On the Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area in the Little Sandy Desert, a group of Indigenous Rangers are walking across the landscape in a line.

They're reading the country for signs of animals, tracks and scratchings, nests, fur, feathers and scats. It's like a search and rescue line, but for the environment.

While they're here, they'll complete environmental monitoring in the manner of western science, but they'll also be looking after the country in their own way.

Part of that is hearing the stories that inhabit this landscape, some of them in the recent past, and some in the deep history.

And some are stories of desert survival, mission towns and a bilby that was scared of the moon.

With special thanks to the Birriliburu Indigenous Rangers for having me on their country. In particular thank you to Rita Cutter, Caroline Long, Geoffrey Stewart, Brogan Ashwin, Juan Jeffries, Richard Narrier Junior, Delston Ashwin, Trisha Williams, Leonie Anderson, Katelyn Mongoo, Nathaniel Wongawol.

Thankyou also to Desert Support Services and Bush Heritage Australia for helping liaise with the rangers from afar.