by Guest Writers Suzie Cheel and Des Walsh
Australian brush turkeys, also called scrub or bush turkeys. The male is building the hollowed mound nest from leaves, other combustible material and earth. Typically more than one female will lay eggs there and the male then tends the nest for the next seven weeks till hatching. He checks the temperature regularly with his bill, then taking bits out or adding, to manage the temperature in a range of 33-38 degrees C (91-100 F). They look cute enough, but create a lot of mess along the beach walkways and if they nest near backyard gardens are known to acquire the gardeners’ mulch for their nests. Which may help to explain why they are listed on one site as one of a group of Australian âbirds behaving badly.”
Hope your weekend doesn’t leave you thinking that brush turkeys have been around.