Green day for Southern Highland's glossy black-cockatoo

Media release: 24 November 2016

More than 700 trees are being planted across backyards in the Southern Highlands as part of a grassroots plan to save the glossy black-cockatoo.

Earlier this month Allocasuarina littoralis or black sheoak trees were provided free to locals at a ‘hand-out’ day at Bundanoon organised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

NPWS Area Manager Graham Bush said one of the best ways to ensure the survival of this iconic, yet threatened bird is to secure its habitat and food trees.

“We know that glossy black-cockatoos favour seeds of mature casuarina trees so over the past year staff have organised the collection and propagation of local seed, growing 700 flourishing plants,” Mr Bush said.

“The idea was that locals would take these young trees home and plant them in their yards or on their properties to expand healthy habitat and food supply for the cockatoos.

“What we didn’t expect was the overwhelming demand for these trees and genuine enthusiasm from people willing to do their small part to help this species.

“These trees are now in people’s gardens, hedges and even being used as boundary and wind breaks,” Mr Bush said.

On the day, locals were also provided with canes, tree guards, instructions on planting, cards for recording cockatoo sightings and offers of assistance from the Wingecarribee Shire Council Bush Care team and Friends of Morton Volunteer Group.

“From a relatively small seed collection project, we have reached a point where our combined actions with the community are having a direct impact,” Mr Bush said.

“It just goes to show how a seed of an idea has literally flourished into a practical solution to save this extraordinary bird.

“More of the propagated trees will be planted in the Bundanoon section of Morton National Park, Bungonia National Park, Cecil Hoskins Nature Reserve and Council Reserves from early next year.

“Special thanks goes to the community for their overwhelming support of the project and our valuable partners: Wingecarribee Shire Council Bush Care, Lions Club (Bundanoon), Friends of Morton National Park Volunteer Group and Bundanoon Community Association,” Mr Bush said.

The NSW Government’s $100 million Saving our Species program aims to secure threatened species such as the glossy black-cockatoo in the wild for at least 100 years.

For more information about what we are doing to help this and other species, please visit the Saving our Species website.

Photos for media: www.flickr.com/photos/nswnationalparks/albums/72157672879937093

Contact: Sarah Scroope