The arid nature of the Pullen Pullen landscape has prevented large bushfires sweeping through and frequently burning the spinifex. This is thought to have helped the night parrot survive.

Bush Heritage’s Rob Murphy is but a speck in this aerial shot of a crumbling escarpment.

Rocky outcrops punctuate the arid plains and catch the late afternoon Sun to spectacular effect.

Pullen Pullen Reserve.

Mostly very arid, Pullen Pullen reserve is subject to periodic flooding deluges that create sitting floodplains.

Spinifex, the favoured nesting place and bolt hole of the night parrot, is abundant at Pullen Pullen.

Kangaroos take flight across the arid plains at Pullen Pullen Reserve.

Shadows form an abstract pattern in the ubiquitous red dirt of western Queensland’s Pullen Pullen Reserve.

Aside from the odd road train, traffic is sparse through the wider region around the reserve.

A night parrot as photographed at Pullen Pullen Reserve by Steve Murphy in 2016; even he has only seen the bird on a handful of occasions, more often using its call to track the behaviour of the species. Only three people currently living have verified they’ve seen them live.

Biologists Steve Murphy and Rachel Barr look over camera trap images for signs of night parrots.

High tech ‘grooming’ traps detect feral cats with infrared and spray them with poison gel.

John Read (centre) has developed advanced new feral cat traps which could save the night parrot from extinction.

Maiawali traditional owner Judith Harrison.

Maiawali traditional owner Judith Harrison and her daughter Tammy Meers.

Steve and Rachel prepare equipment that will help track the behaviour of critically endangered night parrots.

The yellow spotted monitor is one of a variety of reptiles found in this arid part of western Queensland.