- Conservation status
- In some trouble
The tarāpunga is here, squawking onto the Bird of the Year stage for another year. Dapper, roguishly charming, notorious for their criminal tendencies – red-bills are the John Dillinger or the Captain Jack Sparrow of the Aotearoa bird scene.
Despite being a common sight for many New Zealanders, tarāpunga are having a tough time and their populations are declining. It's high time these unfairly maligned, chip-stealing seabirds got the love and attention they deserve.
Campaign Manager
Dunedin Wildlife Hospital – Jordana and Libby Manning
No bird needs a PR boost more than tarāpunga!
While they are a common sight on our coastlines, many tarāpunga colonies are dwindling due to introduced predators and climate-induced fluctuations of their natural food. Currently, New Zealand's total tarāpunga population is predicted to decline by an alarming 50-70% over thirty years. Alongside declining populations, there have also been several wildlife crimes targeting tarāpunga over the last few years. It's a scary thought that one day our coastlines may no longer be blessed by the screams of our most stylish native gull species!
For 2025, previous Tarāpunga Bird of the Year campaigner Libby Manning has joined forces with Sophie Barker (Dunedin City Council), Jordana Whyte (Dunedin Wildlife Hospital Trust), and the city of Ōtepoti Dunedin to show appreciation for a widely misunderstood species. Join us in voting for NZ's most chaotic bird!
For those of you who need convincing, here's a quick summary of why you should vote tarāpunga for Bird of the Year 2025:
Nutrient rich guano (great for native plants!)
Melodious bird song
Calm, soothing aura
Stylish red booties
Cute and spotty as babies
Cute and not-spotty as adults
Likes hot chips even though they're bad for them (relatable)
Have world-class river dancing skills
Roses are red
Tarāpunga beaks too
Vote RBG this year
Or get splatted by poo!
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