A recent survey has spotted 1,600 Regent Parrots, considered an endangered species, in just two hours in northwest Victoria, delighting both scientists and twitchers.

Key points: Teams counted 3 times the number of adult Regent Parrots thought to exist in Victoria

Teams counted 3 times the number of adult Regent Parrots thought to exist in Victoria Parrot listed as threatened in Victoria, elsewhere in Australia it's considered endangered

Parrot listed as threatened in Victoria, elsewhere in Australia it's considered endangered Field Naturalists Club member calls for more research into endangered species

The Regent Parrot's population had dwindled as low as 500 in recent years.

The parrots were spotted near the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, located on the edge of the Murray River just south of Mildura, by a group of nature enthusiasts conducting a fauna survey at the Annuello Flora and Fauna Reserve.

Dr Mark Antos from Parks Victoria said they made the discovery one night when they noticed a large number of the birds flying overhead and decided to stop and do a count.

"So we counted 140 birds, and we thought this is pretty spectacular," he said.

"So we ended up going back the next afternoon and did it a bit more rigorously."

They then counted 1,600, which was more than three times the number of adult Regent Parrots thought to exist in Victoria, where it has been listed as a threatened species.

'This shows parks and habitats need more care'

The Murray River has been experiencing particularly high floods after exceptional rainfall throughout winter and spring, which could explain the increase in the population.

Dr Antos said the finding was significant as it showed that the parrots had experienced an "exceptionally good breeding season".

"So this is probably influenced by recent weather events, where we've had good rainfall over winter and spring," he said.

"And also due to the floods and environmental flows that we've had on the Murray River, where they actually nest."

The discovery comes at a time of renewed debate about water use in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Dr Antos said it showed the importance of caring for parks and habitats during the hard and dry times.

"[Regent Parrots] really have a lot of capacity to bounce back when the water and the rainfall does arrive," he said.

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'More research of endangered species needed'

John Harris, from the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, said while the discovery gave him hope for the Regent Parrot's future, it showed that more needed to be done.

"If four people sitting on two remnant roadsides can count 1,500 birds thereabouts in approximately an hour and a half and potentially increase the number of known birds in the state," he said.

"Then there's a long way to go in how much more research needs to be put in to our endangered species."

The group will return to count Regent Parrots again next Easter.