Brush Turkeys

The Australian brush turkey can be found in New South Wales and Queensland and are protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (the Act).

Brush turkeys have a habit of causing damage to gardens, by clearing away vegetation, soil, and mulch to construct incubation mounds. 

Council and individuals are not permitted to forcefully relocate these birds, however you can encourage the birds to move along using water from a garden sprinkler, a hand-held hose or spray bottle. Do not continually not continually squirt or chase the bird as this is considered harassment and is an offence under the Act.

If you discover a nesting mound on your property, you are permitted to destroy it only if there are no eggs present. You can also deter brush turkeys from nesting in your garden by pruning overhanging branches, using a gravel or rock ground cover and by making sure not to feed the birds.

If you inadvertently interfere with a nest that contains eggs please contact Sydney Wildlife Rescue on 02 9413 4300.

If you are experiencing ongoing issues with brush turkeys visit NSW Environment for more information or contact National Parks and Wildlife Service on 1300 072 757.