Since last year's National Threatened Species Day on September 7, 2007, there have been confirmed sightings of the threatened Superb Parrot and Gang-gang Cockatoo.

Leonie Gale, CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, reported on some of the region's rarest threatened species in the context of the Dymocks Golden Paw Award 2008, which will recognise the NSW or ACT primary school student who creates the best coloured drawing of a threatened Australian animal.

"The region provides habitat for a great number of other threatened species, including the Brown Treecreeper, the Diamond Firetail and the Yellow-bellied Glider. People possibly saw these animals too, but may simply not have recognised them. Most threatened species are so rare that we often don't know what they look like," said Ms Gale.

"This is where we need the children's help. Their drawings show everyone what our threatened animals look like, and people will recognise them when they see them. They can help find our threatened species so we can protect them and their homes," she said.

"In 2008 we also find that there were less sightings of those threatened animals that live in or near water such as Yass' local Booroolong Frog. That's why the Australian National Maritime Museum will display the best 600 drawings of threatened aquatic animals," she said.

"The nine winners receive trophies and great prizes including book vouchers from Dymocks, national parks Discovery tours, Faber-Castell art supplies and Project AWARE activity books and passes to the museum. But the greatest gift is for the animals," said Ms Gale.

Don Grover, CEO of Dymocks explains, "We have decided to match the children's efforts. While they raise awareness for our threatened species we add the funds for on-ground conservation. For every Golden Paw entry Dymocks will donate $1 to the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife to help save our threatened animals."