Kangaroo Island landholders are being invited to help protect one of the island’s endangered bird species, with free sheoak seedlings, tree guards and stakes available for planting in 2027.
The Kangaroo Island Landscape Board has opened registrations for its next planting program supporting the Glossy Black-Cockatoo Recovery Program.
Drooping sheoaks are an important food source for glossy black-cockatoos, with each bird consuming around 100 sheoak cones a day.
Since 2020, 133 Kangaroo Island landholders have planted more than 33,000 sheoak seedlings through the program, adding around 84 hectares of new plantings designed to expand and connect existing feeding habitat.
Manager of the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board’s Biodiversity Unit, Dr Karleah Berris, said, “We are excited to provide these seedlings, plus guards and stakes, free of charge to landholders if planting in our priority areas.
“Each glossy black-cockatoo feeds from around 100 sheoak cones a day, so these trees are an important part of the species’ recovery.”
Participants will need to provide the location of their proposed planting and, once the trees are in the ground, send through a photograph. A marked-up map or Google Maps screenshot is sufficient, with Landscape Board staff able to assist with mapping if required. The free seedlings are available to landholders planting within or close to priority areas.
Landholders can register their interest between October 2026 and January 2027, with the number of seedlings available to each participant expected to be confirmed by February.
Seedlings, guards and stakes will then be available for collection from the KI Native Plant Nursery during May and June 2027, ready for winter planting.
“In dry years, sheoaks produce fewer new cones. Planting more trees will help provide feeding habitat for glossies into the future.
“Landholders have already made a substantial contribution, and this is an opportunity for more people to get involved.”
Anyone unsure whether their property falls within an eligible area can contact the Landscape Board before registering.
Expressions of interest can be sent to [email protected] with the property location and requested number of seedlings, or landholders can call (08) 8553 2476.
The 2027 seedlings are being funded through the board’s Climate-proofed Cockatoos project.
Related
Previous articleTheatre Review: Frozen The Broadway Musical
