Revenge of the Brush Turkey

[The Jolly Swagman]

The first thing you have to do is to clear your mind of any Turkey you are familiar with, because very few of their characteristics are similar to the Brush Turkey. Once upon a time the Turkey enjoyed the rainforest habitat bordering the Brisbane river. However, land development and prestige housing forced him out. The Brush Turkey though is making a comeback. He is a fully protected species by law At one time you would only see him in rainforest. Now you are liable to encounter him in many suburbs, especially his old stamping ground along the river. Now when the male turkey decides to build a nest. He builds a large economy size measuring about 4 metres across by 1metre high ( or 13 feet by 3 feet)
Yes! You did read that correctly. Only the male does the building , scratching up this mound of litter and testing the temperature inside with his head. If it’s too high he will remove some of the litter. Now as all that litter comes from within your garden you can well understand why he is not welcome especially if the site chosen is your rose garden “The imaginary conversation from the householder would go something like “Oh its Celia calling, Darling. I’m afraid our weekly tennis game is cancelled for the week because some beastly birds have decided to build a nest on the court, but we will soon get rid of him”. That’s what she thinks, because the bird is very determined. Some one suggested laying down wire netting. The bird buried it under leaf litter. Someone else suggested laying motor tyres. The bird incorporated them so that his nest could be the first mound to be sponsored by Dunlop. If any one has thoughts of eating him at this point I would suggest that the tyres would be more tender and palatable Another fool proof suggestion was to hang mirrors around the base of the nest. Undeterred the bird carried on with his task whilst admiring his image at every opportunity. The most outlandish suggestion was the hint by a newspaper journalist that the way to discourage them was to urinate around the mound. Now whether he was arrested for indecent exposure I cannot say, because I never read of his existence again. Now all the time this mound is building the hen will inspect it every so often until she is satisfied with its incubation capability and then she will lay an egg every two or three days until there are about 2 dozen within the mound and then she will trot off without a backward glance until next season. The male will hang around to discourage and disturbance by lizard etc and after 50 days the chicks will emerge. They are completely independent and disappear into the surrounding vegetation. Of course not many of the two dozen will make it to adult hood but enough to dig up Celia’s tennis court in the future

[ericrovve]

Super story, Swagman - and I believe every word of it!

[goosey]

I have been doing my best to create a wildlife friendly garden for 3 or 4 years now, I think I might change my mind if a Brush Turkey turned up to nest. It's nest alone would take up ALL of the garden . Lucky for them then that they are protected as people must find them annoying.
So have I got this right - that as soon as the chicks hatch, that they are off to fend for themselves? Are there other birds that are like this? When I think of the poor little birds that come into the garden to feed their young constantly during the day geting shabbier and shabbier as their hard work at feeding their brood continues. There again with 24 chicks to feed Brush Turkeys would have to be some sort of super parents!

[ericrovve]

Goosey,
Most of the game birds feed themselves on hatching - even the marsupial Turkey

[paul m]

Birds (indeed, animals in general) are divided into nidifugous and nidicolous depending on whether they immediately fly the nest or stay and are tended by parents (the latter tend to be baldish at birth).

It tends to be an environmental thing - sea birds which nest on the shore tend to have nidifugous young while cliff dwellers tend to be nidicolous. Birdlets emerging in open areas with lots of predators need to run away and hide whereas birds emerging in protected situations can afford the luxury of a few days parental care. In the case of nidicolous humans, many years of parental care!

Topic: Nidicolous

Originally Posted by goosey

I have been doing my best to create a wildlife friendly garden for 3 or 4 years now, I think I might change my mind if a Brush Turkey turned up to nest. It's nest alone would take up ALL of the garden . Lucky for them then that they are protected as people must find them annoying.
So have I got this right - that as soon as the chicks hatch, that they are off to fend for themselves? Are there other birds that are like this? When I think of the poor little birds that come into the garden to feed their young constantly during the day geting shabbier and shabbier as their hard work at feeding their brood continues. There again with 24 chicks to feed Brush Turkeys would have to be some sort of super parents!

[goosey]

Originally Posted by paul m

Birds (indeed, animals in general) are divided into nidifugous and nidicolous depending on whether they immediately fly the nest or stay and are tended by parents (the latter tend to be baldish at birth).
Topic: Nidicolous

Originally Posted by ericrovve

Goosey,
Most of the game birds feed themselves on hatching - even the marsupial Turkey

I feel rather embarrassed now - I had no idea. The only birds I have really any dealings with are garden birds .
Thanks though -it's something else I have learned!

[paul m]

Never be embarrassed at a lack of knowledge in one area. What I don't know about quantum physics is unbelievable I would bet that everyone on this forum knows something that nobody else does ... experience, reading, observation ... I personally have an enormous ignorance about moths and butterflies ... I'm always happy to be educated!

Originally Posted by goosey

I feel rather embarrassed now - I had no idea. The only birds I have really any dealings with are garden birds .
Thanks though -it's something else I have learned!

[The Jolly Swagman]

The Brush Turkey chicks are indeed independant when they emerge from the nest. Although it is thought they take hints on pecking up from others.
Paul stick around somewhere in the future a Moth is on my menu Like no other moth you have ever heard of LOL !