For the best part of a century the Night Parrot was thought to be extinct. To see one was considered to be the Holy Grail of bird watching.
Some of the reasons they've been so difficult to find is that they live Australia's arid desert interior where temperatures can exceed 50C during the day and they're also nocturnal. TBH, I doubt that there are too many people, including me, that can be bothered running around the desert in the middle of the night trying to track down a relatively small bird that's around the same size as my own grass parrots.
The Night Parrot comes from the family Pezoporus that also includes the Eastern Ground Parrot and Western Ground Parrot, which are also nocturnal and are both found in southern Australia. It is unknown how many exist in the wild but their habitat would appear to range from east of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland all the way across to Western Australia just east of Broome.
For those interested in learning more about the Night Parrot there are a number of links listed below regarding recent new stories, including nest photos and even a pretty good flight shot (yes I'm jealous).
Night parrot sighting in Western Australia shocks birdwatching world - RN
The rare night parrot - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Night parrots discovery in central-west Queensland puts elusive ... - ABC
Night parrot's drinking habits revealed in research expected to ... - ABC
This link also contains a video of one after being captured for tagging and then released. Please note this link may, or may not, work after 24 hours or so.
Queensland scientists on the trail of endangered night parrot in central west Queensland
Enjoy.
Some of the reasons they've been so difficult to find is that they live Australia's arid desert interior where temperatures can exceed 50C during the day and they're also nocturnal. TBH, I doubt that there are too many people, including me, that can be bothered running around the desert in the middle of the night trying to track down a relatively small bird that's around the same size as my own grass parrots.
The Night Parrot comes from the family Pezoporus that also includes the Eastern Ground Parrot and Western Ground Parrot, which are also nocturnal and are both found in southern Australia. It is unknown how many exist in the wild but their habitat would appear to range from east of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland all the way across to Western Australia just east of Broome.
For those interested in learning more about the Night Parrot there are a number of links listed below regarding recent new stories, including nest photos and even a pretty good flight shot (yes I'm jealous).
Night parrot sighting in Western Australia shocks birdwatching world - RN
The rare night parrot - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Night parrots discovery in central-west Queensland puts elusive ... - ABC
Night parrot's drinking habits revealed in research expected to ... - ABC
This link also contains a video of one after being captured for tagging and then released. Please note this link may, or may not, work after 24 hours or so.
Queensland scientists on the trail of endangered night parrot in central west Queensland
Enjoy.
