- Annual Avian Champion Retains Position of Honor
In the race for "Bird of the Year" 2025, beginning on Tuesday, it's between the House Sparrow, Crane, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tawny Owl, and Black Stork. Until October 10th, 11 am, you can cast your vote for your preferred feathered friend online. On the same day, NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union) and LBV (Bavarian Society for the Conservation of Birds and Nature) will reveal the victorious avian.
Since 1971, NABU and LBV have been assigning a "Bird of the Year" to highlight the risks affecting bird populations. Public participation in this voting process started in 2021. However, these conservation-focused organizations curate the candidates, each embodying significant conservation concerns. Over 120,000 individuals engaged in the vote last year, with the majority opting for the Lapwing.
Who will take over from the Lapwing?
For this year, we have five impressively diverse candidates battling it out: The House Sparrow, commonly known for its early mornings and urban habitat, fights a battle for suitable nesting sites. The stately Crane wows crowds with its graceful mating rituals and relies on wetlands for rest and reproduction. The versatile Great Spotted Woodpecker, known as the forest's carpenter, fosters homes for various creatures such as dormice, bats, and rock pigeons. The Black Stork, unlike its white counterpart, avoids human habitation and hunts along rivers. Lastly, the Tawny Owl, with its feathered "ornaments" resembling the Eurasian eagle-owl, is smaller, slimmer, and flies silently just like all its owl brethren.
Voting details and candidates' info
The winning "Bird of the Year" 2025 will be chosen from among the House Sparrow, Crane, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tawny Owl, and Black Stork, as voted by the public. In the past, NABU and LBV have chosen a "Bird of the Year" to bring attention to the challenges facing bird populations, with the Lapwing being the popular choice last year.
