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An Ode To The Bird Of The Year Award, The Hunger Games Of The Sky

Every night, five birds will be eliminated from the competition.

by Millie Roberts  28 September 2021

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Amid the craziness of the world right now, one constant keeps us stable and grounded: the Australian Bird of the Year award.

The annual people’s choice competition held by the Guardian rolled around on Monday, giving 50 birds the opportunity to claim the unofficial title of Best Bird. Brutally, five birds are eliminated every single day, like a flash round in Squid Game minus the murder. 

There’s a lot of rules, and a lot of birds, but voters can cast their say daily with the remaining avian pool who made the cut from the day prior.  In just one day, the Australasian bittern, the golden whistler, Western spinebill, bell miner, and the humble chip-stealing silver gull were all knocked off the podium overnight.

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It’s a bad time to be a bird at the moment: bushfires, heatwaves, and man-made habitat encroachment leading to more threatened and endangered species than anyone would like to see. In the last 20 years, 22 types of birds have become extinct, 17 have joined the critically endangered list, 55 are endangered, and 63 are considered vulnerable, according to the Federal Environment Department.

This trivial, fun, passion-driven way to show appreciation for birdies not only kills time during lockdown but raises awareness to the range of beautiful winged creatures taking flight everyday.

People are sharing are some wholesome justifications for their picks, like Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Sally McManus, who said she voted for the golden-shouldered parrot because it’s “rare, beautiful, and [she hopes] to see it when lockdown is over and we can travel again”.

The last poll in 2019, saw the black-throated finch crowned Bird of the Year, and in 2017, the public almost rioted after the magpie won bird gold in a tight race against the bin chicken, predicted to win that year. Things got even spicier across the water in New Zealand, when their equivalent competition last year was accused of election fraud and rigging after someone sent in 1500 votes from the same email address in favour of the little spotted kiwi.

Who will take home the coveted Australian title this year? It’s unclear so far, but to keep your favourite contender in the running, you gotta vote daily.