Pūteketeke Claims Title of New Zealand’s Bird of the Century in Controversial Global Poll
In a highly controversial turn of events, the pūteketeke has emerged as the winner of the prestigious Bird of the Century title in New Zealand. This unexpected victory comes after US talk show host, John Oliver, launched a fervent campaign for the endangered crested grebe species, which garnered widespread attention across the globe. With less than 3,000 of these native birds remaining in the wild, Oliver’s unrelenting efforts captured the hearts of many.
The annual Bird of the Year contest, organized by the environmental conservation organization Forest and Bird, usually attracts a significant number of votes. However, this year’s special edition of the poll reached unprecedented heights, with over 350,000 ballots pouring in from nearly 200 countries. The overwhelming response crashed the voting verification system, causing a two-day delay in announcing the final result.
Expressing his congratulations, New Zealand’s incoming prime minister, Christopher Luxon, acknowledged the successful campaign led by John Oliver and all those who rallied behind the pūteketeke. As stated by Nicola Toki from Forest and Bird, this lake bird initially began as an underdog but soared to the top spot due to its unique appearance, adorable parenting style, and an endearing habit of regurgitating food.
Oliver, a British and US citizen, passionately promoted the pūteketeke on his HBO show, Last Week Tonight. He humorously highlighted the bird’s peculiarities, referring to them as weird puking birds with colorful mullets. The comedian even made appearances on fellow comedian Jimmy Fallon’s talk show, clad in a massive feathered pūteketeke costume. To heighten the campaign’s impact, Oliver erected billboards across several countries, including New Zealand, France, Japan, and the UK, playfully dubbing the bird Lord of the Wings in a nod to the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy filmed in New Zealand.
Nevertheless, Oliver’s efforts drew criticism from some quarters who felt it amounted to American interference in the bird election. Supporters of the kakariki karaka, a green parakeet, put up billboards urging people not to disrupt the pecking order. Others pleaded with voters to choose the kiwi, which Oliver had likened to a rat carrying a toothpick. The intense competition even led to instances of voter fraud, with individuals attempting to manipulate the results in favor of their preferred birds. Despite these controversies, the pūteketeke secured over 290,000 votes, more than 22 times the number garnered by the second-place kiwi, which received just 12,904 votes.
This year’s Bird of the Year contest is not the first to be tainted by controversy. Last year, there was considerable outcry when the kākāpō, the world’s heaviest parrot, was disqualified from competing due to winning twice in the past. Additionally, the crowning of a bat as Bird of the Year in 2021 came as a shock to many.
Amidst the unprecedented controversy surrounding this year’s competition, Nicola Toki emphasized the value it brought by highlighting the delicate situation faced by New Zealand’s native bird species. With more than 80% of these birds classified as threatened species, the global attention garnered by the Bird of the Year contest serves as a reminder of the need to protect and conserve these creatures.
In conclusion, the pūteketeke’s victory in the Bird of the Century poll, spurred by John Oliver’s passionate campaign, highlights the global significance of conservation efforts for endangered bird species. As New Zealand and the world strive to protect these avian treasures, the controversies surrounding the contest serve as reminders of the urgency to protect and restore vital habitats for the welfare of diverse bird populations.
