Free sheoaks to help KI’s glossy black-cockatoos

The Kangaroo Island Landscape Board’s 2027 planting program supports its Glossy Black-Cockatoo Recovery Program, with free seedlings available for planting within or near priority areas.

Since 2020, 133 landholders have planted more than 33,000 sheoak seedlings, adding approximately 84 hectares of plantings to expand and connect existing habitat.

Manager of the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board’s Biodiversity Unit, Dr Karleah Berris said planting more sheoaks would help strengthen the birds’ future food supply.

“We are excited to provide these seedlings, plus guards and stakes, free of charge to landholders if planting in our priority areas,” Dr Berris said.

“Each glossy black-cockatoo feeds from around 100 sheoak cones a day, so these trees are an important part of the species’ recovery,” Dr Berris said.

“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.”

To qualify, landholders must plant within or near priority areas, provide the location of their planting and send a photo of the sheoaks in the ground. A marked-up map or Google Maps screenshot is sufficient, and staff can help with mapping.

Registrations run from October 2026 to January 2027, with seedling numbers to be confirmed by February 2027. Seedlings and tree guards will be collected from the KI Native Plant Nursery in May–June 2027 for winter planting.

To register your interest, contact Karleah Berris at ki.landscapeboard@sa.gov.au with your property location and the number of seedlings you would like, or call (08) 8553 2476. If you are unsure whether your property is eligible, contact the team to check.

The 2027 seedlings are funded through the board’s Climate-proofed Cockatoos project, supported by the South Australian Government’s Landscape Priorities Fund.