B puffin flying Telegraph

Yesterday’s election for UK’s political leaders was not the only important election yesterday in the UK. There also was a hotly-contested election of a national bird.

UK’s bird lovers initially came up with a list of 60 birds. This was narrowed down to a short list of ten.

B vote for nat bird 1

We’re now anxiously awaiting the result of the voting that took place yesterday for the pecking order of the ten birds.

The UK has never had a national bird, which is rather ironic as bird watching is a British invention. And Britain has brought several species back being extinguished, e.g., the red kite and the white-tailed eagle.

America has had a national bird since 1787 when they chose the eagle. (Benjamin Frankly wanted the turkey.) France has the rooster, Brazil the thrush, India the peacock.

The shortlist is:

barn owl

B barn owl

blackbird

B blackbird

blue tit

B blue tit

hen harrier

B hen harrier

kingfisher

B kingfisher

mute swan

B mute swan

puffin

B puffin

red kite

B red kite

robin

B Robin

wren

B wren

The organiser of the election is avid birdwatcher and blogger David Lindo, The Urban Birder. He expects it will be a beak to beak race among the barn owl, blackbird, wren, robin, that there might not be a clear winner, and a coalition could be formed following intense backstabbing and bickering as the birds got in a flap:

•  The robin despite looking like it could not hurt a fly wouldn’t think twice about attacking any opponent and killing them.

•  The blackbird is a charmer and it will sing sweetly.

•  The barn owl is wise and will observe and take notes and when its screeches everyone listens.

•  The wren, despite its tiny size, has a loud voice.

B puffin flyng

Sources:

Guardian:

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/may/04/where-to-spot-britains-national-bird-uk

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/07/dont-forget-to-vote-for-britains-national-bird

Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/11590149/Tight-race-to-find-UKs-national-bird-race-may-lead-to-coalition.html

Reuters:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/07/us-britain-election-bird-idUSKBN0NS18I20150507?feedType=nl&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Independent:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dont-forget-the-uks-second-election–for-britains-national-bird-10231711.html