The Night Parrot in Australia
This elusive bird has been the subject of previous attention and publication by the Parrot Society UK, but a recent application for funding from Conservation Partners in Australia has resulted in the following award and feedback:
The Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) was once thought extinct, with no confirmed sightings for over a century. In recent years, thanks to the dedication of field researchers and conservationists (including CPs' own Steve Murphy and Nick Leseberg), a handful of small populations has been rediscovered in Australia’s arid interior. However, the species remains critically endangered, and locating new populations is vital to ensuring its survival.
A substantial contribution of $11,000AUD (approx £5,500) from the Parrot Society UK has been used to purchase a suite of Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs)—specialised audio monitoring devices that allow us to passively listen for the calls of the Night Parrot across vast and remote landscapes. These units will dramatically improve our ability to detect and monitor this cryptic, nocturnal species without disturbance.
This equipment is ready for deployment and will be used in early July. We will have more photos of the equipment placed in the field in mid July. The data will be retrieved and analysed in a few months time. More information is available on their social media posts -