Forest & Bird’s annual Bird of the Year competition is under way.
Celebrities acting as ‘‘campaign managers’’ for their favourite birds will be trying to get people to vote for them in the annual online poll.
The competition attracts morethan 20,000 votes each year and people come up with innovative ways to promote their bird, such as videos, online campaigns, posters and poetry readings.
One campaigner got a tattoo of theirbird.
‘‘Last year, we had a voting scandal that really rocked the competition.
Two teenagers used fake email addresses to vote over 200 times for the kokako, briefly getting it to first place,’’ Forest & Bird’s Kimberley Collins said.
Last year’s Bird of the Year was the bar-tailed godwit, which swooped into the lead with 1957 votes.
Voting began yesterday and closes at 5pm on October 30.
The winner will be announced on October 31. Now in its 12th year, the competition raises awareness of New Zealand’s native birds and the threats they face.
Previous winners:
2015: Bar-tailed godwit (kuaka)
2014: Fairy tern (tara iti)
2013: Yellowhead (mohua)
2012: New Zealand falcon (karearea)
2011: Pukeko
2010: Kakariki
2009: Kiwi
2008: Kakapo
2007: Grey warbler (riroriro)
2006: Fantail (piwakawaka)
2005: Tui
