Wildlife officers have successfully relocated a second group of Western Australia's rarest bird in a bid to save the critically endangered species.
There are fewer than 140 western ground parrots in the remote Cape Arid National Park near Esperance.
Their numbers have been significantly reduced by foxes, cats, and bushfires, which have ravaged 80 per cent of the park in recent years.
The WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) last year successfully translocated a first small group of the birds to a secret location near Albany.
The birds have since survived and adapted to the area, prompting a second relocation.
DBCA regional ecologist Sarah Comer said she was "delighted the birds persisted through the full 12 months after release".
Ms Comer said a lot of work had gone into managing the habitat to increase the success rate of the birds.
No evidence of breeding
Ms Comer hoped their numbers would start to increase but said it could take time for the birds to settle into a new location and find a mate.
"We have heard two birds in one location, but at this point we have no evidence of breeding," she said.
Ms Comer said it could be challenging to keep track of the birds
"The only way that we can detect them is by hearing their calls," she said.
Ms Comer said the relocation was about juggling the risk involved in trying to bolster the number of birds without affecting their source population.
"Hopefully, those birds will do well and settle and decide they quite like being there," she said.
