The karearea, ‘s only falcon, was crowned Bird of the Year in the country’s annual bird competition on Monday.
This year, more than 75,000 voters from 123 countries flocked online to rank their favorite bird, according to Forest & Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki.
Voter participation was second only to when Last Week Tonight host John Oliver playfully volunteered as a campaign manager.
“Behind the memes and mayhem is a serious message,” said Toki.
New Zealand’s fastest bird
Capable of flying 200 kilometers (124 miles) per hour to capture its prey, the karearea, the Indigenous Maori name for the New Zealand falcon, is threatened in the country, especially from habitat loss and predation.
Official figures suggest between 5,000 and 8,000 New Zealand falcons remain.
Phil Bradfield, a trustee of the Karearea Falcon Trust in Marlborough, located on New Zealand’s South Island, described karearea as “fast and sneaky and very special,” saying it rightfully earned the Bird of the Year title.
“They’re a mysterious bird and that’s partly because they’re cryptic, they’re often well-hidden,” said Bradfield.
New Zealand’s iconic species at risk
The contest draws attention to New Zealand’s native bird species, .
Toki from Forest & Bird said in a press release that “habitat destruction, climate change and introduced predators continue to push many species towards extinction — but public awareness can be powerful.”
She expressed concern that New Zealanders would give up on some of the most threatened birds, especially as the cost of safeguarding them — mainly from predators like cats, rats, and stoats — continues to rise.
“Successive governments in New Zealand have cumulatively reduced investment in conservation, which is the cornerstone of New Zealand’s economic prosperity,” Toki said.
“People come here to see our native birds and the places they live in,” she added. “They’re not coming here to see shopping malls.”
Edited by: Zac Crellin
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