So… to state the obvious, it’s kinda been the year from hell. But look on the bright side, it’s also been a year full of birds. Today we’re going to look back on a couple of the real winners from the last 12 months and then crown the Bird of the Year.
2020 started with the country on fire, and so we had a bird that has evolved to camouflage its eggs on fire scorched land, Temminck’s Courser.
Of course, some birds have a more cavalier approach when it comes to laying their eggs. Take the White Tern which can’t be bothered to make a nest and just lays its egg on a branch.
We learned all kinds of things. From that time the Australia Army lost a war against a mob of Emus.
As well as everything we could ever want to know about the Birds-of-Paradise… twice.
And that blue feathers don’t have any pigment in them.
Were there Pigeons? Shut your face, of course there were pigeons. And they were all glorious!
It was also a big year for this humble email service as we finally got an online archive to house all our previous editions, as well as a platform for some longer form bird-based musings.
So that was the year that was. But before we get to 2021, we have to name our 2020 Bird of the Year. And after such a hard year, I think we can all agree that one bird was always there for us. There was one bird that made the whole thing bearable. When everything looked dark, it was the ray of light that dispelled the shadows.
That’s right, it was the California Quail, that rock star of a bird.
And yes, I know I’ve named it the Bird of the Year every year since 2017, but do me a favour, look at it for one moment, and then tell me there’s a better bird.
That’s right, there isn’t.
Once again, thank you for joining me on this … odd endeavour. I have many strange and stunning birds to share with you next year, so until then I wish you a joyous New Year from everyone at Bird of the Week.
31/12/2020
Bird of the Week 