THESE two sheoak trees have enjoyed some of Portland’s best views for a very long time – all the while providing vital habitat for wildlife and birds as well as doing their small bit for soil stabilisation on the cliffs – but they appear to have been deliberately poisoned.

North Portland resident Jeanne Kelly said she first noticed something was wrong with the trees a few weeks ago.

At first she thought a golden-brown “glow” of one tree and one of two limbs of the other was due to the sun setting.

“But then it became obvious,” she said.

Ms Kelly’s son found about 15 holes drilled into the two trees, and that find has saddened and angered her.

“We’re devastated, it’s just heartbreaking” she said.

“I’ve been here 35 years and these trees were here a long time before me.

“They provide a food source for cockatoos in particular. You see yellow-tail black cockatoos stop off on their way to the (North Portland) cemetery.”

Indeed, while the Observer was on site a koala was making a temporary home in one of the dead trees, which are some distance from any other vegetation.

The only positive is that one stem of one of the trees appears to have been largely unaffected.

Ms Kelly reported the poisoning to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

Conservation Regulator Barwon South West regulatory operations manager Glenn Sharp said the trees had been inspected by the regulator.

“The trees appear to be dying however the cause of the deterioration is yet to be determined,” he said.

“We’re making inquiries and anyone with information is encouraged to report it to 136 186.

“All information will be treated as confidential.”

 Damaging native vegetation on Crown land was illegal and could attract a fine of up to $9000 under the Forests Act.