Help make the wrybill Bird of the Year

Christchurch people are being encouraged to get behind a campaign to vote the wrybill as New Zealand’s Bird of the Year.

Online voting is under way for Forest & Bird’s 2019 Bird of the Year competition.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel, Environment Canterbury Chair Jenny Hughey, and Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Alistair Humphrey are urging Cantabrians to cast their vote for the wrybill.

There are only 5000 wrybills in the world and nearly all of them live in Canterbury.

The wrybill is the only bird worldwide with a laterally curved bill, which it uses to probe for insect larvae under stones on the braided riverbeds in Canterbury where it breeds.

“A vote for the Wrybill will bring the importance of our braided river system and the water that feeds it to the attention of everyone,’’ says Dr Humphrey.

Voting in the Bird of the Year competition closes at 5pm on Sunday 10 November.

Vote in the Bird of the Year competition.