The annual event, typically named Bird of the Year, is organized by the conservation group Forest and Bird to raise awareness about the challenges faced by the nation’s native birds, many of which are on the brink of extinction.
This year’s competition, dubbed Bird of the Century in celebration of Forest and Bird’s centennial, witnessed an unprecedented surge in votes, all thanks to Oliver’s comedic campaign for his favored bird, the pūteketeke.
Oliver, the host of Last Week Tonight, cleverly exploited a loophole in the rules, allowing anyone with a valid email address to cast a vote. His humorous campaign for the pūteketeke reached global proportions, with billboards popping up in Wellington, Paris, Tokyo, London, Mumbai, and even a plane with a banner flying over Ipanema Beach in Brazil. Oliver even sported an oversized bird costume on Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show, adding a touch of theatricality to the competition.
The campaign, aptly titled “Lord of the Wings,” took a jab at the international political landscape, with Oliver joking, “After all, this is what democracy is all about, America interfering in foreign elections.”
Forest and Bird had to extend the vote counting period by two days due to the overwhelming response. The winner is scheduled to be announced on Wednesday, and Chief Executive Nicola Toki revealed that they have surpassed the 52,000 votes from last year, reaching a staggering six-figure count. This surge in international interest provides a unique opportunity to raise awareness about conservation efforts, considering that 82% of New Zealand’s native birds are currently on the threatened species list.
However, the competition is not without its controversies. Past incidents include the discovery of fraudulent votes for the little spotted kiwi in 2020 and the victory of a bat two years ago, justified by its classification within the bird family by Indigenous Māori.
Oliver’s unexpected involvement in the competition began with a simple request earlier in the year to champion a bird. Forest and Bird gave him the green light, unaware of the extravagant campaign that would ensue. Oliver’s humorous take on the pūteketeke, also known as the Australasian crested grebe, described them as “weird, puking birds with colourful mullets” that engage in a unique mating dance involving wet grass and chest bumps.
While Oliver’s campaign gained traction globally, some in New Zealand pushed back. Opposition groups erected billboards with messages like “Dear John, don’t disrupt the pecking order,” and others rallied support for the national bird, the kiwi. Oliver, undeterred, responded with humor, likening the kiwi to “a rat carrying a toothpick.”
As the anticipation builds for the competition’s results, it remains to be seen whether Oliver’s feathered campaign will soar to victory or if New Zealanders will choose a more traditional avian representative. One thing is for sure: this year’s Bird of the Century will be remembered for its unprecedented global attention and the unexpected involvement of a comedic talk show host.
