In Australia our birds are big and small

Some are cute and some an eye sore

The brush turkey is one that gardeners hate

Our largest Megapode the naturist’s debate

It ruthlessly stalks and has a sharp bite

Claiming the gardens and urban sites

They walk down the paths their heads held high

Searching the ground for the best nesting sty

They’re sexually prodigious and prolific in numbers

The males thrust about claiming their clan

Making haste as they wreck all the land

The female is fickle in its hunt for the male

Is only impressed by his big nesting mound

The bigger his nest and higher off the ground

The flowers, the trees, twigs and the bark

He digs with large claws that tear it apart

Layering the moistness a nesting treat

An engineering feat in keeping the heat

If it looks like rain he digs again

Once it is built the female inspects

Deciding which nest is likely the best

This is how she chooses she won’t abate

Until she finds her ideal mate

Then laying her egg a sight to behold

Large and round her pot of gold

Is buried so deep it waits to hatch

Hoping no snake or animal will snatch

As soon as the egg is ready it chips

The mother then abandons her furry chick

It’s a fight to survive, the chick must dig

A challenge of seek and find through the sticks

Sometimes it takes days but when they are through

The wings do open and they fly into the blue

An impressive sight to see them in flight

To begin their own suburban fright

Ruthless and bold

The Australian Brush Turkey

A sight to behold

Published by Seafarrwide

Passionate woman, enjoying life, learning new things, traveling, writing and sharing memories. View all posts by Seafarrwide