Balanced News: Bird of the Century competition to include five extinct species – Forest & Bird

Forest & Bird’s annual Bird of the Year competition has been renamed Bird of the Century to celebrate the conservation group’s centennial year. The competition, featuring 77 native bird species, opens for voting tomorrow and will run for two weeks. Last year’s winner, the long-tailed bat, caused controversy, and this year’s competition is expected to be no different. Five extinct species, including the kākāpō, will also be included to highlight the ongoing threat of extinction to New Zealand’s bird population. The competition dates were shifted due to the general election, and organizers hope it will provide entertainment and education.