Night parrot sighting confirmed in Western Australia for first time in 100 years

A group of birdwatchers in March 2017 spotted an Australian night parrot, once thought to be extinct, for the first time in 100 years.

The bird was spotted photographed in Western Australia. It is the first verified sighting of the bird in the region.

The discovery of the bird was made by a group of four friends from Broome. The group travelled to a habitat in the outback of Western Australia that they identified as a potential spotting place for the parrot via detailed aerial maps. They spent a night camping out at the spot, listening out for the distinctive calls of the parrot. One member from the group managed to take a photograph of the parrot.

The last recorded sighting of the parrot in Western Australia was in the Pilbara in 1912.

About Night Parrot

• The night parrot is a small parrot endemic to the continent of Australia.

• It is well known as being one of the most elusive and mysterious birds in the world.

• There were no known sightings of the bird between 1912 and 1979, which led to a speculation that it was extinct.

• Since 1979, the bird’s sightings have been extremely rare.

• The bird's population size is still unknown. However, it is estimated to be somewhere around 50 to 249 mature individuals.

• The first photographic and video evidence of the bird was publicly confirmed in July 2013.

• In August 2015, the capture of a live individual was announced on Australian media.