Most birdie experts think that it had all but go extinct in the 1960s , with only a handful of rarefied sightings – include the remains of two utter individuals 25 years ago and some not uncontroversial photos – in the last hundred years . But researchersin Queensland , Australia , recently managed to find the birding holy grail , having managed not only to capture , but also to track a wild night parrot ( Pezoporus occidentalis ) .
It was in 2013 that interest was piqued when , after spending 15 geezerhood searching , an bird watcher let on a 17 2d film of a night parrot – the first ever of a live individual – on a remote ranch in Queensland , though he refused to break the exact locating . distrust of forging premature picture of rare wench , doubtfulness was cast on the genuineness of this footage , but either way , it was enough for Dr Steve Murphy to be commissioned to investigate further .
After collecting a desoxyribonucleic acid sampling , the investigator were capable to attach a transmitter to its back , to hopefully learn something – anything – about the problematic raspberry ’s habit . Since the tagging , the doll has only been fleck once more , and Murphy think it potential that the tag has since fallen off , but not before they collected some data point on its movements . The DNA sample select also lend to the mystery , as the researchers were ineffective to determine if the parrot they caught was manlike or female .
The tracking of the nocturnal bird revealed that it travel up to 8 kilometers ( 4 Admiralty mile ) a night in hunt of food for thought , but always come back to the same nesting internet site . Due to the probable threat of not only poaching , but also well - meaning ornithologists hoping to get a glimpse of the rarefied parrot , the precise localisation has been maintain under wraps . Now that at least one positioning for the Nox parrot has been confirm beyond doubt , the wheels are in motion to get the area protected , while Dr Murphy plans on return to see if he can net and tag any more .
Center range of a function : An artist ’s draftsmanship of the night parrot , thought to have been extinct for the last 100 year . Credit : Martin Thompson / Flyingidiot / Wikimedia Commons .
