I was a bit wary about it nesting in the rainforest garden in the backyard but didn't think it would nest where dogs and kids play all the time. Most likely to nest in the gully in the paddock - that's OK.

I found out what it was doing in the garden - up in the banana tree eating bananas! The bunch is still small, the flower only came out a few weeks ago and the bunch has only just formed, but half of it is gone.

The trees are planted on a steep slope and are fairly tall so it is very difficult to cover the fruit safely. How do I keep the turkey out of my bananas? I want it to stay around, preferably in the paddock, but keep my fruit and gardens in one piece. I have enough trouble with drought, storms, kids, dogs, bandicoots, chooks, birds, etc without scrub turkeys too! It gets very disheartening as everytime something starts doing really well something comes along and damages it.

Any suggestions?

I hope someone else can be of more help.

I was thinking of a couple of strands of electric fencing above the netting fence might work but we tried that with our chooks once when they were flying out of their pen and that didn't work so I don't know if it is worth trying.

If we try and cover the bunches of bananas I can see me adding to the "accidents in the garden" thread :) but I don't know what else will work short of relocating it which I don't want to do.

I think I'll try covering them with shadecloth first as I have plenty lying around. That's if we can get it up there without sliding down the slope.

We had planned on moving the bananas to a more open area in spring as when we first planted them all that was there was a chook pen but we have moved the pen and planted gardens all around now.

Don't mind the king parrots and flying foxes as they usually only have a few (up to now anyway) not most of the bunch! I don't mind sharing and the kids start whinging about eating bananas all the time except when they are in a cake or frozen - the kids eat them like iceblocks.
Also the birds usually only eat them just as they start to ripen not when only a few cms long.

I doubt if the turkey will nest in the yard as the rainforest is barely established, only started planting the understory 6 months ago, so still a bit too open.

Banana-flavoued turkey - very funny!!! ha ha!! Actually if it keeps eating the bananas .... (just joking)

Anyway thanks for your help, I'll keep you updated.
cheers
G

If you throw your excess bananas in the freezer (which it seems you're already doing anyway), they make quick and easy smoothies when roughly chopped into the food processor with a little milk, or you can leave out the milk and tell them it's banana ice cream.

Hmmm........ how long 'til it's mango season??

When freezing bananas, I just peel them and, either wrap them individually (bit tedious when there is heaps) or put them in layers seperated with paper in an air tight container. The kids call them banana ice blocks and eat them like that and, if the kids ever leave enough, I use them in banana cakes, etc. Also make banana flavoured ice-cream - yummy!

I do the same with mangos cut into pieces or make frozen mango bars - just like Weiss Mango Ice blocks - also very yummy - just watch the waistline!

Haven't put the shadecloth up yet. I've been waiting for the better half to give me a hand but he has been going to work in the dark and getting home in the dark and I don't feel like trying to put shadecloth up in the dark. I haven't seen the turkey for a couple of days so I hope he stays away at least to the weekend. Fingers crossed.

The turkey totally demolished one whole though small bunch, and ate half of another but then seems to have had enough. Only seen him around a couple of times since.

I don't think the turkey will worry about these bananas for a while as I found a guard dog, or should I say snake in the tree. We found him curled up on the bunch of bananas the other day and it has been hanging around there since. He is a carpet snake and only about 2m long so has a bit of growing to do yet and he can stay as long as he wants (though the birds don't like him).

I couldn't get close enough for a decent photo but you can just see him curled up on the bananas.

and just hanging around

Really is a beauty.
Marion

MM, the bananas are on a slope and there is a pathway just above the plants so I could get closer than if they were on level ground.

Yes Marion, I'm wondering that too! Hopefully Charlie can move on to the next green bunch.