It’s the most prestigious award that any feathery critter can have bestowed upon them. That’s right, Bird of the Year is back!
BirdLife Australia, in collaboration with The Guardian will soon open the polls for voters to cast their ballot on which bird they think best captures the spirit of 2021.
The voting for 2021 starts on 27 September with a list of 50 shortlisted species.
Right now, you can back your bird for those shortlisted species to make sure your favourite avian gets the recognition they deserve.
Nominations have opened and people are in a flap online getting their votes in. Twitter is of course the natural platform for such, er, twittering.
I nominate this guy for #BirdoftheYear
No, not kookaburras. This individual bird specifically. pic.twitter.com/7fVvINXVco
— seán (parody) (@number30five) August 19, 2021
This year there will be a special focus in the shortlist on the birds many of us are likely to see in lockdown in our backyards and while out for exercise.
My thinking for bird of the year is the rainbow lorikeet because we all need more rainbows right now and for lots of us in lockdown they are cheeky daily visitors #BirdoftheYear pic.twitter.com/hUtT4Tz50z
— ceasefire (@kymtje) August 19, 2021
BirdLife Australia will also be adding a few hand-selected birds at risk of extinction to highlight their plight and draw attention to the causes to save them.
https://twitter.com/Steph36366655/status/1428133035023601664?s=20
In 2017 the magpie fought off strong support for the white ibis AKA the ‘bin chicken’ (who were robbed). The Bin Chicken is a national icon who will no doubt make an appearance on the shortlist this year as it has already been backed as the people’s choice for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic mascot.
https://twitter.com/damonayoung/status/1428130820070330370?s=20
In 2019 the highly endangered black-throated finch, which is under threat from the expansion of the Adani Carmichael coalmine, triumphed after backing from a highly organised online campaign.
Regent Honeyeater.
Highly endangered. Land clearing.
Screw you Whitehaven Coal.#BirdoftheYear pic.twitter.com/zKcnNxUIBY
— irony, comrade, irony (@ComradeIrony) August 19, 2021
While it’s seen as a bit of fun, people take Bird of the Year very seriously and it’s a great way to highlight the native fauna that needs our attention.
If you’d like to get your nomination in for Bird of the Year, head to the comments section on The Guardian article or use the hashtag #BirdOfTheYear on Twitter or Instagram to get your bird in the running for this sacred award.
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