Australian Bird of the Year 2025: Voting & Conservation

Australia’s Bird of the Year Vote: A Party of Wildlife Facing a Growing Crisis

Australia’s annual Bird of the Year competition offers a welcome respite from challenging headlines, while concurrently spotlighting the precarious state of the nation’s unique avian biodiversity.The contest, which opens October 6th, is expected to draw over 300,000 votes as people worldwide champion their favorite Australian bird species for 2025.

The upcoming vote isn’t simply a popularity contest. It’s a stark reminder of the escalating threats facing Australian birds, with a growing number edging closer to extinction.

Did you know? – Australia boasts approximately 850 native bird species, with nearly half found nowhere else globally. This high level of endemism makes the country a critical hotspot for avian conservation.

A Nation of Birds: Facing an Uncertain Future

Australia is home to approximately 850 native bird species, a remarkable figure considering nearly half are found nowhere else on Earth. This year, voters will choose from a curated selection of 50 species, narrowed down from thousands of reader nominations. Past winners include the iconic Australian magpie, the delicate black-throated finch, the vibrant superb fairy-wren, and the 2023 champion, the swift parrot.

Though, the joy of celebrating these species is tempered by a sobering reality. the federal government currently lists 164 bird species as threatened, and the Australian Conservation Foundation reports that 11 have been added to that list as the last Bird of the Year vote two years ago. Tragically, at least 22 species and subspecies have already been lost to extinction, largely in the decades following European colonization.

Pro tip: – Voting occurs daily, with the five birds receiving the fewest votes eliminated each day. Consistent participation maximizes the chance for your favorite species to advance.

Critically Endangered: One Step From Lost

The situation is particularly dire for 18 bird species currently classified as critically endangered – just one step away from vanishing forever. These include perennial favorites in the Bird of the Year contest, such as the regent honeyeater, the far eastern curlew, and the swift and orange-bellied parrots. Experts fear that Baudin’s black cockatoo may soon join their ranks.

“This vote is a joyous celebration of the birds that save us,” stated a driving force behind the competition,BirdLife Australia’s Sean Dooley,”and a rallying cry for us to work harder to save them.”

Reader question: – What actions can individuals take beyond voting to support bird conservation efforts in Australia? Share your thoughts!

A Call for Legislative Action

Hope rests on the Albanese government’s planned overhaul of national nature law later this year, with advocates urging that the fate of these vulnerable species – and the roughly 2,000 other at-risk ecological commun