Scientists and Indigenous rangers rediscover Night Parrot population in Australia

Key facts

• The night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis), a small green-and-yellow bird species, was studied in Ngururrpa Country in Australia’s interior.
• Indigenous rangers and scientists from the University of Queensland (UQ) deployed weatherproof audio recorders and camera traps between 2020 and 2023.
• The study found that the birds roost in mature, dense clumps of bull spinifex (Triodia longiceps) which provide essential thermal cover and protection.
• Ecologists identified that dingoes play a vital role in the ecosystem by suppressing feral cat populations, which are primary predators of the night parrot.
• The research team estimated a population of approximately 50 night parrots in the protected area of the Great Sandy Desert.
• The study, published in the journal Wildlife Research, suggests that cooler-season controlled burns can prevent high-intensity wildfires from destroying parrot habitats.