Last years Winner was the “Kakapo “
The “Bird of the Year” competition might seem a strange ‘creature’ but it focuses our attention on a species and generally highlights conservation which is a topic often drowned out by social media.
So – as we get ready for the announcement of the 2021 ‘winner’ , here are items of interest
Aotearoa ( New Zealand ) has the most amazing native wildlife! But right now, 80% of our birds (and 100% of its bats) are in trouble. Climate change and habitat destruction are big threats to all our native species. If we protect and restore our rivers, forests, oceans, and climate, we can bring back our native wildlife!
( source : https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz )
Why is New Zealand fauna so unique?
Department of Conservation blog provides clear explanation:
* New Zealand evolved in isolation
There’s a reason people say that New Zealand is found at the edge of the earth!
Millions of years of isolation at the southern end of the globe have made the country a hub for unique organismic evolution, meaning that you’ll find wildlife in the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’ that you’ve never seen before.
Incredibly, New Zealand is home to 85 endemic land birds (they occur nowhere else in the world). In comparison, the British Isles have just one endemic species. This high rate of endemism is mainly the result of the country’s long isolation from other land masses. Only remote oceanic islands such as Hawaii have a similarly high proportion of endemic land birds.
* They’re rare and endangered
Some people may not know that, apart from bats, New Zealand was uninhabited by land mammals until the arrival of humans.
European colonisation bought introduced land mammals like stoats, possums, and rats that now pose a huge threat to our native wildlife, in fact New Zealand has one of the highest rates of threatened native species in the world.
As a visitor to New Zealand, visiting local wildlife reserves is one way for you to support efforts to protect these special species for future generations. At sanctuaries like Zealandia, Orokonui, Tirititi Matangi or Orana Wildlife Park, you can get up close and personal with endangered animals while contributing to their conservation. There aren’t many countries in the world where you can make such a fun and important difference!
Show your love for incredible native species by casting your vote in Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau/Bird of the Year!
For more information: Forest & Bird or Department of Conservation
