With the growing number of wild turkeys in Staten Island, they are becoming a problem to local some residents. Whether they are sitting on your lawn, to walking in the street, these big birds can be more trouble than they look. But what can they do to your home? Large birds can do a great deal of damage to your home, even more than little sparrows do.
The initial signs of a turkey invasion by your home, other than hearing or seeing them, are quite noticeable. Big birds make big messes. Turkeys can leave your lawn ripped and scratched up. Their droppings are large, due to the size of the turkeys as well as their diet. Male turkeys are known to bash and thrash at reflective surfaces because they assume that it is another bird. Turkey hens lay an average of 12 eggs per spring, and with no natural predators in the area, they can spread out fast. Turkeys can live in groups that contain over 100 of them. They can fly, though not well. Turkeys roost in trees, on sheds, or other high places at night. While mostly docile, if provoked they can be aggressive, especially near their young or in the spring. Wild males can weigh over 20 pounds, and females grow to be about 8-11 pounds.