Preferring coastal forests Green Figbirds are able to make a living in urban areas, especially where there are plenty of fig trees. They have adapted to our parks and gardens and although they prefer figs they can feed on cultivated fruits as well including tomatoes, berries, mulberries and even bananas. During the breeding season they live in pairs and nest between October and February. The rest of the year they often live as a small flock and can be seen making their way around the urban landscape in search of fruit trees.

They are distributed along most of the Eastern Coast and the 'Top End' in the Territory. They are part of a worldwide family that includes the orioles, of which Australia has two other members (the Yellow and Olive-backed Orioles). 

Figbird song:

Scientific name Alectura lathami

The Brushturkey is a large megapode (big feet). With urbanisation and the introduction of feral predators including foxes and cats, it was thought they might become endangered. Although they are a large bird, they are not strong flyers and their young may have been prone to predation. However, these birds have adapted to the urban environment, especially where there are areas of trees and mulched gardens. In places where it shares its breeding and foraging grounds with humans, the survival of the species depends largely on the goodwill of householders. In the video below they have adapted to the campus area of the University of Queensland and students and staff are treated to a daily show of Brushturkeys foraging and defending their own territories.

Originally an inhabitant of rainforest and wet sclerophyll forests, they can also adapt to drier settings including urban areas. Brush-turkeys feed on insects, seeds and fallen fruits, which are exposed by raking the leaf litter or breaking open rotten logs with their large feet. The majority of food is obtained from the ground, with birds occasionally observed feeding on ripening fruits among tree branches.  

Brush Turkeys have not only adapted to higher education settings they have also taken advantage of other urban places and you can spot them going about their business at the Bribie Island Golf Course and along the beach walkway at Mooloolaba, where the go about their daily business in the dune and bush gardens associated with the coastal track. An endearing bird, it can make quite a mess of gardens with its scratching and mound building, but let's hope our gardeners and landscapers continue to put up with their industry!