This week , Australia ’s inauguralBird of the Year competitionwas launched . The speculation is a joint crusade from the Guardian Australia and BirdLife , an external conservation governance , and is intended to celebrate the country ’s distinctive bird population while raising awareness for the scourge they currently face thanks to habitat destruction and global heating .
The team behind the crown have list 51 Australian hiss for voters to select from . If your favorite did n’t make the cut , there ’s no need to concern – write - in candidates are being swallow .
Politicians , player , and other famous cheek have been getting ask , announcing which critter can count on their support .
In case you ’re interested , the Union opposite drawing card , Bill Shorten , will be casting his vote for the emu . ( mayhap in tribute to the razz that wagedwar against humanity – and bring home the bacon . )
And Scott Ludlam , who you might remember had toresign in summerwhen it was unveil he had dual citizenship , first voiced backup for the Carnaby ’s pitch-black cockatoo but has since changed his mind and declare allegiance to the white ibis , lovingly nicknamed the Bin Chicken . ( Watch a fabulousPlanet Earthparody featuring the Bin Chickenhere . )
Meanwhile , Australian EDM duet , Peking Duk , have shown their support for the lyrebird . The virile lyrebird attracts distaff bysampling the songs of nearby birds(much like a DJ ) so it perhaps not all that surprising it got the musicians ' legal tender of commendation .
But – as with any election nowadays – the Bird of the Year poll has not escaped its bonny part of scandal . Regulators have had to delete a " declamatory telephone number " of vote for the powerful owl after " suspicious voting action was find " on Monday and " further probe identified automated voting for this raspberry " .
The perpetrators were undeterred by the investigation anda second ( stillborn ) attemptat automated voting was made on Tuesday .
Despite itsvery modest background , the white-hot ibis is the favorite to win , wracking up more than 15,000 of the vote so far . Let ’s just say there have been some assorted tactual sensation regarding its success .
If you were hoping for a more exotic runner - up , prepare for disappointment . Themuch - maligned magpieis in 2d place , securing over 10,000 votes so far .
Australia ’s Bird of the Year rival comes a month after New Zealand ’s but has yet to strain the levels of dirty politics its predecessor experienced ( think : voting - rigging , troll , and an Instagram smear campaign ) .
poll do n’t close until December 9 , so there ’s still time .
