Galah

Galahs are also called rose-breasted cockatoos and can be found almost all over Australia. With pretty pink chests and grey  coats they strike a stylish figure as they strut about the gum trees. They fly around in pairs and collect in flocks and are extremely social birds.

'Mad as a galah' is a common Aussie saying which probably originated from the fact that they can make loud screechy noises if upset and once they get into this whining state it can take quite a while to calm them down. 

There was a time when I too thought they were somewhat crazy.  Every night when we took our dogs Scotty and Benny for a walk, one particular galah who should have been fast asleep in his tree high above us and in no danger whatsoever from anything around, would start screeching and wake up the whole neighbourhood in the process.

But Galahs are far from mad.  They are very friendly birds. They love showing you their nests and introducing you to their friends and family.   read more »

The birds and wildlife have had a wonderful summer this year, inf act the best in over a decade.  New wildgrasses have sprung up covering the hillsides due to the extended rains and are providing plenty of food and shelter this season in contrast to years of dry, burnt summers.   Check out the pics below to see what they have been doing.

(click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).

Previous Slide 1/36 Next Willie and Nellie learning to sing against the cloudy skies Lush green grasses fill the paddocks The eagles are a hunting up above while Rainbow lorikeets are sorting out territorial boundaries below The babblers have moved in having negotiated their rights The wallabies are enjoying the rich pickings along with Bertie Vicky Mindy and Kenny Billy's family is happy too Larry and Harrie are singing to glory The Crested pigeons are thrilled to boots Maggie's son Monty has found new friends Kenny wants to get up close and personal Gabriel Tuks joined the bat creche and returned to the colony Charlie Girl is fully recovered and adores Pete Jack is much happier now he can fly further Wallabies relax in the shade at the Long Grass Wildlife Refuge Jack adores Gabi Wild grasses spring up along the roadside the whole valley is green - for a few weeks at least One eyed Curly the currawong is looking healthy and well Gumnuts are a plentiful Butterflies delight Billy's brood is growing up Frieda is all black and white but still as friendly as ever Noisy miner is planning another clutch 2 eggs in here while the nest is being fortified wild grasses abound filling the bushy landscape to the joy of the birds and animals The galahs are keen to show their nest and pose for the camera The peewee too wants to be seen  read more »

Caged cockatoos often suffer greatly and end up leading a life time of misery.

Wildlife carers Peter Richards and Gabrielle Friebe from the Long Grass Nature Refuge have rehabilitated cockatoos for over seven years (as well as many other species for 35 years).  In the interview below they explain the plight of the pet cockatoo and what one should do to give them a quality of life.

(To receive a free copy of  full article you can subscribe to the Wild Bird Talking ezine by entering your details in the box  on top of the left hand column.)    

In this interview you will learn about: 

-  the physical and emotional problems faced by pet cockatoos in cages   

-  the needs of pet cockatoos so they can have a more natural life   

-  essential ways in which to give pet cockatoos a quality of life   

-  elements of a balanced diet necessary for a healthy bird

-  keys to eliminate personality problems, have a better relatioship with your companion bird and a good friendship.

 

You can listen to the audio and view the pictures below. read more »

Can you spot the two scaly-breasted lorikeets with their lispstick red beaks?  They've just taken off after a drink and a bath at the lilypot. read more »

Gum trees have plenty of nooks for our galahs and lorikeet neighbours.

 read more »

'Who's that calling me as I walk up to the gate?  It's a galah.'  They seem to know I have a camera and want to show me something.  But as I look on, I discover there's much going on and the birds are delighted to let me photograph their activities.... 

Have a look at the slideshow and see what I found... read more »

Yesterday I was about to get in the car to go to town when an all-fired ruckus broke out behind the house. Running round, we saw a massive flock of galahs and rosellas and such birds crazily swirling here and there and crying out desperately as they wheeled here and there.

Then I noticed some hawk-like birds in amongst them. It was very hard to focus on them and get a clear view of exactly what they were, but it was clearly an attack upon the flock birds. read more »

One of my friends had some exciting news for me. 'Tell Gitie, what she says works', was the message her friend Ken had asked her to convey to me.  read more »

The birds love us visiting their patch to look at their nests and catch a glimpse of their chicks.  Most of the time, their nests are too high up in the trees for us to get a look inside.  But once the babes are bigger and peer over the edge, we can introduce ourselves.  Sometimes the chicks even call us and stand up to show themselves.  Maggie and Vicky have always proudly shown us their nests and babes.  Larry and Harrie, the grey butcherbirds too.  read more »

Pretty in pink, Galahs are small cockatoos.  They love playing in the rain, swinging upside-down like acrobats and gymnasts from the most awkward spots.

They are quick to issue warning signals at the slightest hint of danger with their customary loud and screechy sqawks. Though they can boss the much bigger currawongs off the water bowl by the mere spread of their wings.  read more »