Celebrating 100 years of conservation: Forest & Bird seeking to crown New Zealand’s Bird of the Century

Which bird will get your vote? The ACAP-listed Buller's Albatross is one of 77 birds to choose from in Forest & Bird's search for New Zealand's Bird of the Century. A pair of non-breeding Buller’s Albatrosses preen on Solander Island; photograph by Jean-Claude Stahl

The New Zealand conservation organisation, Forest & Bird, are marking their 100^th birthday this year and as part of their celebrations are searching for a mighty feather to put in their cap.  

In a twist on the organisation’s annual Bird of the Year competition, Forest & Bird are asking the bird-loving public to cast their vote to crown New Zealand's Bird of the Century.

Seventy-seven native birds are in the running for the accolade, including two ACAP-listed species: the globally Endangered and Nationally Critical Antipodean Albatross Diomedea antipodensis and the globally Near Threatened and nationally Declining Buller's Albatross Thalassarche bulleri.

To raise awareness of ACAP-listed species and the threats they are facing, the Agreement has been producing a series of infographic posters which can be downloaded at the ACAP website. The Antipodean Albatross infographic, sponsored by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (NZDOC), is amongst those already featured, with the Buller’s Albatross infographic (also sponsored by NZDOC) intended to be be available in the first half of 2024.

Five extinct species have also been included as candidates in the competiton in order to highlight the loss of biodiversity in New Zealand, and to serve as a reminder to protect those species that remain.

Forest & Bird have created a profile for each of the 77 bird contestants on their website, here. Profiles include information on the species, their conservation status, and in some cases a recording of their song. Voters are permitted to select up to five birds for submission to the competition.

Voting opened on Monday 30 October and will close at 5pm on Sunday 12 November 2023. The winning bird will be announced on Monday 13 November 2023.   

01 November 2023