An ANU survey of King Island has found a number of the critically endanger Scrubtit

Surveyors from Australian National University were researching the birds' population on the island and discovered several Scrubtits in two of the locations they are known to inhabit.

ANU's Matt Webb called the discovery "encouraging" given the fires of 2007 had wiped out 90 per cent of the Scrubtit's habitat.

"Things were very much on the edge as it was," Mr Webb said.

"The fire could have spelled the end. The handful of tiny patches that didn't burn are a bit of a litmus test."

Only about 50 King Island Scrubtits are believed to remain in the world.

Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management coastal coordinator Anna Wind said the survey conducted by ANU has only just started but the news is reassuring.

"The number of birds has been steadily declining over the last 20 years," she said.

"We thought we may have entirely lost this endemic species which is reliant on remnant forest for their survival."

There is an 83 per cent chance the King Island Scrubtit will be completely extinct by 2039.

Another endangered bird native to the area, the King Island Brown Thornbill, has not been seen since 2017 with and estimated 94 per cent probability of it being wiped out in 20 years.