Kate Quirk wrote:
I realise that this is a gardening group, and so everyone is working
from a different paradigm to myself, but I must admit to being a bit
shocked by the attitudes voiced (even jokingly) about our native
wildlife. Turkeys are by no means endangered, but everytime I see a
species doing well in the drastically altered landscape of our towns
and suburbs, I can't help but give a little cheer. We have numerous
turkeys in our suburb, and I figure that if people want to live in
bushy areas, then they have to put up with the "problematic" wildlife
(possums, turkeys etc), just as they do the "pretty" animals like
king parrots and lorikeets.

Kate:
I had no problem about the couple of turkeys that have resided in our area
for years, my problem is with a neighbour who feeds them & creates an
artificial enviroment for the birds. I live 2 mins walk from the CBD of
our town (a very old area), there is only 1 tiny bit of bush surrounded by 2
main roads. For many years the status quo of the birds remained static,
however now they are being fed, they are breeding prolifically, & have to
wander further afield to build their mounds, this means wandering onto main
roads, dangerous both for the turkeys & car drivers. There is now 20,
repeat 20, turkeys trying to live in am extremely small section of
bush......I am sure you will not find that many turkeys in the wild.
Other than the turkeys I go out of my way to make my garden friendly for the
local wildlife, have a possum box in one of my trees, a couple of bird baths
for the birds (a pair of wattle birds have build a nest & raised their young
in one of my plant pots), several green tree snakes can often be seen in my
garden & swimming in my fish pond, I have made my garden extremely lizard
friendly. The turkeys by wrecking my garden are also removing the covers
that the lizards & snakes use. My garden is not a formal one & in the eyes
of many is probably downright untidy, no formal borders, just recycled
timber or small logs, rocks & bits & pieces placed where ever for the
lizards, but I love it & it is apreciated by others for it's peacefulness.
I encourage local wildlife where ever I can, but I have now come to hate the
turkeys.


Okay, now that I've had *my* rant....... National Parks put out a
brochure detailing how to live along side bush turkeys (I'm surprised
that the council didn't mention this). One of its main
recommendations is that you put some fine metal or sturdy plastic
mesh just under your mulch or whatever. This makes it very
difficult for turkeys to scratch, and so they give up. As someone
else mentioned, turkeys (like all Australian wildlife) are protected.
You are not allowed to harm them or, strictly speaking, even remove
them to another location. Neither NPWS nor the council will remove
an animal unless it is likely to cause harm to itself or to others.

The council gave me no advise what so ever, however I have come up with my
own solution, as posted this morning.
A rubber snake & garden hose has worked wonders.
However the problems still remains, neighbours who mistakingly think they
are doing the right thing by feeding wildlife.
They would be better off (both wildlife & humans) if they planted a garden
like I have with a mixture of plants, that can sustain some wildlife,
instead of having a barren yard, & throwing food around ad hoc.
End of my rant.