This year’s race was a bit closer than last year’s. With much back and forth during the bulk of voting, the community eventually determined our new champion and the owl that will lead us into the new year!
This owl spends much of its life mostly alone in the far away taiga. It is not as blessed as other owls when it comes to size and strength. It needs to make a long and arduous journey each year to avoid the worst conditions of the place it calls home. Though it fits in the palm of your hand, it needs the heart and determination to keep itself and its family safe every day from much larger predators. It lets none of this stop it from being a true champion amongst owls. This is our Owl of the Year: the Saw Whet Owl!
Thank you everyone that voted and participated in any of the events. I think the event organization went a little nicer with some experience from last year. Matchmaking felt better, we had some close races and just about all felt competitive. I liked giving you some choice in the owl participants.
Last year we were at 2100 subs at the time of the games, and now it’s almost 3400. It’s a lot of work keeping this community going and looking at last year’s winner post, there are more names in there that I recognize that I had expected.
I’m glad you all have been a big part of making our group what it is today. This wouldn’t be the same place without you and your consistent participation. We’ve lost a few regulars this year, but we’ve gained a bunch as well that keep this place lively with good questions, comments, and jokes.
I hope everyone continues to have a good time here into the new year. And for now, enjoy your new Owl of the Year!
What a well deserved win and a well organised event. May the Saw Whet fly us into the new year with as much of its adorable cuteness as possible.
Very well said! I’m glad you had fun!
I love the crown. its cute but would not mind a few pictures showing it off if possible.
I put a dozen pics in the comments, the crown pic was just for fun.
did not scroll down far enough. its wierd because i have it on hot sort and the pictures hove tons of up votes.
I just tried that sort and it must be comments per last hour or something, it’s all my recent replies to everyone.
I could’ve have a celebration thread without a photo dump!
you know I this has taught me something. with the main feed top is not great if you don’t want anything to old but when within posts it seems to make more sense to use top.
I have top sort on the comment feed to give me an idea on what the rest of the comments will be like. It’s the one the most people have taken some interaction with, and further comments are likely going to reflect that top comment. If the top couple of comments stink, not much need to go through the rest. At that point even any good takes will be buried.
I do use a few different sorts for the All feed. Usually it’s too, so I don’t miss anything important, but hot, scaled, and new all give me a good amount of different things I wouldn’t see otherwise.
I used to try to hit up new at least once a day and try to comment on at least one post to try to bump it up and help build communities. That was always fun.
One of the few things I miss from reddit is a better controversial sort. Every Friday I’d go through controversial/week and see the best bad takes of the week.
These pictures go like:
Intense, intense, intimidating, intense, ✨sweet fluffy baby✨, scary, intense
This owl really has everything you’d look for in an owl
No plumicorns for the horned fans buuuuuut the facial disc and a scowl can do a reasonably decent facsimile.
Finding the pics is one thing, and then I tried to sort them so the colors and expressions were well spread out so they looked like well rounded candidates.
Last year I had the pics separated and added up vote totals, but I think this kept it more organized.
:3 <3
Yes!!! I knew Saw Whet could do it! ❤️
Thanks for running this again. It was so much fun!
It’s fun doing it. Thank you so much for helping to make this community great yourself.
Well deserved! And thanks again for running this competition.
Of course! And thank you too for being here all this time. I only do this because you all make it so rewarding! I’m always appreciative of everyone’s comments and participation.
He doin the •,•
Few do it better!
They’re all winners. And truly superb.
That’s the truth! I did my best to present them all as equally beautiful and fascinating.
Thanks for running this, I had a great time!
I’m glad you liked it! I had been looking forward to doing it again, and despite a lot going on in my real life, this year’s games went rather smoothly and helped keep me from getting too stressed while dealing with things. It’s always nice for us to have a bunch of fun together!
Can’t believe he won!
It was well earned. It beat some great owls, and it was not who I would have thought would do it. It’s not flashy and it doesn’t really have one specific trait to help it stand out, it’s just one sweet little cutie.
Gotta admit, the cute ones are hard to beat! And he is super cute. Even when he looks angry, he’s cute!
I do love that annoyed face! 🥰
please i hope this is the image that goes into the group image (group profile picture? idk)
Last year we did winner gets the icon:
2nd got sidebar image, and all top 4 shared the community banner.
A fine winner in the end, they wear their crown like a true champ!
Thanks again for running a fabulous competition and giving us some entertainment and infotainment!
I wish you, and everyone else here, a fabulous Christmas and new year period :)
I was a bit surprised when everyone started rallying behind this little one, but it was a pleasant surprise. We had some flashy owls, and this sweet but simple one captured everyone’s hearts this time around.
I’d have been equally happy with the mighty Eagle Owl, but as frustration with many things is growing around the world, I feel it says something good about us we chose an innocent (looking!) owl to represent us.
I hope everyone has a great holiday season, and I’ll be doing some year end wrap-up stuff again soon.
