The Great Ireland vs New Zealand Bird-off: Part 2

Aotearoa New Zealand may call itself the land of birds, but numbers-wise, the title doesn’t stack up.  

There are just over 200 bird species breeding here in Aotearoa. But Ireland has more than twice as many at over 450 species.   

Then why the title? Is it because birds here fill interesting ecological niches that elsewhere are taken up by various mammals? Is it because many of the birds are endemic – found nowhere else on earth?  

Or is it simply birding bluster?   

There’s only one way to find out.  

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Welcome back to the Great Ireland versus New Zealand Bird-off. A sporting contest against Ireland taking place this spring that New Zealand actually has a chance of winning.  

Last week’s opening salvos saw the white-crested sea eagle defeat the moa – on account of not being extinct – and the kea outsmart the northern raven.  

Tītipounamu was gifted a win over the goldcrest, in a move Ireland might yet regret, and we finished up with a mighty showdown – Sirocco the kākāpō versus the swallow, herald of summer.  

In a controversial decision prompted by childhood memories, the swallow was given the win, to leave everything tied up at two all.  

And so, we are back. To sort this out once and for all. We’ve brought back our two avian aficionados who have answered their nation’s calls.  

Ireland – Ricky Whelan 

Biodiversity officer at Offaly County Council, and co-host of the In Your Nature podcast with Niall Hatch and Birdwatch Ireland, Ricky has been working with birds and in conservation for over 15 years. He is a walking encyclopaedia of bird facts and conservation concerns – and can also bring the smack talk.  

If you haven’t had your fill of Ricky bird facts after listening to the episode you can find some more on X (Twitter) or Instagram.  

New Zealand – Jamie McAulay 

Jamie McAulay totally underestimated just how ridiculous kiwi are, until he was holding one. Now based in Te Anau, he works with the Department of Conservation (DOC) as a conservation biologist. Whether it’s hearing kōkako at dawn in Pureora forest, or recovering takahē from puddles, he has had close encounters with many of New Zealand’s favourite birds.  

Jamie posts about his conservation work on Instagram and you can learn about his research into alpine pests on YouTube.  

Birds going beak-to-beak 

Evolution has dealt the birds in both nations’ different hands, with different results. Which bird will be awarded the title of most ridiculous?  

Then of course humans came along and caused problems. Which bird is now the most in trouble? How have conservationists in Ireland been coping with the recent influx of avian flu, and what might this mean for birds in Aotearoa?  

And finally which bird will be awarded the Steven Seagal title of the "hardiest" to seal the win for their nation? 

Listen to learn about the crazy life cycle of the cuckoo, the weird feathers of the kiwi and how picnickers are threatening one bird species. Plus bank some sweet bird facts for your next quiz outing.  

To learn more: 

• Edin Whitehead spoke about tara iti, fairy terns, when we chatted about her research into northern New Zealand seabirds.  

• Late last year kiwi returned to Wellington for the first time in a long time, Veronika Meduna was there to find out more.  

• We recently spoke to Alison Ballance about her new book all about takahē, and replayed her episode celebrating the 70th anniversary of the rediscovery of the takahē in the Murchinson mountains.