Kārearea, our New Zealand falcon, is Bird of the Year! This fun annual election is a creative way to celebrate the beauty and diversity of the country’s unique birdlife. On Monday, the announcement praised the distinctive talents of the kārearea. It also opened our eyes to some of the struggles this beautiful bird is experiencing in its natural range. This year’s election saw more than 75,000 participants who couldn’t wait to vote in this exciting election. Today, the contest has expanded into a massive cultural moment that occurs annually for New Zealanders.
The kārearea has a reputation for speed unmatched in the animal kingdom. It can fly up to more than 200 km (124 miles) per hour and has an incredible hunting style—an aerial dive to kill smaller birds. Kārearea may be skilled aerial predators, but their populations are in steep decline. Nearly 5-8,000 of these falcons call New Zealand home according to estimates. In 2016, they settled upon 218 million—the most accurate number is still up for debate.
A Cultural Icon
As a cultural symbol, the kārearea serves as an important source of reverence and inspiration for New Zealanders. Its Indigenous Māori name, Pounamu, meaning “the good stuff,” embodies its cultural importance, as it is used to decorate statues, jewelry, and traditional haka songs performed by schoolchildren. The bird is so emblematic that it is even associated with the charming, weighty diminutive ‘kiwi’, by which New Zealanders are known around the globe.
Trustee of the Kārearea Falcon Trust, Phil Bradfield, described the bird as a “mysterious” bird. As he noted, its impenetrable jargon most times render it impossible to even identify. And they’re oftentimes really well camouflaged,” he said, adding to the magic of this majestic creature.
New Zealand’s endangered native falcon, the kārearea, is endemic to New Zealand and has since become a symbol of the nation’s unique biodiversity. This majestic bird is challenged by many threats, including habitat destruction and a major threat, electrocution due to power lines. These problems underscore a serious threat to New Zealand’s endemic avifauna. Nearly 80% of these birds are in danger right now at least.
The Evolution of Bird of the Year
Bird of the Year evolved over time from an informal email ballot in 2005. Since then, it has grown into a public spectacle and iconic cultural event unlike any other New Zealanders experience. Nicola Toki, Chief Executive of conservation group Forest & Bird, remarked on this evolution: “Bird of the Year has grown from a simple email poll to a hotly contested cultural moment.” She added that this event is instrumental in creating awareness for native bird species and their conservation needs.
Toki highlighted that many people come to New Zealand to see its native birds and the natural environments they inhabit. They’re not coming here to see strip malls,” she said, stressing that Ms. She made a compelling case for the urgent need to preserve these irreplaceable species for ecological health and economic prosperity.
Bird of the Year has proven to be an incredible engine of engagement. Toki pointed out an alarming trend. Government investment in conservation has a long history of decline. Successive governments in New Zealand have underinvested in conservation. This ill-conceived reduction threatens the very bedrock of the country’s economic prosperity.
Conservation Efforts and Challenges
The kārearea’s plight illustrates the systemic trauma impacting all of Aotearoa New Zealand’s diverse fauna. As habitats remain in constant peril, conservationists urge that we must continue to raise awareness and support to protect these native species. Toki continued, “The birds are strange and beautiful. You wouldn’t imagine these species, in comparison to other countries. In doing so, they pointed out the value of protecting this irreplaceable ecological legacy.
Marc Daalder, outspoken advocate for unknown avian species in recent election cycles He was a contestant in last year’s Bird of the Year, and recently wrote about that experience. There’s a fulfillment that comes with running a campaign for a more obscure, less-celebrated bird. With that, you can really feel that those votes your bird received are a direct product of your hard work and the hard work of the entire community that lies behind each campaign.
Kiwis honor their winged heroes annually with a gala event. We need to act quickly to address the conservation crises that endanger these charismatic avian ambassadors, including the kārearea.
