach 100p/hour and they're just warming up.

BLOG: Karearea: The boy racer of our skies , Co-campaign manager for the karearea, Ruud 'bugman' Kleinpaste

Photo: EssjayNZ

Hutton's Shearwater

You may well think Ms Kaikoura is bird-brained because it nests in the snow but this endangered bird makes up for it's lack of cerebral prowess with its superb navigational skills & its fledgling's punkish good-looks . 

The Masked Lapwing/Spur-winged Plover

This Australian immigrant came to our 'empty paradise' 75 years ago, and now numbers over 10,000 birds. Deplored for its noisy cry, this bird hasn't exactly been welcomed with open arms, but given its prodigious breeding habits - its here to stay.

BLOG: A Bird with Too Few Lovers, Campaign Manager for the Masked Lapwing, Aalbert Rebergen

Hihi

Most of our endemic birds are dressed in camo gear, however, this one has a bold flash of yellow in its plummage - something that has caused bird nerds to wax poetic. 'The male then appears not a bird but a huge brilliant tropical butterfly — a magnificent creature indeed' Guthrie Smith.  

BLOG: Winged Adonis, Campaign Manager for the hihi, Emma Gilkison

Welcome Swallow

An Australian red-neck that has become a welcome addition to our skies. 

BLOG:  A Hard Act to Swallow, Campaign Manager for the Welcome Swallow, Phoebe Borwick and Haddon Smith 

Other

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