Vote Kuaka for #BirdOfTheYear. Here are 4 reasons you may not have considered:

1. Kuaka can fly for 1000s of miles at a time. Say you had a craving for something and the shops were closed, your mate the Kuaka could go get it for you. And it would, because Kuaka are super nice.

2. Because of their penchant for long journeys, Kuaka can eat heaps of food relative to their size. Say you needed a friend in a hot dog eating contest, the Kuaka would be that friend. If you need someone to eat the last few chips because you feel bad wasting them? Call a Kuaka.

3. In these contentious times, Kuaka is both responsible citizen and defiant anti-authoritarian. They fly around the world regardless of government travel bans, and yet their safety-first attitude means not one case of COVID transmission has been traced to a Kuaka. Respect.

4. Finally, Kuaka have the ability to call to their friends even when they’re several kilometres away (this is true, it’s how they communicate on their long journeys). So if you’re stuck in lockdown and missing your mates, Kuaka can pass on your kind regards and your ngā mihis.

In conclusion, Kuaka is not the hero we deserve but the hero we need. The perfect bird for 2020. Thank you for your consideration. https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/bar-tailed-godwit/