It’s that favorite time once more for a lot of of our readers – Australian chook of the 12 months is again, with polls to open on 25 September.
Within the final Guardian Australia/Birdlife Australia ballot in 2021, the very good fairywren was voted the winner, narrowly beating the tawny frogmouth and gang-gang cockatoo in a nail-biting competitors.
Who will take the crown this 12 months? Will or not it’s the beloved little penguin, the threatened highly effective owl, or will the lovely tawny frogmouth lastly triumph?
Nicely, that shall be so that you can resolve. However first, we’re calling on readers to appoint which favorite feathered buddy they wish to see featured on this 12 months’s shortlist.
You possibly can inform us within the feedback the chook you need to nominate, or full the shape under, or nominate your chook on Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok or your most well-liked social media platform with the hashtag #birdoftheyear.
“Our biennial chook of the 12 months ballot is a enjoyable approach to spotlight Australia’s fantastic birdlife,” Guardian Australia’s editor Lenore Taylor stated.
“As at all times, I’m on #teamganggang, however the area is now open for readers to appoint their favorite birds and we count on the competitors to be fierce.
“Finally we hope chook conservation is the winner.”
With greater than 900 chook species recorded in Australia, chook fanatics will most likely discover the selection excruciating.
However Sean Dooley of BirdLife Australia has some recommendation. He recommends contemplating a chook that few Australians could also be aware of, or a threatened or endangered species.
“Fowl of the 12 months has performed a powerful half in celebrating what birds now we have in Australia, what we’ve nonetheless obtained left, and subsequently, most significantly, what we have to protect so it’s nonetheless there for future chook of the 12 months votes,” he stated.
Nominating an unknown or endangered chook would possibly simply give the chook its “bin rooster second”, Dooley stated, referring to the 2017 chook of the 12 months ballot, during which the white ibis – infamously discovered digging within the rubbish round Sydney – gathered a faithful following below the hashtag #teambinchicken.
Dooley stated he was excited to see bird-lovers as soon as once more have a platform to share their ardour, significantly after birds turned a supply of pleasure for therefore many Australians through the top of the pandemic.
“Neglect footy finals,” Dooley stated. “That is the one contest that actually counts.”