The enigmatic Night Parrot

The Night Parrot has long been thought to be extinct.

This has been the presumed status of the species for many decades. In fact, the majority of confirmed sightings were in the period 1870 to 1900. Since then, several dead birds have been found on roadsides and there have been tantalising reports of birders getting brief glimpses of the parrot in car headlights. The chance was always there; did it still exist in sustainable numbers – or any numbers at all?

On our many travels I will often challenge my wife to be on the lookout for two species when travelling at night: the Plains Wanderer and the Night Parrot. Sightings of either species would be most unlikely and being a supportive and loving person she agrees to keep a sharp eye on the lookout. We always enjoy this verbal banter with a little laughter.

However, the chances of seeing a Night Parrot have risen slightly in the last year or so. Ever so slightly. From 0% to approximately 0.001% – or thereabouts. Or to put it in Australian slang terms – from Buckley’s to Forget it!

Some facts we know about the Night Parrot:

• It is nocturnal – making it just that bit more difficult to observe.
• It’s preferred habitat in spinifex grasslands in the arid interior of Australia – that big space in the middle where very few travel and even fewer live, limiting chance sightings even further.
• It is small, green and yellow and dumpy, and runs and hops in preference to flying.
• It shelters in the clumps of the spinifex during the day making it almost impossible to find during the day – unless stepped on. Which you wouldn’t want to do to such a rare bird.
• It has never been filmed – until recently.
• Not much is known about the habits of the species, but that is about to change.

Rediscovery

After well over 17,000 hours of field work over the span of a decade, this species was rediscovered and filmed by John Young.

In 2013 naturalist and wildlife photographer John Young captured several photos and a few seconds of video footage of a live bird in western Queensland.

After a search spanning many years, John was finally rewarded by an incredibly close-up encounter with a Night Parrot – often considered the ‘holy grail’ for birdwatchers and naturalists.

Global interest in the discovery was so intense that the exact location of this only known population remains a closely guarded secret to protect the birds from disturbance.

Quoted from the Bush Heritage Australia website.

What is interesting about the Bush Heritage article is the 3:34 minute video showing the bird and the habitat in which it lives, plus more information about efforts to conserve the area. There is also an appeal to raise money in this important conservation project.

I am sorry that I do not have a photo of my own to share with you. My wife will just have to keep looking.

Further reading:

• Bush Heritage Australia – read more about this interesting bird, watch a short video and donate to the project to preserve the bird’s environment.
• Looking for a Night Parrot in a Haystack? A recent report in The Australian newspaper.