Indigenous rangers in the Western Australia (WA) outback have stumbled upon what is thought to be up to half-a-hundred of the elusive and critically endangered night parrot, one of the most enigmatic bird species. This study is considered in the light of its importance and current progress to preserve this unique population.
A Rare and Elusive Bird
One of the most sensational detection-proof birds on planet Earth is the enigmatic fugitive night parrot. It was more widely distributed throughout the arid inland regions of Australia, but there are only a few dead bird records from the late 1990s and 2000s after having been last definitively recorded in the latter half of the nineteenth century.
These birds are extremely elusive and can be hard to see because they construct burrows in dense spinifex cover and only come out at night to feed. Indigenous communities in the region have storied it of old as a mysterious, haunting sound synonymous with malevolent spirits. So a recent discovery by Indigenous rangers and scientists is all the more extraordinary.
A Breakthrough Discovery
The team, comprised of Indigenous rangers and scientists, has made a major breakthrough via the detection of up to 50 night parrots in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia, on land managed by Ngururrpa people.
The discovery was the product of a synergistic relationship: the rangers’ intimate understanding of their land and herds combined with high tech tools such as satellites, drones, and analytics offered by scientists collaborated in ways that leverage what each excels at. Cheng said the team has been using sound recorders to listen for recordings of chirps, whistles, croaks and even bell-like sounds that would differentiate two species from their calls. The researchers used acoustic data to analyze individual call patterns and create population estimates.
The finding of this important population is a key milestone in furthering our knowledge and conservation of this elusive, critically endangered species. The book stresses an approach to the power of Indigenous knowledge coupled with scientific powers to unveil the mysteries in the living world.
Conclusion
Discovering the largest known night parrot population in the world is an incredible feat and one that gives us hope for the future of this critically endangered bird. Nevertheless, immediate protection for these species and their ecosystem is still very important. The back-from-the-brink story of the night parrot is indeed heartwarming, but it has only just begun—this enigmatic little bird continues to be vulnerable, and with the dedication and collaboration between Indigenous rangers, scientists and communities we will ensure it remains present forever.
