Shahzad Siddiqui

Less than 90 of these birds remain in the wild!

Two years!
Two years of chasing one of the worlds rarest birds- less than 90 left in the wild.

Countless dawn starts. Hours standing in freezing temperatures and biting cold winds, scanning every flock... only to come home empty-handed.

Then last week, everything changed.
A crystal-clear morning, the sun was out and barely a breeze- there they were.

Not one. Not two. Eight Orange-bellied Parrots.

For more than two unforgettable hours, I watched them feed, fly and simply exist.
A species that once dwindled to just 17 wild birds (3 females), now fighting its way back from the very edge of extinction.

Moments like these truly take your breath away.

Wildlife photography isn't just about the photo, it's about patience, persistence, and the privilege of witnessing something so few people ever get to experience.

Some encounters are earned. Some are gifted. This one felt like both. What a privilege!

🧡 Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) 📍Victoria, Australia

#Orangebelliedparrot #OBP #birding #birdtales #birdlovers