Here's an easy, chemicalfree and safe option that uses a brushturkey's own natural instincts and behaviour to encourage it to find a new nesting spot.
In some areas brushturkeys can be a major nuisance due to their destructive behaviour when building their very large nesting mounds. When nesting they can also become very territorial and threatening.
Getting them to move on is challenging with trapping and relocation being a very cruel option as they are closely linked to their territory.
This technique led to no harm to the bird, beyond its pride. Afterwards we still saw him around. Next season he built a nest in a neglected area of a neighbour’s yard and with his mate successfully raised a number of chicks.
Note that if you do try this method make sure you use a heavyduty, or otherwise shatterresistant, and moisture resistant mirror.
And just a background...
Brushturkeys are a big, Australian native bird, technically they are a megapode, these are grounddwelling birds that build large mounds to incubate their eggs.
With increasing urbanisation and removal of natural predators, such as dingoes, brushturkey populations have massively increased in some areas.
Brushturkeys also adapt to suburban life very well. We had one that used to quite fearlessly march into our kitchen and eat all of the cat's food. If the door was closed it would peck at the door wanting it open so it could come in for a meal...
I filmed this a few years back before we moved house & had totally forgotten about the footage on an external harddrive so here it is... better late than never!
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