Budgies, buttonquails, and other inland birds booming after drought and fire left them barely hanging on

After coming through a tough phase marked by drought and bushfires, some inland Australian bird species are now thriving after a plentiful amount of rain.

Birdlife Australia’s NSW woodland bird program manager Mick Roderick said it was hugely encouraging.

“A remarkable boon, it’s just been incredible,” he said.

“The rains really started in February [2020] and birds that would normally have bred by then — but hadn’t because of the hot, dry summer…