Rare yellow-eyed penguin crowned New Zealand's 'Bird of the Year'
What's the story
In a year devoid of foreign interference and voting scandals, one of the world's rarest penguins has been declared New Zealand's "Bird of the Year."
The endangered yellow-eyed penguin, also known as hoiho, emerged victorious in this annual competition.
This distinctive species is recognized by a pale yellow band of feathers linking its eyes and is the largest among New Zealand's mainland penguin species.
Species survival
Hoiho's habitat and declining population
The hoiho, which translates to "noise shouter" in Maori due to its shrill call, inhabits parts of the South Island's east coast and the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands.
This shy species, known for its fishy smell, typically resides in native coastal forests, scrub or dense flax.
The Department of Conservation estimates that only 4,000 to 5,000 hoihos remain worldwide with their numbers steadily declining.
Conservation efforts
Spotlight on the endangered Hoiho
Nicola Toki, chief executive of Forest and Bird, the environmental organization that runs the annual competition, stated that "this spotlight couldn't have come at a better time."
She further mentioned that the iconic penguin is vanishing from the mainland of Aotearoa [New Zealand] before our eyes.
The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust reports a 78% drop in mainland breeding birds over the last 15 years, including an 18% dip in just the past year.
Species challenges
Threats to the Hoiho's survival
Toki highlighted that the birds are "being hammered from all angles," including diseases, dog attacks, and predation from introduced pests.
The penguin's fishy odor is irresistible to dogs, which can smell them from a distance.
Additionally, hoihos are drowning in set nets—nets anchored to the seafloor with weights—and struggling to find food.
Toki emphasized that these birds urgently need marine protected areas for their survival.
Contest background
Bird of the Year competition's history and impact
The Bird of the Year competition, started in 2005, seeks to raise awareness about New Zealand's native birds, many of which face threats from pests, human activity, and habitat loss.
Over the years, this contest has been marred by scandals including crowning a bat as the winner in 2021 and accusations of foreign interference.
This year's competition attracted over 52,000 verified votes—a significant drop from last year's event that garnered 350,000 votes across 195 countries.
Celebrity impact
John Oliver's influence on the 2023 competition
The 2023 competition saw a surge in votes after British-American comedian and talkshow host John Oliver launched a global campaign for the threatened puteketeke—a grunting, puking bird with unusual mating rituals.
Oliver's "alarmingly aggressive" campaign included buying billboards in multiple countries and flying a plane with a puteketeke campaign banner over Rio de Janeiro's beaches.
His efforts were rewarded when the puteketeke was crowned the winner of that year's competition.
Winning campaign
Hoiho's victory in the 2024 Bird of the Year contest
The hoiho secured 6,328 votes to win this year's competition.
The campaign for the hoiho was a more "homegrown" affair, according to Forest and Bird's Ellen Rykers.
It received celebrity endorsements from conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan, and former prime ministers Helen Clark and Chris Hipkins.
The campaign was run by a collective of wildlife groups, a museum, a brewery, and a rugby team in Dunedin city—making it the highest-powered campaign of the 2024 vote.