Extreme temperatures are expected across the nation this week thanks to a delayed monsoon and widespread drought conditions.

Key points: The Alice Springs Desert Park is home to 15 or 16 species of birds

The Alice Springs Desert Park is home to 15 or 16 species of birds By feeding birds earlier in the day, not only is it cooler but food stays fresher

By feeding birds earlier in the day, not only is it cooler but food stays fresher Overhead irrigation is scheduled for several times a day to mimic rain events in the desert

According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), central Australia is tipped to reach 45 degrees Celsius on Thursday which could break the January 3 record of 45.6C from earlier in 2019.

Every hot season, the Alice Springs Desert Park brings their bird feeding program forward by three hours.

Tugan Woodley, a specialist bird keeper at the park, said they did this to coincide with the cooler part of the day.

The park's Big Woodlands enclosure is home to about 15 or 16 species of birds, including the splendid fairy wren, the princess parrot, and the chiming wedgebill which has a distinctive and hypnotic call.

A pair of splendid fairy wrens preening each other in the morning sun. ( ABC Alice Springs: Emma Haskin )

"Our day starts at 6 o'clock. We start feeding out the birds as early as possible just to avoid the heat of the day," he said.

"That way, the food stays fresher for longer and the birds have a opportunity to feed."

According to the BOM, there were 43 days recorded above 40C in the central Australian summer between December 2018 and February 2019.

Despite last year's heat, Mr Woodley said he was not surprised.

"Summers seem to be getting longer and hotter every single year," he said.

"We only display local native species that are used to these conditions, that way we can avoid anything dying from any extreme heat.

"So long as they have a source of water, they're less vulnerable [and] if they can find some shade and shelter and just escape the heat of the day, they're typically fine."

Chiming wedgebill having an early morning feed at the Alice Springs Desert Park. ( ABC Alice Springs: Emma Haskin )

Dry times in red centre

The last rain event recorded at the Alice Springs Desert Park was on December 1 where 0.4 millimetres was recorded with a similar measurement taken on November 29.

Prior to that there had not been any rain recorded since June — but rain is vital to ensure birds survive the desert conditions.

"They definitely do need the rains to breed, which will then bring on the rodents for the raptors and then they can feed their young," Mr Woodley said.

"We need the rain to be able to bring up fresh seeding grasses that some of the seed eaters need to be able to feed their young as well."

A chiming wedgebill rain frolics in the overhead irrigation system. ( ABC Alice Springs: Emma Haskin )

Budgies and other nomadic bird species are always on the hunt for water and if has not rained for a long period of time it can effect the birds' ability to breed and repopulate.

"They will travel long distances to find watering holes and that's why, if you go out into anywhere in the greater Alice Springs region, you'll see very few of those birds at the moment," Mr Woodley said.

The park has installed overhead irrigation, which comes on several times a day to mimic rain events.

"That helps to cool off the birds. They can shower and they can drink the water from it and it lowers the temperature in the exhibits," Mr Woodley said.