Brush turkeys have been hanging out on the freshly turned soil in the Artarmon community garden, where there was a good harvest of root veggies.
The garden is now guarded by soft toys and DVDs dangling, netting and timber constructions which gardeners hope will deter the brush turkeys.
The romantic male brush turkeys looking for a future love nest were sizing up the compost bays, which have now been covered.
The gardeners are not sure if these initiatives will work, but they agree it does make the garden look rather interesting and colourful.
Gardeners have sighted as many as six brush turkeys at a time digging for goodies in the garden.
The gardeners meet up on Sunday and Thursday mornings at 10 am.