Due to Brisbane’s unusually warm and wet autumn, scrub turkey nesting season has effectively become a year-round issue. This change has major implications for gardeners and homeowners dealing with destructive mounding behavior.
Oh NO, Its scrub turkey season
Why Is Scrub Turkey Breeding No Longer Seasonal?
1. Weather Triggers Breeding Behavior
- Scrub turkeys prefer warm, wet climates for nesting.
- Their mound nests require a consistent temperature of 33°C for egg incubation.
- Brisbane’s record autumn warmth has extended ideal breeding conditions far beyond normal.
2. Double-Length Breeding Season Confirmed
- Normal season: August to January.
- This year: Season extended into winter and now overlaps with the new nesting cycle.
What Do Scrub Turkeys Do During Nesting Season?
1. Males Build Massive Nests
- Mounds are made of mulch, leaves, twigs, and debris.
- Nests can grow up to 4 meters wide and 1 meter high.
- Males maintain the mound temperature by adjusting its composition daily.
2. Garden Damage Is Inevitable Without Action
- Turkeys steal mulch from surrounding gardens and public spaces.
- Their activity can destroy carefully landscaped areas in a single day.
Can You Remove a Scrub Turkey Nest Legally?
1. Scrub Turkeys Are a Protected Species
- Under Queensland law, you cannot relocate a scrub turkey without a permit.
- Nests cannot be touched after the first egg is laid.
2. When Can You Take Action?
- Mounds can only be disturbed early in the building process, before eggs are present.
- Our team holds the required wildlife relocation permits to safely and legally move scrub turkeys.
What to Do if a Scrub Turkey Starts Mounding in Your Yard
- Act quickly—the earlier the better.
- Do not attempt to dismantle the mound yourself once eggs are present.
- Call Peter the Possum Man for legal, humane relocation before damage escalates.
Don’t wait for a scrub turkey to turn your garden into a compost heap. With Brisbane’s warm weather extending nesting season year-round, fast action is your best defence. Scrub turkeys are a protected species—so removing them or disturbing their mounds after egg-laying can result in hefty fines. That’s where we come in. At Peter the Possum Man, our licensed team offers fast, legal, and humane relocation of brush turkeys across Brisbane. Contact us today before the mound becomes permanent.
