Nearby, conservation biologist Arianna Brandt is involved in trying to reintroduce the threatened glossy black cockatoos into the wilds of Murrungowar National Park. Alone in the bush, with her birds failing to thrive, Arianna's personal demons start to overwhelm her and risk undoing everything. At first, when the two women's paths cross, they appear at loggerheads, but are they ultimately invested in the same outcome, even if for different reasons? Rain Birds is an accomplished and unforgettable novel examining personal tragedy as set against global and environmental responsibilities, and how we negotiate our often-conflicting ideals.