If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- What was announced on Monday 6 October?
- Which bird won the competition?
- How often does the Bird of the Year competition take place?
- What is the aim of the competition? Why?
- How many birds can the public vote for?
- Who can vote in the competition?
- How many votes did this year’s winner receive? And the kea (in second place)? And the karure black robin (in third place)?
- How fast can the kārearea fly?
- What does the kārearea eat?
- Which dollar note does the kārearea appear on?
Text
Last Monday the winner of the Bird of the Year competition was announced. It was the kārearea, the New Zealand falcon.
The Bird of the Year competition has been run annually by the organisation Forest and Bird since 2005. Its aim is to raise awareness of New Zealand’s wildlife, because many of this country’s native species face threats from introduced species or loss of habitat and are in danger of becoming extinct. Around 70 species are chosen for the competition every year. People or groups can support one species by becoming its campaign manager and running a social media publicity campaign. The public are invited to vote for their five favourite birds over a two-week period, usually in September. The competition is extremely popular in New Zealand, although anyone in the world with a valid email address can place a vote.
This year’s winner, the kārearea, received 14,317 votes. The kea was in second place with 12,506 votes, and the karure black robin came third with 11,726 votes. The rest of the top 10 were the kākāpō, ruru morepork, tawaki pika toka eastern rockhopper penguin, pīwakawaka fantail, takahē, hihi stitchbird, and hoiho yellow-eyed penguin.
The kārearea is a high-speed hunter which can reach speeds of 200 km/h. It can catch prey larger than itself and can even catch some mid-flight. It mainly eats birds but also insects and lizards. It is found on both the North and South Islands as well as several offshore islands. It is threatened due to habitat loss and predation. The kārearea appears on the $20 note.
The kārearea also won Bird of the Year in 2012. Two other birds have won the competition twice: hoiho won in 2019 and 2024, and kākāpō in 2008 and 2020.
Vocabulary
announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision
species – a group of animals or plants which are similar and can have young animals or plants
habitat – the natural home of a plant or animal
extinct – if a type of bird or animal is extinct, it no longer exists, or there are no more of that type
campaign – a series of activities that are intended to achieve a particular aim
prey – an animal, bird, or insect that is hunted and eaten by another animal
lizards – a type of reptile that has four legs and a long tail. In New Zealand there are two families of lizards: skinks and geckos – see images on the Department of Conservation website
predation – when an animal kills and eats another animal
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer
a. What was announced on Monday 6 October?
The winner of the Bird of the Year competition
b. Which bird won the competition?
The kārearea, the New Zealand falcon
c. How often does the Bird of the Year competition take place?
Annually (=every year)
d. What is the aim of the competition? Why?
To raise awareness of New Zealand’s wildlife; because many of this country’s native species face threats from introduced species or loss of habitat and are in danger of becoming extinct
e. How many birds can the public vote for?
Five
f. Who can vote in the competition?
Anyone in the world with a valid email address
g. How many votes did this year’s winner receive? And the kea (in second place)? And the karure black robin (in third place)?
14,317; 12,506; 11,726
h. How fast can the kārearea fly?
Up to 200km/h
i. What does the kārearea eat?
Mainly birds but also insects and lizards
j. Which dollar note does the kārearea appear on?
The $20 note.