Rainforest Gardeners

Rainforest GardenersThe Brush Turkey – Alectura lathami, belongs to an ancient family of birds known as the Megapodes (meaning: “Large feet”).
Instead of building a nest like most other birds, the male Brush Turkey builds a giant compost heap by raking a large mound of leaf litter with it’s large feet. These compost mounds create the heat that is necessary to incubate the eggs of these amazing birds. Brush Turkey chicks hatch deep within the mound and may take several days to dig their way to the surface. Once the chicks hatch they are self sufficient and must find their own food and seek shelter from predators like Carpet Pythons, Cats and Birds of Prey.
The Brush Turkey is the largest bird of our local rainforests and plays an important role in the spreading of rainforest seed. Their large size allows them to eat larger fruit, and in some cases, they are the only way for some plants to spread their seed. They are also highly adaptable birds and forage throughout gardens in areas near to rainforest – much to the annoyance of some gardeners!
Brush Turkeys are the gardeners and guardians of the rainforest. Their constant scratching and turning of the soil and leaf litter cultivates the forest floor. Their nests are compost heaps that increase soil fertility and enhance plant growth and they sow large quantities of seed throughout the forest from the fruit that they eat.
Although common on the Blackall Range, these ancient birds have faced many threats including loss of habitat. Fortunately the replanting of rainforests will allow these rainforest gardeners to sow the seeds of a brighter future.