How long do scrub turkeys nest for?
National Parks and Wildlife Service NSW advise that if a mound has been established for several weeks with a male Brush-Turkey maintaining it, the nest should be left until the young disperse. A period of 60 days should be left to allow the eggs to hatch, and the young emerge and disperse.
Do brush turkeys sit on their eggs?
The Australian brush turkey belongs to the family of birds known as megapodes because of their large feet. They construct large mounds of rotting vegetation to incubate their eggs.
Are brush turkeys endangered?
The natural range of the bird – also known as the bush or scrub turkey – stretches along the east coast from far north Queensland to the Illawarra, south of Sydney. It has never been endangered, but after several centuries of habitat loss and predation by cats and foxes, it did become scarce across large areas.
Can you relocate scrub turkeys?
They may be protected, but that’s not on. The only humane way of dealing with a persistent bush turkey is to trap it and relocate it in a bushland environment away from houses.
How do you get rid of turkeys without killing them?
It’s easy to scare turkeys away by making noises (try waving your arms and yelling or blowing a whistle), popping open an umbrella, throwing tennis balls, or dousing the turkey with water from a hose or squirt gun. A leashed dog may also be effective in scaring a turkey away.
Do turkeys keep snakes away?
Do turkeys keep snakes away? Yes, turkeys keep snakes away. If you have a lot of turkeys in your yard, they will kill the snakes there and other snakes will be scared of coming around your property.
When do scrub turkeys nest in the garden?
The brush turkey may be attracted towards the area, and may eventually take over the compost mound as its nesting mound. Scrub turkeys nest during the warm seasons, so you will have ready made compost to spread in your garden during the cool seasons.
What should the temperature be in a brush turkey nest?
The male spends a long time building and defending the nesting mound. Females are allowed access to it once the temperature is correct. For successful egg incubation the nest should be 33 degrees celsius. Once the female lays the eggs in the mound and buries them, the male keeps watch.
What to do about brush turkeys in NSW?
The NSW Dept of Environment says “Once a male brush turkey has started to build its mound, it is extremely difficult to prevent it from continuing its efforts. No single method of deterrence has proved effective in all situations, but you can try: * growing plants in raised beds.
How many eggs does a scrub turkey lay?
Just like a good compost heap, these mounds generate heat that incubates the eggs — once the eggs are laid the mother is off, and the father only sticks around to defend the mound. Up to 50 eggs are laid by several females in a single mound.