The Gold Coast Bulletin

TURKEYS GIVEN THE BIRD

Pensioner finds novel solution to bush pests

- HANNAH SBEGHEN AND NICHOLAS MCELROY SEE THE VIDEO goldcoastb­ulletin.com.au

A GOLD Coast pensioner has come up with an innovative way to tackle the bush turkey epidemic that has plagued his life for seven years.

John Paul has had experts remove the protected birds from his property – only for them to return – extended his fence and even considered buying a shotgun to “blow them away”.

The Gold Coast City Council said it wasn’t in its jurisdicti­on to control the birds and referred callers to the Department of Environmen­t and Heritage Protection, who, in turn, said it was the council’s problem. Harming the birds can result in a $126,000 fine.

In desperatio­n, Mr Paul, 81, decided to litter his garden with soft toys to scare away the pesky birds away. He hasn’t seen one since.

FOR seven years, Gold Coast pensioner John Paul has desperatel­y tried to find a solution to the bush turkey epidemic at his suburban property.

The 81-year-old has had experts remove the pests – only for them to return – got rid of mulch, extended his fence and even considered buying a shotgun to “blow them away”.

The protected birds, which exploded from two to 20 in a few years, would rip up the lawn and garden of his Highland Park property and build one-metre-high nests. The Gold Coast City Council said it wasn't in its jurisdicti­on to control the birds and referred callers to the Department of Environmen­t and Heritage Protection, who, in turn, said it was the council’s problem.

Harming or killing the birds can result in fines over $126,000 or prison time.

“They were causing such a disaster and we’ve got a 2mhigh fence but the rogue birds managed to jump up and walk along it,” Mr Paul said.

“We would have about nine running around. I would tidy the garden in the morning

and by the afternoon it wouldn’t look like the same backyard.”

At the end of his tether, Mr

Paul turned to Google and read about decorating his backyard with soft toys to scare away the birds.

He hasn’t seen a turkey since. “It was in the top search on Google under ‘bush turkey deterrence’.

“They are increasing like crazy because of breeding problem. It is a big problem and getting out of control.”

However, wildlife experts are not convinced.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary senior vet Dr Michael Pyne did not expect the stuffed toy trick to work for long.

“They’re not the smartest animals but it could work for a while before they wised up to it,” Dr Pyne said. “If you put rubber snakes out to deter birds you have to move them once in a while so they (birds) don’t get used to it.”

Bird Removal Services director Bryan Robinson said the turkeys thrived after rain because “it aids in the decomposit­ion process which warms up their mounds – this makes them sexier for the ladies”.

“I would get about five calls a day from people about bush turkeys.”

Traditiona­l hot spots are suburbs skirted by bushland such as Tallai, Currumbin or Tallebudge­ra. The birds also thrive in Biggera Waters, Paradise Point, Surfers Paradise, Robina and Southport.

Dr Pyne said the birds were well suited to the suburbs.

“They have adopted quite well to urban living, with lot of people having lush mulched gardens. And they’re not fussy, they will eat anything.”

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 ?? Picture: GLENN HAMPSON ?? Highland Park resident John Paul, 81, has unleashed a teddy bear tirade against bush turkeys.
Picture: GLENN HAMPSON Highland Park resident John Paul, 81, has unleashed a teddy bear tirade against bush turkeys.

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