A glossy black cockatoo struts along a tree branch, chirping and preening as he flicks his red tail to impress a female in a dramatic courtship ritual.
Environment worker and photographer Jayden Gunn remembers the sheer joy of watching this mating display, a rare sight in the elusive threatened species.
"With them being so secretive, not many people get to experience that," Mr Gunn told AAP.
"It feels quite special being out there in their presence."
The 29-year-old has long been involved in Landcare Australia across national parks in country NSW, while also working for conservation group BirdLife Australia.
This work has exposed Mr Gunn to the devastation of fires, floods and prolonged drought, including the loss of trees the glossy black cockatoos feed on.
But rather than feeling despondent, the environment continues to give Mr Gunn hope as he watches the movement of birds, replants trees and helps regenerate the landscape.
"Getting out there and repairing things with your own hands, seeing it flourish, observing nature and watching it defeat the odds - despite the turmoil - is priceless."
As young people increasingly report climate anxiety or dread, an eminent youth psychiatrist says environmental work like Mr Gunn's can be a powerful antidote.
Two-thirds of people aged between 16 and 25 say climate change concerns are negatively affecting their mental health, according to a 2023 survey by youth mental health organisation Orygen.
Climate anxiety is "a rise in sanity" rather than an increase in a particular condition, according to Brett McDermott, director of Tasmania's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
"What we're seeing is people being realistically anxious about a threat to themselves and a threat to society," Professor McDermott told AAP.
"It's rising because the evidence is we should be anxious about this."
While disaster-related trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder are acute conditions requiring clinical care, Prof McDermott said climate anxiety can be eased with deliberate acts of optimism.
Young people seeking help need to find climate-aware practitioners, he said.
"Don't go and see someone who's just as depressed about the climate as you are - you need to not model pessimism and hopelessness."
Being involved in optimistic and proactive communities - like land care and conservation groups - can also be a salve for climate anxiety.
"I don't think this is a reason for another increase in spending on mental health treatment," Prof McDermott said.
"This is a reason to spend on land care projects and community projects that involve young people."
Professor McDermott will present his work on disasters and climate anxiety at the Australian Association for Adolescent Health conference in Brisbane in November.
His view is borne out by Landcare Australia's 2021 research into the wellbeing of its volunteers and coordinators, with nearly half reporting the work boosted their mental resilience.
Younger participants were more likely to report improvements in wellbeing than their older peers, according to the survey of 1000 people.
"Engaging in landcare not only fosters a sense of purpose and contribution to restoring and protecting the environment, but also enhances the physical and mental wellbeing of people through hands-on land care projects and connection to place," Landcare Australia chief executive Shane Norrish said.
Mr Gunn said he's had moments of feeling "crushed" by climate disasters, but focuses on the things he can change.
"I don't try to fix the world anymore," he said.
"I try my hardest to maintain what's in front of me to the best of my ability.
"That's enough for any of us."
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