North Sydney Council has some sound advice to stop loved up brush turkeys from building nest-mounds in your garden, as we head into breeding season.
It’s usually in June or July that male brush turkeys begin building a new nest-mound or refreshing last season’s successful mound. They relentlessly gather soil and leaflitter from areas surrounding their mound, which is often when these birds come into conflict with residents.
Gardens can be damaged as those large, powerful feet scrape away layers of mulch and ground cover. It is strewn across the ground in a literal stream of mulch material that links the mound with the source location – usually a garden or open space area. Surplus material left by brush turkey scrapings can create a mess in formal landscaped areas and in some cases, become a slippery hazard on public paths and staircases.
The breeding season for brush turkeys is affected by climatic conditions and generally lasts from July to December, though this can be extended during periods of predominantly cooler or wetter weather.
If you want to deter your local brush turkey from constructing a nest-mound in your garden, taking early action is critical. Once the mound is built and being visited by female brush turkeys, it is an offence to interfere with it. Encouraging a nest mound to be built in a less sensitive part of your garden can have benefits, as male brush turkeys are territorial during the breeding season and will actively keep other males from establishing mounds in their territory.
If you would like to learn more about brush turkeys, including ways to ethically and responsibly deter them from your garden, visit the NSW Environment and Heritage website.
