How well do magpies, bush turkeys and people live alongside each other?

Darryl is a behavioural ecologist with a special interest in how certain species are adapting to urbanisation.

His focus is on megapodes (mound-builders), including the ubiquitous and meddlesome bush or scrub turkey; and corvids, such as magpies.

Darryl has some fascinating answers to questions such as: why do bush turkeys build huge compost heaps as big as a small car in people's backyards?

And, do magpies actually target specific people, and how can one defend oneself from swooping?

Further information and listening

Darryl is the Deputy Director of the Environmental Futures Research Institute at Griffith University

Listen to biologist Tim Low's conversation on the evolution of Australian birds.

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