Weekend Rewind: The national competition you didn't know you needed

The humble Kiwi is once again in the running for Bird of the Year. Photo / Supplied

As the annual ‘Bird of the Year’ competition gears up, NZ On Screen’s Zara Potts looks at some of the hot contenders.

Every year the internet is abuzz – or should that be asquawk – with Forest & Bird's hotly-contested 'Bird of the Year' competition.

Last year, the cheeky kea took out the honours, but its crowning was not without controversy. Close on its tail were the kererū, the kākāpō and the kōkako (definitely helps if your name starts with a k) although somewhat surprisingly, the kiwi was a fair way behind.

From childhood rites of passage like feeding ducks in the botanical gardens, to waking up to the backyard tui song – the massive nationwide interest in choosing the bird of the year shows that we Kiwis truly love our weird and wonderful birds.

So, given that the kea is now number one, what makes it so popular? It could be the fact that it's the world's only mountain parrot, or possibly it's for more aesthetic reasons such as the sheer beauty of its red and green feathers, but it's more likely that its cheeky nature makes it a firm favourite.

Check out the bird that's been described as having "a curved beak and a criminal mind" here:

Our national symbol – the kiwi – hasn't taken out the title since way back in 2009. Having said that, it doesn't exactly suffer from a lack of publicity. The ubiquitous kiwi features in everything from banknotes to corporate logos. And even though it's been the star of many a wildlife documentary – arguably it's a cartoon kiwi that has captured our nation's heart.

Watch the Goodnight Kiwi here:

Another bird dear to our hearts (and stomachs) hasn't featured much in the annual awards – and that's the muttonbird. Not just a Don McGlashan band name, the muttonbird is considered by many to be a delicacy – although if you have an aversion to salty, fatty foods, probably best you steer clear of this bird.

Watch Muttonbirders here:

Unfortunately, you can't vote for one of New Zealand's most impressive birds because it's now extinct – but the mighty moa still lives on in popular imagination. While the large flightless birds have been dead for more than 500 years they still, surprisingly, pop up in the news every so often. Most recently, politician Trevor Mallard raised eyebrows when he said he'd like to bring the bird back from extinction and have them roaming around his then-electorate of Hutt South. Alas, Mallard's (appropriate name, eh?) plan was never going to, ahem, fly.

Watch The Mighty Moa here:

It might not be one of our most beloved birds – but surely, it's one of our most familiar – the chip-stealing black-backed gull. Not to be confused with the threatened black-billed gull, the karoro is one of largest and most abundant birds in New Zealand. They were once a common sight around rubbish tips – but with a decrease in landfills they're getting a little harder to spot. This documentary might help if you're wanting to up your bird-spotting credentials.

Watch The Big Gull - Karoro here:

One of New Zealand's most brilliant success stories came in 1948 when a population of takahē — a large flightless bird, long thought extinct — was found in a remote part of Fiordland. The rediscovery generated international interest and since then the bird has been a popular favourite for Bird of the Year, although sadly, it's never won. Maybe 2018 will be its year!

Watch the Weekly Review - Ornithology here:

The takahē also has the dubious honour of being well known in the ornithological world for its… wait for it... poo. It's estimated that one bird will produce over eight metres of poo every day. Don't believe us? Well see for yourself here:

Have a look at some takahē poo in Birdland here:

Okay. This one is definitely not in the running for Bird of the Year. But it is a firm favourite for many Baby Boomers and Gen X'ers. The Kentucky Fried Chicken advert is still one of our most requested ads on the site. Is it the animation? Or the catchy song? Or perhaps it's simply the chicken drumsticks that people can't get enough of.

Watch the Kentucky Fried Chicken ad here:

On a more serious note, the haunting call of the kōkako is a sound unique to the New Zealand bush and many ex-pats find tears welling up when they hear the remarkable tune unexpectedly in an ad or in a local film. Perhaps that's why the bird is a perennial favourite and winner of the 2016 crown. This documentary highlights the majestic bird's, or 'avian squirrel' as it's referred to here, struggle for survival.

Watch Song of Protest here:

Parrots are always a popular contender for the best bird crown and none more so than the kākā. It's long been a favourite amongst bird lovers and in this 1962 National Film Unit film, the bird even gets its own 'rap' song tribute. Wannabe hip hop artists, watch and learn.

Watch Legend of Birds here: