Glossy black-cockatoo numbers hold strong as eastern expansion takes off

Last year, 40 volunteers contributed 238 hours to the island-wide count, alongside 48 private landholders and National Parks and Wildlife Service SA properties. The census remains one of Kangaroo Island’s most significant community-supported conservation activities.

Kangaroo Island Landscape Board Biodiversity Unit Manager Karleah Berris said the results highlight both the resilience of the species and the importance of collective conservation effort.

“Glossy black-cockatoos rely on us—quite literally—for their survival. They are a conservation-dependent species, and we simply couldn’t undertake an island-wide population count without the commitment of volunteers, landholders and partners across Kangaroo Island,” Ms Berris said.

“A minimum of 446 Glossies were recorded this year, which is only slightly lower than the counts from 2020 and 2023. Six years of post-fire data tell us that while the population growth we saw pre-fire has levelled off, the population has remained relatively stable since the 2020 bushfires. That’s encouraging news.”

Minister for Climate, Environment and Water Lucy Hood added: “This is vital work carried out by a dedicated group of volunteers who are committed to a species once teetering on the brink of extinction.”

“Our Government is proud to support conservation efforts on the island, with funding provided for a more resilient Glossy Black-Cockatoo population in the latest round of the Landscape Priorities Fund,” Minister Hood said.

REGIONAL TRENDS AND BREEDING INDICATORS

The 2025 count revealed some regional differences:

• North coast (fire-affected region): slight decline in population size.
• Eastern Kangaroo Island (unburnt areas): small increase in total birds counted.
• Western regions (fire-affected): low fledgling numbers between 2022–2025.
• Eastern regions: higher breeding success and stronger fledgling production.

Ms Berris said these patterns reflect the conditions Glossies are experiencing across different landscapes.

“In some fire-affected areas, we’re seeing fewer pairs breeding and lower fledgling survival,” she said. “Lower fledgling numbers in 2025 may also be linked to reduced food availability after a very dry 12-month period, which can affect breeding success.”

A STANDOUT YEAR FOR EASTERN KANGAROO ISLAND

One of the most striking results from the 2025 census was a flock of 51 Glossies at Penneshaw in Baudin Conservation Park—the highest count ever recorded on the Dudley Peninsula. A further five birds were also counted at Lashmar Lagoon.

“The Dudley Peninsula is one of our most exciting expansion areas,” Ms Berris said. “Glossies were first recorded breeding there in 2015, and this year nine pairs nested—seven of which successfully fledged young.”

She said high-quality sheoak habitat is driving the recovery.

“Baudin Conservation Park is a real gem. It has fantastic quality young sheoak habitat thanks to decades of revegetation and natural regeneration. Glossies love these younger, bushy sheoaks because they produce high-quality seed and good cone crops.”

Because the Dudley region lacks old gums with natural nesting hollows, breeding success there relies entirely on artificial nest boxes.

“This eastern expansion has really taken off as more nest boxes have been installed in key locations. The birds have responded incredibly well.”

LONG-TERM RECOVERY EVIDENT IN THE EAST

Between 1995 and 2000, the highest combined count for the Cygnet River, American River and Dudley Peninsula areas was 44 Glossies. In 2025, that number has increased to 144 birds.

Ms Berris said this long-term growth shows what sustained conservation investment can achieve.

“The expansion and recovery in eastern Kangaroo Island is a testament to decades of work—protecting nests from predators and competitors, installing and maintaining nest boxes, and safeguarding sheoak feeding habitat,” she said.

“This ongoing increase has even resulted in a handful of male Glossies being sighted on the Fleurieu and Yorke Peninsulas in recent years as they explore new areas.”

FURTHER CONSERVATION EFFORTS BOLSTER GLOSSY BLACK-COCKATOO NUMBERS

In addition to monitoring and nest-box management, the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board is delivering long-term habitat restoration projects critical to the future of the species.

In July 2025, the Board’s Woodland Birds project, led by Ms Berris and funded by the Australian Government Saving Native Species program, planted 2,400 seedlings within a newly fenced site at Lathami Conservation Park to expand foraging habitat for Glossy black-cockatoos and the endangered Western Beautiful Firetail.

“The Lathami–Stokes Bay area is a real hotspot for both species,” Ms Berris said. “We’re hoping this new revegetation will increase the available habitat well into the future. Both Glossies and Western Beautiful Firetails are already using the older revegetation near this year’s planting site, which is really promising.”

The two-week planting effort was supported by Kangaroo Island National Parks and Wildlife Service and Landscape Board staff, who volunteered their time to help establish the site.

“Seeing 2,400 seedlings go into the ground—half Drooping Sheoak and half other key species for Beautiful Firetails—was an incredible effort. The older plantings show that within eight years, this site will be providing critical food and shelter for a variety of woodland birds,” Ms Berris said.

She also recognised the contribution of National Parks and Wildlife Service staff who constructed the protective fence around the site, and the leadership of NPWS Ranger Alison Buck, who helped drive the collaborative approach.

“All seedlings used in this project were produced locally by the Kangaroo Island Native Plant Nursery, which plays a vital role in underpinning flora and fauna conservation efforts across the island,” Ms Berris said. “Their work ensures we have the high-quality local provenance plants needed to support species like the Glossy black-cockatoo and Western Beautiful Firetail.”

PLANS FOR 2026

“In the coming months, we’ll be working together to design new signage for the site, and next year we hope to hold another planting day to infill the area with a wider diversity of species,” Ms Berris said.

The Landscape Priorities Fund “Climate-proofed Cockatoos” project (2026–27) will further strengthen Glossy black-cockatoo resilience by:

• creating “stepping stone” sheoak plantings to help connect flocks, supporting movement across the landscape and improving resilience during future bushfire events
• trialling insulated nest boxes in burnt areas where reduced canopy cover leaves hollow sites exposed to heat stress

These landscape-scale actions aim to improve breeding conditions and long-term survival prospects for this conservation-dependent species.

A CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP BUILT OVER DECADES

The Glossy black-cockatoo Recovery Program is delivered by the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, supported by the Australian Government, Nature Foundation, private landholders, volunteers and conservation partners.

“The Glossy black-cockatoo is one of Kangaroo Island’s most important conservation-dependent species,” Ms Berris said. “Their continued recovery shows what’s possible when a community works together over the long term.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP SECURE THE FUTURE OF KI’S GLOSSIES

To help create more Glossy feeding habitat, donate to Nature Foundation here:
https://www.naturefoundation.org.au/get-involved/donate/other/glossy-black-cockatoo-recovery-program

Donations go directly to on-ground actions, including propagating and planting sheoak trees essential for Glossy black-cockatoo survival.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the progress of this program, download the detailed 2025 Kangaroo Island Glossy Black-Cockatoo Census Report.