People Are Calling For The Bin Chicken To Win Bird Of The Year

Australia is home to hundreds of bird species and all of them are lovely.

But every year, The Guardian looks to find what the public thinks is the best. It's a tough decision that people have to make every sun cycle, but there can only be one winner.

A quick scan on social media will show that there's a loud chorus of people calling for the humble Australian white ibis to win.

paulafunnell/Creative Commons

If you haven't heard of the bird before, The Guardian explains as follows: "The bolt from the blue in the 2017 Bird of the Year, running a close second to the magpie, was the much-maligned 'bin chicken'. Was this Australia's Brexit moment or is there genuine love for this drought refugee that has adapted to city life?"

It did indeed take the prize two years ago and it seems like people's fondness for the species hasn't waned.

People on Twitter are begging for others to get behind the previous champion.

One person wrote: "Bin chicken is my ride or die. I even have a tattoo of the Australian white ibis."

Pedro Vizcaino Pina/Creative Commons

Another added: "The big question is: Will Russian troll farms learn that the best way to sow discord in Australian society is by voting for the bin chicken en masse?"

A third wrote: "Vote early, vote often. For our beloved bin chicken."

At the moment, the Black-throated finch is currently sitting in front with a clear majority.

With more than 26,000 votes cast so far in the ballot, the species has received 3,863, with the magpie not too far off with 1,704 votes.

Dominic Sherony/Creative Commons

Behind the podium are the laughing kookaburra, Sulphur-crested cockatoo, Superb fairywren and the Australian white ibis.

To be fair, there are only 400 votes between second place and sixth so there could be a close finish when the votes are totalled next month.

But the bin chicken will have to make up a lot of lost ground if it is to topple the Black-throated finch.

The latter bird is described as: "Bedecked in subtle apricot, slate and rufous hues, this bird was unknown to all but the most ardent twitcher. With the Adani mine sitting at ground zero for the largest of the two remaining populations of the southern race, people have suddenly become aware of this exquisite little finch."

It'll be a tight race, that's for sure, but who will be crowned at the end of it?

Topics: Community, Animals, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie