The Australian brush turkey (Alectura Lathami), commonly known as the 'scrub turkey' or 'bush turkey', is a native bird species of Australia, safeguarded under the state wildlife legislation known as the Nature Conservation Act of 1992. It is an offense to inflict harm on these birds.
The brush turkey plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance. These resourceful birds serve as natural pest controllers, preying on insects and grubs within woodland habitats and urban gardens. Furthermore, their contribution extends to the dispersion of native vegetation seeds through their feaces.
It is the male brush-turkey that builds a nest which can impact people's backyards and properties. He constructs a nesting mound primarily from soil and plant debris, typically between August and December. These mounds can sprawl to sizes ranging between two to four meters in width and surpassing a meter in height.
Male Brush-turkeys should only be removed if their mound becomes threatening to human health and wellbeing or is causing financial loss.
There are usually plenty of other males that are keen to take up a vacant residence, so the success of this approach is not always guaranteed. It is also important to remember that brush-turkey mounds can contain lots of eggs, and their welfare should be a consideration before a licensed contractor is engaged.