The hoiho won the coveted Bird of the Year honor in New Zealand. Photo courtesy of Dunedin NZ
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A golden-eyed, endangered penguin has once again been named New Zealand’s Bird of the Year after a competition involving bird costumes, craft beer and Dr. Jane Goodall.
The hoiho or “noise shouter” won the title for the second time Monday, after previously securing the top spot in 2019. Advertisement
“In a competition that was any bird’s to win, they showed up with the goods to capture hearts and minds across Aotearoa,” said Nicola Toki, who is the chief executive of Forest & Bird.
Toki is referring to the group that championed hoiho. That effort included a museum, a rugby team and a brewery that celebrated the “people’s penguin” with a special drink.
BREAKING: The hoiho yellow-eyed penguin has come from behind to snag the top perch for #BirdoftheYear for a 2nd time! The hoiho won last in 2019 and joins the kākāpō in being the only birds to win twice.https://t.co/NN6VulGIuy— Forest & Bird (@Forest_and_Bird) September 15, 2024
The runner-up was the karure, which was represented by a university student organization, and was promoted with bird costumes and memes. Advertisement
The hoiho, which has seen its population dip nearly 80% within a 15-year period, was honored at the perfect time, according to Toki.
“Hoiho are being hammered from all angles,” he said. “They suffer from horrible diseases like diphtheria and get attacked by dogs. Tiny, vulnerable chicks are threatened by introduced predators like cats, stoats and ferrets that can wipe out an entire breeding site in a single season.”
Goodall also offered her support for the hoiho’s win.
Last year, John Oliver backed the Puteketeke as “bird of the century” with an elaborate campaign of his own.
