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Australian Brush-Turkey Chick 1 DSC_2145

Australian Brush Turkey Chicks

December 2010.

 

These Chicks recently hatched from the mound their father has carefully protected and maintained. Recently the adult male prevented a goanna from raiding the egg containing mound by showering it with leaves, sticks and dirt. He raked these with its powerful legs, He continued persue th goanna pecking its tail until it climbed a nearby tree.

 

These birds are so industrious working tirelessly from dawn till dusk. The chicks fend for themselves after hatching.

 

Scientific name: Alectura lathami

Family: Megapodiidae

Order: Galliformes

 

Also known as incubator birds or mound-builders.

 

 

 

 

www.birdsinbackyards.net/bird/69

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megapode

 

 

 

Link to mating behaviour papers CSIRO:

www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=MU9880049...

 

www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=340

 

galliform.psy.mq.edu.au/Megapode_project/Reprints/ontogen...

 

rainforest-australia.com/brush-turkey.html

 

 

Australian Museum

 

australianmuseum.net.au/Australian-Brush-turkey

 

Kuringgai

www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/www/html/3580-brush-turkey.asp

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Uploaded on December 28, 2010
Taken on December 28, 2010