Rare Australian night parrot rediscovered

This video from Australia says about itself:

The Night Parrot – Flying back from the brink

May 6, 2009

The Night Parrot (Pezoporos occidentalis) is one of Australia’s ‘lost’ species. It was first discovered in 1845, and named in 1861. But since that time numbers have dwindled and sightings have been so rare that the bird was at one stage thought to be extinct. We hope you enjoy this short presentation. CFZ Australia

From Wildlife Extra:

Night parrot, the Holy Grail of Australian birding, has been found

Night Parrot emerges from the shadows

July 2013. Legendary Australian naturalist John Young has apparently found the holy grail of Australian bird watching, the elusive and long-sought after Night parrot. Young has, he claims, several photos and even a short video of the bird. He has not yet revealed the location of the sightings as it would no doubt create a great rush to see the bird.

Night parrot

In September 2006, Robert ‘Shorty’ Cupitt, the ranger-on-duty of Diamantina National Park in south-west Queensland, was grading an interior road of the reserve when the blade of his vehicle exposed the yellow underbelly of a bird he didn’t recognise. It was a deceased Night Parrot – only the second specimen to be found in nearly 100 years, coming after the celebrated discovery of a road killed bird south of nearby Boulia in 1990.

There has always been some controversy over the bird’s existence, and it has been thought on at least one occasion that the Night parrot might have become extinct (If it had ever existed). It is thought to live in some extremely remote locations in Queensland, and for the population to number no more than 250 birds.

BirdLife Australia congratulates John Young for obtaining the first ever photographs of the elusive Night Parrot. Long regarded as the ghost bird of the outback, there has been no definitive evidence of live Night Parrots since the 1880s.

Critically Endangered

“The Night Parrot is one of 12 Australian parrots listed as endangered or critically endangered, meaning that without action they are at high risk of extinction”, said Samantha Vine, Head of Conservation at BirdLife Australia.

Threats

“Once this sighting is confirmed, it is vital that swift action be taken to ensure the conservation of this unique species”, Vine added. “The known threats to the Night Parrot of predation by cats and degradation of habitat by land clearing, fire and feral animals now need to be managed through the implementation of a species Recovery Plan.”

The Night Parrot is the holy grail of bird watching and while every bird watcher will want to see this bird, BirdLife Australia respects the decision to not publicly divulge the location as welfare of the birds is paramount.

For further information on the Night Parrot see the Birdlife fact sheet.

A LIVE NIGHT PARROT has reportedly been photographed in western Queensland for the first time since the species was discovered more than 150 years ago: here.

This video from Australia says about itself:

Jan 6, 2013

Trailer for the forthcoming film Glimpses And Specimens From The Land Of The Night Parrot.

Here is another night parrot video.

Night parrot: tantalising clues revealed: here.

See also here.

The Night Parrot Saga Continues: here.

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