An unprecedented victory: Kākāpō wins Bird of the Year for the second time

An unprecedented victory: Kākāpō wins Bird of the Year for the second time
The Kākāpō has been crowned the 2020 Bird of the Year. 

The native parrot has made history with its win, becoming the first bird to be named Bird of the Year twice.

The Kākāpō first won the Forest & Bird competition back in 2008. Bird of the Year spokesperson, Laura Keown congratulated the flightless bird on its historic win.

“This is the first time any bird has won the Bird of the Year title more than once, so New Zealand’s mighty moss chicken can add yet another feather to its cap,” she said.

One of the many critically endangered birds in New Zealand, the Kākāpō live on predator-free islands. “There were only about 50 birds in the 1990s and they’ve been saved by intensive conservation efforts. Today there are 213 individuals,” said Keown.

In total, over 55,000 votes were cast this year, the most ever counted in the history of the competition.

The top 10 winners of 2020 Bird of the Year are: 

1. Kākāpō

2. Toroa/Antipodean Albatross

3. Kakaruia/Black Robin

4. Kārearea/New Zealand Falcon

5. Kererū

6. Pohowera/Banded Dotterel

7. Kākā

8. Ruru/Morepork

9. Whio/Blue Duck

10. Pīwakawaka/Fantail

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