..while votes are still coming in on our favourite plants, New Zealanders have picked their iconic bird.
...and not its not the kiwi - its the Tui. Forest and Bird have been running a poll and today they announced that the winner of their New Zealand Bird of the Year 2005 poll is the tui.
"Forest and Bird would like to thank everyone who voted in the inaugural Bird of the Year poll,” said Forest and Bird Conservation Manager, Kevin Hackwell. “The tui was the most popular choice attracting 20% of the votes cast. It is one of New Zealand’s most iconic dawn chorus birds with a call that is known and loved across the land.”
Kevin noted that the response to the poll has been a reminder that New Zealand’s native birds are an intrinsic part of our national identity, and one that we should celebrate, cherish and protect.
If you would like to encourage tui in your garden you can plant an attractive variety of native trees and shrubs to provide a year-round food supply, including kowhai, flax, puriri and rewarewa.
Astonishingly, 73 of our native bird species are on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) “Red List” of species threatened with extinction. Amongst developed nations, only the USA has more bird species on the “Red List”.
Forest and Bird’s annual appeal was launched this week to help fund conservation work around the country aimed at restoring the dawn chorus. You can donate via their website at: www.forestandbird.org.nz .
