New Zealand’s 2021 Bird of the year has been awarded to a bat, which is a shocking development for bird-lovers.
It is the first time New Zealand’s only land mammal has been included in Forest & Bird’s annual contest.
After a two week campaign that ‘nearly broken the internet and turned friends against each other’, the long-tailed Bat, also known by pekapeka–tou–roa, won.
The pekapeka–tou-roa bat, also known by the long-tailed, has been named New Zealand’s 2021 Bird of the year. This is a disgusting win for bird-lovers
The bat is New Zealand’s only land mammal and as such as raised a fair few eyebrows with its Bird of the Year win
Some people were still furious by the win.
Fuming Twitter users called it a ‘total farce’ and said the win had ‘eroded faith in the democratic process’.
Another bird-lover said there needed to be a recount by conservation organisation the Forest and Bird, which runs the competition.
Some people rejoiced at the win. Sophiane, a social media user, said: “Thank you for raising awareness about this amazing species.”
Laura Keown, Bird of the year spokeswoman, said that she believed she would be fired.
The ‘Kiwis are clearly passionate about their native bat.
“The nation has been captivated by the campaign to raise awareness and support this tiny flying furball.
“A vote in favor of bats is also a vote in favour of habitat restoration, predator control, climate action and climate action to protect our bats as well as their feathered friends.”
A cloud of long-tailed bats, also known as pekapeka-tou-roabats, huddle togerther. Laura Keown, Bird of the year spokeswoman, stated that “Kiwis clearly love the native bat.”
She said: ‘A vote for bats is also a vote for predator control, habitat restoration, and climate action to protect our bats and their feathered neighbours.’ Pictured: The long-tailed Bats at Night as they wake up.
Ben Paris is a senior conservation adviser at Auckland Council and a New Zealand Batman.
He stated that long-tailed bats (or pekapeka–tou-roa) are an important part of Aotearoa’s biodiversity. However, many people don’t even know they exist.
“There are many pekapeka projects across the country with conservation communities doing amazing work with our bats.
Some bird-lovers were outraged by the controversial win of a long-tailed bat. One social media user called the win a ‘total farce.
One Twitter user wrote that the win had ‘eroded faith’ in the democratic process.
Fans of the competition demanded that Forest and Bird conservation organisations’recount the vote’
Others online thanked the organization for their competition in bringing attention to the ‘amazing’ species.
“The more pekapeka we have, the more conservation work that we can do.”
‘These bats were added to Forest & Bird’s competition to help people get to know them, and their story has flown around the world.’
The competition was established seven years ago as an effort to raise awareness of New Zealand’s native birds. Many of these birds are in danger of extinction.
The hihi, which is a songbird that has large testicles, was one of the competitors at the New Zealand’s Bird of the Years. It was endorsed in a local sex shop, but was defeated at the kakapo, an owl-parrot (File Image).
It has been extremely popular with even top politicians in the country joining the debate.
Last year a songbird that boasted extra large testicles is among the contenders competing to be crowned New Zealand’s Bird of the Year after it was endorsed by a local sex shop.
The competition was won last year by the kakapo (or owl parrot). The large, flightless, and nocturnal bird lives on ground rather than in a tree nest. It typically has light green plumage.
The 2019 show was won by the yellow-eyed penguin with its pointed beak, piercing eyes and sharp beak. The penguin is piscivorous, meaning it primarily eats fish
The 2018 competition winner was the Kereru, a New Zealand pigeon that has a white breast and a shimmering blue neck and head.
The hihi (also known as the stitchbird) is a medium-sized songbird which lives in the mature forest of some of New Zealand’s smaller islands.
According to New Zealand Birds Online (NZBO), the hihi is notable for having testicles that are four times larger than expected based on the size of its body.
The hihi’s large scrotum was not the only thing that attracted the attention of the Adult Toy Megastore. They nominated it in the country’s beloved annual competition.
Polyamorous relationships, which are rare among birds, are what cause the hihi to have larger loins. This is because it takes more sperm to mate multiple females.