Hunt on for brush turkey hater

BREAD soaked in poison was scattered around a Manly park in an attempt to wipe out a colony of brush turkeys, according to police.

Someone is trying to kill brush turkeys at Manly

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BREAD soaked in poison was scattered around a Manly park in an attempt to wipe out a colony of brush turkeys, according to police.

It is the second time the brush turkeys at Tower Hill Park near Sydney Rd have come under attack, triggering an investigation by police, the RSPCA and WIRES.

Officers were called to the area at 8am on Monday, where they photographed and removed several pieces of bread that appeared to have been soaked in a chemical, possibly weed killer.

“The bread looks to have been left there to kill the brush turkeys in the area,” police said.

“A female caller said she saw a man throwing rocks at the turkeys several days earlier.

“The same male was seen discarding the bread in the reserve.”

The alleged attack on the native birds follows an incident in the same park in October, when a man was seen smashing the birds’ eggs and destroying two nests.

Police said the RSPCA and WIRES had been informed and that volunteers would inspect the reserve.

Police are now trying to identify the man seen spreading bread in the park.

In October Nick McGowan told the Manly Daily he was stunned to see a man smashing the birds’ eggs and destroying their nests.

After contacting the National Parks and Wildlife Service about the attack on the birds, Mr McGowan erected signs urging local residents to leave the birds alone.

Brush turkeys are protected species and attackers can face penalties of up to an $11,000 fine or six months in jail.

The man was described as being about 60 years old, of medium to solid build and with grey hair, who walked with a limp.

Anyone who can identify the man or has knowledge of his activities is urged to call Dee Why police station on 9971 3399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.