Brush-Turkeys are generally accepted as a part of our backyard birdlife.
As gardening styles have moved away from having large areas of lawn, many people have created a backyard environment similar to the Brush-Turkey’s preferred natural habitat — dense trees and plants, mulched garden beds, and plenty of moisture. However, Brush-Turkeys can be fairly destructive to a garden and a landscaped garden can be stripped of small plants and mulch by a male Brush-Turkey in less than a day!
To make your garden Brush-Turkey-proof:
- plan new gardens with Brush-Turkeys in mind
- avoid doing any planting near an existing mound
- put new plants in the ground in late summer after the main mound-building period (August–December)
- use tree guards on newly planted, valuable and vulnerable plants
- lay chicken wire over mulched beds and secure it with stakes and rocks.
- try to encourage a mound site away from valued gardens by providing mulch in an area of heavy shade where there is one or more large trees nearby.
- use heavy coverings such as rocks and large gravel over standard garden mulch
- don’t try to destroy a mound or feed Brush-Turkeys.
Licensed bird relocators can capture and relocate male Brush-Turkeys where it can be shown that the mound is a threat to human health and wellbeing, or is causing financial loss. A fee will usually be charged, and the welfare of eggs in the mound will need to be considered by the relocator. If a male is removed, the resulting ‘vacancy’ may be quickly filled by another male.
The Queensland Government has more information.