This is the hoiho (meaning “noise shouter” in Māori), or yellow-eyed penguin (Scientific name: Megadyptes antipodes), and it won the country’s fiercely fought avian election on Monday, offering hope to supporters of the endangered bird that recognition from its victory might prompt a revival of the species.
It followed a campaign for the annual Bird of the Year vote that was without the foreign interference scandals and cheating controversies of past polls. Instead, campaigners in the long-running contest sought votes in the usual ways – launching meme wars, seeking celebrity endorsements and even getting tattoos to prove their loyalty.
More than 50,000 people voted in the poll, 300,000 fewer than last year, when British late night host John Oliver drove a humorous campaign for the pūteketeke (Scientific name: Podiceps cristatus) – a “deeply weird bird” which eats and vomits its own feathers – securing a landslide win. [Check out my November 11, 2023 post "An American's Aggressive Campaign for Pūteketeke for Bird of the Century"].
This year, the number of votes cast represented just 1% of the population of New Zealand – a country where nature is never far away and where a love of native birds is instilled in citizens from childhood.
“Birds are our heart and soul”, said Emma Rawson, who campaigned for the fourth-placed 'ruru' morepork (Scientific name: Ninox novaeseelandiae), a small brown owl with a melancholic call.
New Zealand’s only native mammals are bats and marine species, putting the spotlight on its birds, which are beloved – and often rare.
The Malaysian world No. 8 lost 21-16, 21-18 to China's world No. 18 Li Yi JIng-Luo Xu Min in 40 minutes.
The defeat ended a fine run by Pearly-Thinaah who had won the recent Hong Kong Open and finished runners-up at the Korea Open.
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