Origma Enigma – NSW Twitchathon Funds at work for KBAs

The Binocularks, Tim Hoskin, Kristy Peters and Steven Cox

The BIGnet Twitchathon in 2020 raised an amazing $26,991 for monitoring and conservation work of the Origma and other cryptic species in bushfire affected areas of NSW. A big Thank You goes to BIGnet and all Twitchathon Teams and sponsor who have made this possible! This project has now conducted basic analyses which reveal just how timely and important these funds are.

Before the fires, in 2019, Rockwarblers were recoded 218 times at 130 sites. In 2020, and with the ‘help’ of Covid restrictions, they were recorded only in 77 surveys at 55 sites. Six months into 2021, the situation is still worrying. The Origma has been reported only 27 times at 24 sites. In addition, our spatial analysis reveals considerable gaps in monitoring of Origma in difficult to access areas. This spring, the project aims to support volunteers to revisit the sites and close some of these gaps. A particular focus will be on including a Bushfire assessment with any birdata surveys conducted at historic or potential Origma sites.  

Meanwhile, please continue to report standardized surveys from Rockwarbler sites to birdata (whether or not you have encountered the bird) and fill out our quick bushfire assessment alongside your survey. Thank you all for your hard work helping to protect this charismatic NSW endemic.