Voting for Forest & Bird’s Te Manu Rongonui o Te Tau/Bird of the Year 2021 is now officially open!
For the first time ever, New Zealand’s only native land mammal, the Pekapeka-Tou-Roa has joined the competition. Other bird candidates include the world’s smallest penguin, the world’s heaviest patriot, the bird with the longest continuous migration, and a number of birds that can’t fly at all.
Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau (Bird of the Year) is a fun celebration of our native taonga, but there’s a serious side. About 80 per cent of our bird species (and 100 per cent of our bats) are threatened or at risk of extinction. They face threats from climate change, habitat destruction, and introduced pests.
You can help by being a voice of nature and supporting Bird of the Year with your vote or donation to support Forest & Bird, New Zealand’s leading independent conservation organisation.
Ecostore’s bird of the year limited edition handwash
As a proudly Kiwi company, ecostore wants to help turn the 80 per cent of endangered statistics around, this is why they making noise for New Zealand’s underbirds, the birds lesser known by the public and with less than 250 of each species remaining.
Donating 50 cents from every Limited Edition Hand Wash to Forest & Bird, so they can keep protecting New Zealand’s native birds and their habitats.
An estimated 72,000 native birds, chicks, and eggs are killed every day by introduced predators. Donations from ecostore’s Limited Edition Hand Wash will help Forest & Bird carry out greater predator control from rats, stoats, and possums. This will be welcome news to New Zealand’s native birds singing for their survival.
Further demonstrating their love of birds, the ecostore team designed each bottle featuring one of three Underbirds illustrations by artist and group CEO of ecostore, Pablo Kraus – Kakaruia, Tuturuatu, and Kakī.
For Kraus, this has become a passion project with the artist designing the exclusive bird art for the bottles. Kraus is excited about the opportunity to act on an issue close to his heart.
“We’re proud to use our voice to raise awareness of the decline of our precious native species. By supporting Forest & Bird in their conservation efforts, we’re keen to inspire Kiwis to protect and restore Aotearoa’s wildlife and wild places.”
Each of the Underbirds represents the variety of native habitats in Aotearoa – forest habitats, wetlands and offshore islands. Climate change and native habitat loss are huge threats for native birds (and for people). When rivers, forests, and oceans are healthy, both native birds and people will thrive.
Ecostore’s partnership with Forest & Bird is the latest chapter in a story of a brand that’s been putting the environment first for almost three decades.
This new Limited Edition Hand Wash contains the same plant and mineral-based formulation, enriched with hydrating harakeke (New Zealand native flax), and comes in their popular lemongrass fragrance. Available at supermarkets nationwide and online during Bird of the Year.
Allbirds partnering for a fourth year
AllBirds have partnered with Forest & Bird for their fourth year in a row creating the Kākāpō shoe. A portion of the proceeds from these limited edition Tree Runners will go to support Forest & Bird’s conservation efforts. More information on AllBirds Bird of the Year shoes can be found here.
Voting for the New Zealand Bird of the Year can be done online.
