Voting has opened for the highly anticipated Bird of the Year - but will it fall fowl to hijacking?

Allegiances have already formed in the much-hyped and often controversial election - where people vote for their favourite native bird - with a group of 25 backing the kiwi to win the competition's 20th year.

But according to Forest and Bird chief executive Nicola Toki, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

"There's always controversy in Bird of the Year.

"We had alleged Russian vote hacking a few years ago, I'm still in trouble for allowing John Oliver to apparently hijack Bird of the Year.

"But fundamentally the more noise about it, the better from our point of view."

Takahe. Photo: Chris Watson/ProFocus

In 2023, Oliver - the host of US talk show Last Week Tonight - backed the pūteketeke Australasian crested grebe, which won in a landslide.

The campaign saw ads in Paris, Mumbai, Tokyo and London, and a flying banner over Ipanema beach in Brazil. It also led to a record number of votes and donations to Forest and Bird.

Toki said behind the huge amount of fun was a serious message.

"It's like a gateway drug to learning more about protecting our native wildlife, because it gives people access."

What started with a fact about a bird, could see people discovering the species in their neighbourhood and getting involved in donating or pest trapping, she said.

Toki said the competition had changed significantly over its 20 years, from a couple of hundred votes when it began, to its John Oliver peak of more 330,000.

She said there were usually around 50,000 - 60,000 votes cast.

She maintained the beauty of the competition was not in the number of votes, but in the way people "really leaned in" - enthusiam that she hoped would translate elsewhere.

"You know wouldn't it be great if New Zealanders... did the research and learnt more about voting for candidates in local and general elections the way that they do about their birds."

She said they had gone "above and beyond" for the 20th anniversary, which included a book '20 Years of Ruffled Feathers', a scavenger hunt, and their take on the popular New York Times game, 'Wordle' - Birdle.

"Instead of a word, you're guessing a bird.

"I can tell you from experience it is quite addictive, and quite competitive."

Voting for Bird of the Year closes on 28 September, with the winner announced the following day.

CLICK HERE to vote.

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