Hoiho Crowned Bird of the Year in New Zealand

The hoiho, New Zealand's yellow-eyed penguin, was crowned the country's Bird of the Year on Monday. With the species facing an alarming 78% population decline over the past 15 years, conservationists hope this spotlight will spur efforts to save the world's rarest penguin. Nicola Toki, Forest & Bird's chief executive, emphasized, "This spotlight couldn't have come at a better time."

This year's bird campaign saw more than 50,000 votes, a significant decrease from last year's tally of 350,000, partly due to the absence of international influence and humorous campaigns like John Oliver's 2021 bid for the puteketeke. Aspiring campaign managers, ranging from students to celebrities like Phil Keoghan and Jane Goodall, threw their weight behind the hoiho. Meanwhile, rival bids stirred up spirited meme wars and university skirmishes.

The Bird of the Year competition captures the hearts of New Zealanders, where native birds are deeply cherished. Emma Rawson, who campaigned for the fourth-placed ruru, reckoned, "Birds are our heart and soul." The runner-up karure's campaign was led by the Victoria University of Wellington students' association, underscoring the grassroots passion driving these efforts. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)