The vegetable garden and "Digger"

The vegetable garden has been lovingly started mid July. We took all the grass off a patch about 3m x 3m, dug the soil and mixed some fresh cow manure from the paddock next door.

Then I  planted seedlings of zucchinis, green beans, snow peas, capsicums, eggplants, tomatoes, lettuce, silver beet, green onions, leeks and strawberries.  I also sowed radishes and bok choy  and tried some potatoes that were seeding in the pantry and everything is growing fine I'm happy to say.

We put a low fence around for the bandicoots and it seemed to work…

 

One week after planting

Bandicoot fence is working

I always thought scrub turkeys and purple swamp hens were very interesting birds. One  turkeys visits  the garden now and again and scratches under the fruit trees. The hens, pick at the grass all over the garden, delicately holding the grass they've pull out in one claw while eating the root. They look like something out of Jurassic Park with their red leather head protection.

We call them "root bags". Yep, you guessed it, their favourite pastime in between scratching the grass is…procreating...

Scrub turkey

Purple swamp hens aka Root Bags

 I wanted to have more of these birds roaming in the garden.... Until now!

Two weeks ago, it had been a miserable day with a constant drizzle, windy and cold. At 4.30pm Sven started firing "Old Benny" and I was in the kitchen trying to warm up.

 Looking out the window, I saw the scrub turkey scratching in the veggie patch!

I was so angry to see him (has to be a male!) so determined to destroy my hard labour.

I rushed outside and clapped my hands... No reaction. I grabbed a rock and threw it at him (but I am a bad thrower and aimer to say the least). He just looked at me and went on! So I charged down the slope , hobbling with my leg,  waving my arms in the air and clapping my hands. (That must have been a sight!  It would have scared me...!)

He just moved away and looked again. I proceeded to cover the potato plant again. Looking up I saw he was coming towards me. My first thought was "Has anybody been attacked by a scrub turkey before?"  So I yelled again, "What part of go away don't you understand, you stupid bird". He was still coming up for me…

Scary...!

 I was just starting to get flash backs of my life and getting apprehensive of what this monster turkey could do to me, when he suddenly started running away and I realized that Flicka was coming full speed ahead, charging at him and chasing him until he flew over the neighbour's fence. Gooood Flicka!  Get him!           

 ♫Who let the dog...s out?♫

 Sven did when he was watching the whole scenario from the veranda. Gooood Sven! 

Flicka resting after the big chase

The turkey has now been named "Digger".

"Digger"