Pūtangitangi for BOTY Mōrena! We're Ngaire and Lefty, a pair of pūtangitangi running an unofficial campaign for Bird of the Year 2026 🦆. Lefty has an injured leg, and some nice humans have been feeding us every day to help his recovery ♥️.
Pūtangitangi
by @putangitangi.co.nz
Pūtangitangi (paradise shelducks) are endemic to New Zealand, vote for them in BOTY 2026! https://putangitangi.co.nz/
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Pūtangitangi for BOTY 
Kelsy - formerly Faiako This morning it was swimming in the creek practice for the little pūtangitangi Deses (still 9!). They'd managed to get the whole clan up a little waterfall even. Might pop back this evening to see if they're back at the pond. #nzbirds
Kelsy - formerly Faiako Listen I'm a pūtangitangi fan account for the next little while. Do you blame me? Seen here, two of the wee Deses try out grazing with ... Results. Ngaire and Lefty coach. The other Deses mill in the background. #nzbirds
Kelsy - formerly Faiako Today we sat down with Ngaire, Lefty and the nine babies (all named Des) for half an hour. I got these 3 minutes of true pūtangitangi whānau ASMR - one clip is muted sorry because you really don't deserve to be subjected to the AI Parkrun songs. But otherwise lots of lovely Ngaire clucks #nzbirds
Kelsy - formerly Faiako Okay would we want more pūtangitangi content then..? Here they are having swimming practice when we stopped in this afternoon. Lefty on lifeguard duty up on the bank! #nzbirds
Kelsy - formerly Faiako 1 / 9
Here are some more pics from the pūtangitangi maternity ward. #nzbirds A day old 🥹
Kelsy - formerly Faiako Best best news! The pūtangitangi babies have arrived! Ngaire and Lefty are very proud parents, chicks are bold but well behaved little dudes and dudettes. 9x dear little stripeys. #nzbirds They've still got their egg teeth and they were still all eggy scented when we met them this morning 🥹🥹🥹
Kara B Pūtangitangi pair at two weeks. Chicks are doing well I think. Parents determined to get as fat as they can I think.
Pūtangitangi for BOTY Lefty was being bullied all morning by some intruder girls, but he and Ngaire saw them off. Time for a big dinner 😁.
Kara B My Pūtangitangi pair with their own pair this season!
Pūtangitangi for BOTY Lefty is at a loose end while Ngaire is still looking after the eggs. During afternoon tea today, he's had to defend his Lucky Duck pile from a group of marauding mallards 😂. I love his green head, which only really shows up in direct sunlight. 🦆🦆🦆🦆 #AotearoaBirds
Pūtangitangi for BOTY We think Ngaire and Lefty's chickies will hatch in 2-5 days. Can't wait!
How Was Your Day? The putangitangi - setting the best example for parents everywhere. Find and 'collect' native birds in our point and click adventure game. #indiegame #gamedev #indiedev #pointandclick #narrativegames #birdsingames
Kelsy - formerly Faiako Here's a lovely Ngaire video (to convince you to vote pūtangitangi!). She was going hard on ruffling up her feathers this morning. Once she was done she flew back to the nest on the island. Maybe nest lining? +She's started making a sweet chirpy new sound. Māmā voice? Vote: www.birdoftheyear.org.nz
Kelsy - formerly Faiako 1 / 4
This is your first (mute me if you have to 😅) reminder to vote for Ngaire and Lefty, a.k.a. pūtangitangi/ paradise shelducks #birdoftheyear2026 - they are the absolute biggest personalities and unsung heroes in Aotearoa. Overseas friends, you can vote too! A BIRD ELECTION. www.birdoftheyear.org.nz
Pūtangitangi for BOTY Only Lefty has arrived this morning. Ngaire must be sitting on her nest. When she's here too he constantly chats to us, but when he's on his own he is always completely silent. Possibly trying to avoid drawing attention to the nest? #BirdOfTheYear
Pūtangitangi for BOTY Voting is open! You can vote for Ngaire and Lefty at this link ♥️ www.birdoftheyear.org.nz?bird=paradis...
Mako VOTE PUTANGITANGI/PARADISE SHELDUCK FOR BIRD OF THE YEAR 2026 RIGHT NOW. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. vote at birdoftheyear.org.nz.
ScrungleBot 🐦 Scrunglebird Species Spotlight: Paradise Shelduck 🦅 33% Majestic Raptor | 🌊 24% Scrungly Seagull | 🕊️ 43% Horny Pigeon 📊 Total Votes: 2 votes Add your rating to this species! Learn More about Avian Archetypes & ScrungleBird!
Pūtangitangi for BOTY Today we camped out in different areas of the park so we could catch Ngaire and Lefty taking off and landing. We've discovered that she is nesting on the island in the middle of this pond! ♥️
Pūtangitangi for BOTY Listen to them chatting away! There's a couple of enemies circling around as well so they are also doing alert calls 🥰 #BirdOfTheYear