Experts say they had never heard of brush turkeys feasting on roadkill before - but they’re not surprised.
Researchers are asking people to report brush turkey sightings and other strange feeding behaviours of suburban birds via an app.Demonstrating a behaviour eerily reminiscent of their jurassic ancestors a pack of brush turkeys has been filmed in Manly ravenously devouring the carcass of a bandicoot. “People probably don’t think that’s what they’re doing, but when they’re raking through the leaf litter, they’re actually hunting.”
He believes that having occupied Sydney’s suburbs, the birds are feeding on abundant roadkill that was not once part of their environment.Brush turkeys are the most ancient species in the Galliformes – the bird family that includes chickens and quails – and their prehistoric nesting method is more similar to crocodiles than other birds.
Once they dig their way out from the tonnes of sticks and leaf litter, chicks are left to their own devices to survive the suburban gauntlet of cars, cats and cranky gardeners. Jones initially thought it was “one weird bird doing aberrant things”. But after putting a callout to the community there was a “deluge” of responses from households who had seen lorikeets getting in on the mince residents left out for magpies.
angus_dalton The vast majority would support USA style gun access in the case of dealing with these hideous birds.
hope you're staying safe in these dangerous times john_hartley shhartley !
angus_dalton With the price of groceries, they could soon become extinct...just saying
angus_dalton Nature finds its way. When hungry, anything helps.
angus_dalton I have one at my place. Need I fear for my life Have they become angry all of a sudden ?
angus_dalton Coincidence?