Galah ()

The Galah

This widely populated Australian bird is part of the cockatoo family and can be found practically everywhere in Australia.  It seems like they have even started populating Tasmania by themselves.  They are beautiful birds of about 35 centimeters, (14 inches), in length and weigh between 300 and 400 grams, (10.5 to 14 ounces).  Their plumage is gray and they have pink feathers covering their heads as well as a crest of a lighter pink and sometimes white feathers.  Both male and female Galahs look the same and can only be differentiated by the color of their irises.  The male has brown irises while the female's are red.  They love to live in areas where there is openness but some trees to rest and hide in.  They used to only be found in the dry central part of Australia but since humans have started cutting down trees making it more open and adding water to the driest places these birds have taken over the land and can be found in parks and cities. 

The Galahs eat a variety of seeds that they find on the ground but also like to attack crops of wheat and oats.  This behavior makes farmers consider them as pests instead of lovely looking birds.  On some occasions they will also eat small insects and fruit.

When Galahs mate they do so for life but if one of the pair dies the other will find a new mate.  They will pair off and leave the group to build their nest in a hole in a tree, which they will mark by striping some bark close to the hole to indicate to other birds that that particular hole is taken.  The female Galah will lay 3 to 4 eggs and it will take about a month for them to hatch.  Both parents will cover these eggs and they will also share the responsibility for the baby birds.  Once the babies leave the nest they become independent in 5 to 6 weeks.

Did you know: that Galah in Australian slang means fool or idiot?

Further Information on the Galah:

Bibliography:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galah
http://australian-animals.net/galah.htm
http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/galah.htm
http://home.pacifier.com/~birdart/galah/galah.html
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/galah.htm
http://www.geocities.com/galah_aus/hollow/info/info007.html
http://www.geocities.com/galah_aus/hollow/info/info003.html
Unique Animals and Birds of Australia. Hong Kong: Rigby Limited, 1975. p.42-43
Poignant, Axel. The Improbable Kangaroo and Other Australian Animals. Sydney: Angus & Robertson Limited, 1965.