The miraculous brush turkey and what else zoos are good for

We all think we know how zoos work. There are animals in enclosures and zookeepers looking after them. The scientific side of a zoo is much less visible but nonetheless important. Our guest tonight, Dr Alicia Burns, works as a researcher at Taronga zoo in Sydney. Her work focuses on the wellbeing of zoo animals and also explores some of those creatures that roam free in the city.

Liss and Matt Hall, the PhD student on the turkey project, while banding one of their study subjects. Photo credit: John Martin

One of those is the brush turkey. Once almost extinct in New South Wales, the brush turkey is making its way back down the Australian east coast. Even massive landmarks like Sydney harbour couldn’t stop its march south, quite amazing when you consider that brush turkeys can’t even fly properly.

Tim and Cat chat to Liss about her fascinating work at Taronga.

The App BigCityBirds developped by Toronga Zoo and the University of Sydney.

Learn how you can support Liss’ and her colleagues work and become a citizen scientist. Check out their App BigCityBirds.

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Liss and Cat chatting away about brush turkeys at the Eastside89.7 FM studio.