New Zealand’s Bird of the Century? The Answer May Surprise You!
In a surprise upset, the pūteketeke, also known as the Australasian crested grebe, has been crowned New Zealand’s Bird of the Century. And who do we have to thank for this prestigious honor? None other than American comedian John Oliver.
That’s right, folks. John Oliver, who apparently has nothing better to do than campaign for birds he’s never even seen, launched a social media campaign to drum up support for the pūteketeke. And wouldn’t you know it, the bird actually won.
But what’s so special about the pūteketeke, you may ask? Well, for starters, it’s a bird. And New Zealand has a lot of birds. So naturally, picking just one to be the bird of this century was a tough task. But apparently, the pūteketeke’s flamboyant feathers and charming crested head won over the hearts of voters.
And if you thought this was just a silly little contest with no real-world significance, think again. The pūteketeke’s victory is sure to boost tourism in New Zealand, as bird enthusiasts from all over the world flock (pun intended) to catch a glimpse of this feathered celebrity. And who knows, maybe we’ll even see John Oliver himself showing up to check out his prized bird.
Of course, not everyone is thrilled about the pūteketeke’s win. Some disgruntled bird lovers have taken to Twitter to express their outrage over what they see as a popularity contest rather than a proper scientific evaluation. One user wrote, “I can’t believe the pūteketeke won bird of the century. There are so many amazing birds in New Zealand with way more impressive features. This is just a popularity contest.”
But hey, who needs science when you have Twitter? If the majority of people on social media think the pūteketeke is the bee’s knees, then that’s good enough for us.
So what’s next for the pūteketeke? Well, we can only imagine the endless stream of endorsement deals that are sure to come its way. Maybe a contract with a major birdseed brand? Perhaps a cameo in the next Angry Birds movie? The possibilities are endless.
And as for John Oliver, we can only assume he’s already planning his next campaign. Maybe he’ll try to get a platypus named Australia’s Mammal of the Millennium. Who knows? When you’re a comedian with too much time on your hands, anything is possible.
