Hail the mighty kereru¯
If the kea is like the clown of the birds, then the kereru¯ is, I don’t know, some other kind of clown. Tom Sainsbury
If real-life required Harry Potter- style Patronuses, the kereru¯ would be mine. This tubby, dot-headed, improbably swift native, which loves nothing more than a good feed, often followed by a very large poo (‘‘good luck Harry’s’’ my nana calls them, that’s how magical these birds are), which soars through the air like a brick with wings, is my No 1 bird. And what’s more, they’re adorable, with their shimmery sage and heather green wings, caramel cream breasts, and perfectly round chocolate drop eyes. You could just eat them right up. But you’re not allowed to. They’re protected and don’t you forget it. I’m not alone in my admiration for the kereru. Despite foreign tampering in our free and democratic process (bloody Australian’s block voting for ‘‘the Shag’’), and some hot competition from the flashy kakapo, the humble kereru is in the lead of the annual Bird of the Year vote – by more than 1000 votes. Yes, 2018 could finally be the kereru’s year. They were robbed by the kea last year, in 2016 the fancy faced kokako took it out, but this year no other bird is within a feather’s filament of the mighty wood pigeon. So what’s changed for the kereru? Was it comedian and snapchat dude Tom Sainsbury’s Snapchat to Paula Bennett demanding the New Zealand public vote kereru or else? Sainso says he’s ‘‘thrilled of course’’ to hear the kereru is finally getting the respect it deserves. However, with more than a week of voting to go, he reckons ‘‘Paula’’ might need to keep pushing . . There’s just something about the kereru that lends itself to comedy,’’ he says, noting that real-life Bennett apparently voted for the bird too. ‘‘If the kea is like the clown of the birds, then the kereru is, I don’t know, some other kind of clown.’’ He’s got his ‘‘fingers crossed,’’ for a win on October 14. Snapchat Paula Bennett wasn’t the only Kiwi (or should that be Kereru? Should we all be Kererus now? I think you know my answer to that) pumping for the feathered tubster. Kereru Brewery – somewhat predictably, with hindsight – sent out a campaign brochure to its loyal customers calling on them to vote, and vote hard, for their feathered patron. ‘‘Your vote makes a difference,’’ the digital flyer said. ‘‘Help us defeat those cheeky keas (because, really, they won last year).’’ Good points, well made. Could that have been the boost the kereru¯ needed to take on the kea? Or even . . . the kiwi? Ever since that video surfaced of a rogue kiwi attacking a tourist, I’ve been looking at our national bird in a different light anyway. I reckon the kereru, drunk on sunripened berries, falling out of a tree on a warm summer’s day, just might be a better symbol for us. Just look at that massively fluffed up chest and tiny pea head! If that doesn’t just coo Kiwi Pride, I don’t know what does. The truth is, there isn’t really a competition between our magnificent native birds, not really. The Bird of the Year vote is all about awareness, about making sure Kiwis are aware that far too many of these unique creatures are in a desperate situation. If the voting gives you a bit of a chuckle while it also reminds you that kea, kokako, kiwi kakapo, kaikoura Tıtı, and many, many others, including our darling kereru are in danger, then it’s a job well done.