| | The Urban Birder, a.k.a. David Lindo has fired the starting pistol for the election, with polls closing on May 7. Turnout is expected to be high and the competition fierce. After more than a century the incumbent faces its first ever deselection challenge. But with no fewer than nine others determined to unperch it, the robin - technically a "favourite" rather than a "national" bird - may yet consolidate its position thanks to a hopelessly split opposition. The hen harrier is reckoned by some pundits to be the only candidate capable of uniting the Change movement. Centuries of prejudice could be swept away if the country elects its first hook-beaked national bird. But the beak and claw faction is itself split, with the red kite, symbolising conservation success rather than continued conflict, also standing. |
The Kingfisher's position is deemed by many just too hard to pin down. Flashing blue when it suits, it has been known to turn, revealing a distinctly reddish tinge at times. The unknown factor is whether the kingfisher's recent expulsion from the Oxford Junior Dictionary will win a sympathy vote.
photo: Laurence Rose Not helping the robin's cause is the recent emergence of the aptly-named blue tit. Described as the Boris Johnson of the bird world, the cheeky chappie opportunist is hoping to gather the crumbs should the garden bird tendency turn away from their long-time favourite.
The mute swan's supporters are said to be panicking beneath the surface as floating voters are presented with too many options. Meanwhile, the barn owl may have been knocked back by comments that "there is something of the night" about it. Jibes such as "you kip in the day" may prove counter-productive in former tawny heartlands, however.
It may all come down to head-to-head debates, when powers of oratory can swing the undecided. Here the mellifluous blackbird can be expected to pick up a few votes, the wren being thought of by many as a bit of a windbag. In any case, expect much huffin' and puffin' over the coming weeks.
The mute swan's supporters are said to be panicking beneath the surface as floating voters are presented with too many options. Meanwhile, the barn owl may have been knocked back by comments that "there is something of the night" about it. Jibes such as "you kip in the day" may prove counter-productive in former tawny heartlands, however.
It may all come down to head-to-head debates, when powers of oratory can swing the undecided. Here the mellifluous blackbird can be expected to pick up a few votes, the wren being thought of by many as a bit of a windbag. In any case, expect much huffin' and puffin' over the coming weeks.
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