A Subantarctic Skua walks purposefully across a sandy beach, past clumps of feathery red seaweed. Photo taken on Enderby Island by John Woods, via NZ Birds Online.
We're 46! Our goal was to lift this manu toa out of the cellar, which everybody who voted Hākoakoa helped us do. In a year when all birds earned more votes (total compared to #1 votes in 2024), we beat the rate of the rising tide by a factor of 1.65 - 7th highest overachiever! #skuasforever
Photograph of a bold-as Subantarctic Skua drinking milk from the mouth of an Elephant Seal pup while its mother looks on, unamused. The pup is roaring at the skua, which is probably a mistake as it makes the milk splashing out of its mouth easier to get. Another skua in the foreground appears to be scanning the colony for other opportunities (or waiting its turn, hard to say). Text below the image says "Who's a bad@ass? We're a bad@ss. Vote SKUA." The photo was taken by Marcus Salton on Macquarie Island, near the Australian Antarctic programme stat ion there.
Okay folks, this is our closing argument. We here at Team Hākoakoa think the photo speaks for itself but ask yourself: can YOU steal milk from the mouth of an Elephant Seal? SKUAS CAN.
Vote Hākoakoa for Bird of the Year.
#skuasforever #birdoftheyear2025 @forestandbird.bsky.social
An action poster advertising Mouretsu Pirates, if Chiaki Kuriharu was a Subantarctic Skua. Skuachan brandishes an energy blaster. The text quotes the Mouretsu Pirates' most skua worldview: "Pursue, beat them to it, and take a piece of the action!" Then vote SKUA Bird of the Year!
Vote for a Bird with the fighting spirit we need in 2025, vote SKUA for Bird of the Year. #skuasforever #birdoftheyear2025 @forestandbird.bsky.social
A scene inside the Arcadia, if Captain Harlock (space pirate) was a Subantarctic Skua. The spaceship interior is drawn in black and white with numerous banks of dials, levers and other control equipment. The freedom-loving captain is saying in a speech balloon, "What? Voting is almost over for Bird of the Year?" He wears a cape and the front of his tunic is emblazoned by a skull and crossbones motif. Text below the image says "Under your flag, live in Freedom! and also, don't forget to confirm your vote for HĀKOAKOA Bird of the Year!" An inset panel in the upper right shows the exterior of the Arcadia, also busy-looking.
Ae, captain. Under my flag, I will live in freedom. And I'll vote SKUA for #birdoftheyear2025 @forestandbird.bsky.social #skuasforever #CaptainHarlock
A poster for the Wild Bunch, if William Holden (and everybody else) was a Skua. A gang of Skuas have been attracted by a penguin carcass.
What counts is who you give it to. Vote SKUA #birdoftheyear2025 #skua #skuasforever @forestandbird.bsky.social
A photo of two adult skuas at their nest site surrounded by low bunch grasses. A fuzzy brown chick sits between them. The skuas' plumage is rich brown with flashes of white. Text below the image says "Hākoakoa stay close to shore in breeding season, nesting on headlands and areas of low vegetation near colonies of tasty penguins, prions, and shearwaters, or near seal colonies where carrion and milk are right there for the taking. Vote for the family bird. Vote SKUA."
Looks like a cozy nest site to me. Sensible parents, skuas make their nests near where the resources are - colonies of other birds and seals. Vote for the bird that puts family first - vote Hākoakoa Skua for #birdoftheyear2025 #skua #skuasforever @forestandbird.bsky.social
