The kōkako has been named New Zealand’s Bird of the Year.
The kōkako is also known as the blue-wattled crow and was by far the most popular bird with online voters.
It received 3614 votes, more than a thousand votes ahead of its nearest rival, the kea which attracted 2608 votes.
The Forest and Bird Society, who runs the competition, said there was a record-breaking voter turnout this year with just under 20,000 lodging a ballot.
The large grey kōkako was facing extinction in 2000, with just 660 left. However, their numbers have increased to about 3000 after predator control and translocation programmes.
The kōkako is found mainly in tall, diverse North Island native forest – among tawa, taraire or kauri – and are largely restricted to pest controlled areas.
3 Responses
This is awesome to hear that one of our awesome newzealand birds have gone from almoste extention to good population and is now our nz bird of the year?
I love that bird
this is cool