Researchers have recorded the first fledgling night parrot seen since the elusive bird was rediscovered in south-west Queensland in 2013.

It was thought to be extinct for more than 75 years until it was found by naturalist John Young at a site that has been kept secret.

Scientists Nick Leseberg and James Watson were conducting a field study when the tiny bird suddenly flew out from a spinifex hummock in what Mr Leseberg says was an extraordinary moment.

"To see your first one and to realise what it was that you're actually seeing, not just a night parrot but a fledgling and the first evidence of successful breeding was very, very exciting. There were a few deep breaths," the PhD candidate explained.

A fledgling night parrot at Pullen Pullen Nature Refuge. ( Supplied: James Watson )

The Queensland University scientists believe they also made the first recording of a fledgling's call when they returned to the site later in the day.

"We waited for the sun to set and an adult bird came in right to the hummock, where we'd seen the fledgling and started calling to it," Mr Leseberg said.

"We can't confirm it because we didn't see the fledgling giving the call back, but it sounds like a really soft contact call and we could hear it coming from at least two or three spots from nearby, so we suspect there was at least two or three fledglings."

Earlier this year, researcher Dr Steve Murphy photographed a night parrot nest complete with eggs, but it was later plundered by a predator.

"One thing we want to look at there is breeding success because being a ground-nesting bird puts the night parrot in an at-risk category," Mr Leseberg said.

"Ground-nesting birds are predated fairly heavily at that stage of their life cycle — so we see if there's maybe some management options we can put around that."

Finding more locations essential to increasing chances of survival

The secret site that is home to the night parrot is known as Pullen Pullen Nature Refuge, and was created by Bush Heritage Australia with the assistance of the Queensland Government, which chipped in $400,000 in funding.

A camera trap set up to try to snap the Night Parrot. ( Supplied: Australian Bush heritage. )

The Government also increased penalties for any unauthorised person encroaching on a night parrot protection zone.

Dr Murphy has headed research into the bird since it was rediscovered, but is now pleased to be handing over the task to a new team.

"It's really important with research like this that you get more and more minds onto it because people come on with fresh ideas and fresh energy and they can really take it in direction that might otherwise not have happened," he said.

Dr Murphy agreed the sighting of the fledgling was highly significant.

"Not only are we able to see what fledglings look like but it's further evidence that night parrots are breeding out in western Queensland, so it's really fantastic," he said.

"When you cast your mind back to where we were in early 2013, we didn't have a location to go and study these birds.

"When we consider the amount of knowledge we have now, it's almost unbelievable.

"Hopefully, it means that we're in a better position to manage them. If we can find more locations where they occur then we can do things like control feral cats in those landscapes or manage fire better.

"Ultimately, it helps us manage the birds so that we can increase their chances of survival into the future."