Just a quick question about the bush turkeys in and around Taronga. Are they taronga breeding stock that are free range or are they wild birds that have always lived there? I know they are a common bird a bit further north. Just wondering.
here's a couple of articles about Sydney's brush turkeys. They don't specifically answer whether Taronga has released birds, but they do say wild populations have expanded/rebounded in recent decades.
Thanks chlidonias. I've seen them around the zoo but I've never actually ticked them off my life list. I'm planning a trip up to the northern beaches on Wednesday and I reckon I'll see some up ther. An easy life tick I hope. I've always wondered if the turkeys around mosman were like the ibis in sydney.
The natural range of the brush-turkey extends down into the Illawarra region. By the way, be careful with the common name as bush turkey is an old common name for the Australian bustard as well.
Thanks Hix. I'm off to Warriewood tomorrow so I'll get another common bird ticked off. I'll be going after the regent HE at Chiltern trail first then I pop into Irrawong on the way home. As far as the PO goes I read a report from wattle flat in the Royal the other day. One was seen there. I havn't seen one for a few years. We might need to organise a night with a spottie.
Good luck with the Regents. They're only found in the one spot and there should be other birdos there already. You might see some Glossys too.
At Irrawong the Powerful Owl has a daytime roost. Not always there, but frequently seen. Follow the path to the Waterfall, then continue along the path to the stairs up the escarpment. At the top of the stairs the path continues upwards, but there is a small trail leading off to the left past a Cabbage Palm, literally only about three metres from the top step. Walk past the Palm and look up. Of you walk ten metres turn around and you should see it. Some Casuarinas have fallen across the path, and after you climb over them you will be in a good position to photograph the owl (if it is there).
issed out on the owl and the pitta but got 8 year birds today and one was a lifer. ( brush turkey) I've seen then in and around the zoo at mosmand but i've never ticked them. getting closer to 400 for my life list. 386 at the moment.
thats my aussie list. I've been to the USA, Borneo and Singapore but i didn't keep a list on those trips.
I've got a pelagic trip booked at the end of the month so I hope to add to both my year list and my life list.
It's funny what others like to see in their natural habitat, which are common to people in other areas.
We had a resident scrub turkey which used to come to our house yard to dig around in our compost heap, on our little farm on the ourskirts of Bundaberg Qld.