As the final hours of Guardian Australia's 2025 bird of the year draw near, Penny Sharpe, the New South Wales environment minister, makes a last-minute appeal for votes for the endangered bush stone-curlew. In a boisterous session of state parliament, Sharpe encourages people to 'vote early and vote often' in what she calls 'the only ballot that counts this year'. A colleague can be heard yelling their support for the powerful owl, but Sharpe points out 'the powerful owl is out. It's been eliminated.' Sharpe also encourages people to take part in this year's Aussie Bird Count, adding the state's bird are a 'genuinely good thing that makes everyone's life a bit better when you get to hear bird song' • Vote here for the Guardian's bird of the year 2025 contest

Vote here for the Guardian's

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