New Zealand’s only falcon, the kārearea, has been voted bird of the year in the country’s long-running conservation poll – without the scandals that have often marked the competition.
The small, tawny falcon, capable of reaching speeds of 200km/h when hunting, triumphed in a field of 73 native contenders. With only 5,000–8,000 left in the wild, the kārearea is classed as threatened, its ground-nesting eggs vulnerable to introduced predators such as stoats, cats and hedgehogs, while habitat loss and collisions with power lines and nets also take their toll.
“The kārearea is just a stunning bird,” said Emma Blackburn of the Karearea Falcon Trust. “It’s our only remaining endemic raptor and a really important part of our ecosystem.”
Run by Forest and Bird, the contest drew over 75,000 verified votes from 123 countries. The kārearea, which last won in 2012, now joins the kākāpō and hoiho as the only species to claim the title twice. The kea finished second, and the rare black robin, or karure, placed third.
Past editions have seen controversy, from claims of Russian interference in 2019 to the surprise victory of a bat in 2021, and John Oliver’s global campaign for the pūteketeke in 2023. This year’s race was calmer, but still carried a serious conservation message.
“Behind the memes and mayhem is a serious message,” said Forest and Bird chief executive Nicola Toki. “This year’s top 10 matches the statistics exactly – 80% of them are in trouble. People fall in love with these birds, and once they know their stories, they care, they advocate and they act.”
