Laurie,
Eric's list of potential predators seen off in this manner is greater than
mine but I can add dog, Red-bellied Black Snake and Amethystine Python.
Regards,
Alan
-----Original Message-----
From: Laurie Knight
Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2015 9:22 PM
To: Birding Aus
Subject: Mound defence by the Australian Bush Turkey
There is a population of turkeys living in the bushland near my house in
Brisbane. A male has a substantial mound between a council access track and
a row of houses near a gully. The mound has produced a number of “runners”
this summer.
I have had previous experience with nesting turkeys (I had a productive
mound in my backyard at a different property) and had not noticed any
aggressive behaviour (outside of inter-turkey relations). In the case of
this mound, however, on several occasions while I was walking my dog (on a
lead) along the council track, the custodial male has approached us - from
the side or behind. I have stopped to watch it when got to within a couple
of metres. When I did so, it would scratch sticks and stones in our
direction. It was clearly seeking to move us on. Typically it would follow
us for 50 metres (outside its raking zone). It would start scratching each
time we stopped.
I initially thought it was reacting to the colour of my shirt (which was
similar to the colour of its wattle), but disproved that when it reacted
while I was wearing a different colour. I suspect it was reacting to the
presence of my dog, which from a turkey’s perspective, might look a bit like
a dingo.
Has anyone else noted turkeys defending their mounds in this manner?
Regards, Laurie.
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