How the Bird of the Year poll began

Over the coming week, hundreds of thousands of Australians will cast their vote in an election unlike any other. In the fifth bird of the year competition Guardian Australia and BirdLife Australia celebrate the diversity and wonder of our unique and native bird life. Deputy editors Gabrielle Jackson and Patrick Keneally and BirdLife Australia’s Sean Dooley tell Reged Ahmad about the scandals of elections past, why the poll matters and which bird will get their vote