There is something about galahs that is hard to ignore. The combination of rose pink bodies and soft grey wings, the bright eyes, sharp calls and their tendency to form large flocks makes them stand out. I used to associate them with trips to the country but they have become accustomed to city life and suburbia.
Galahs mate for life, but they will form new relationships if one bird dies. Males have a dark brown eye, and females have reddish brown eyes.
They nest in tree hollows, ripping the bark away to form a bare entrance. The photo at the top shows a galah at work in a gum tree in Canberra.
They will graze in large numbers with other birds, including sulphur-crested cockatoos and corellas, as shown below alongside the Lachlan River in Cowra.
Galahs have a reputation for clowning around and being playful. To be called a galah is not a compliment, as it is usually associated with being foolish or empty-headed. There is a beautifully vivid clip of galahs, complete with their calls, here.
There are some great drawings of galahs here and a gorgeous galah family featured in this post. Do galahs brighten up your neighbourhood?
Photo: galah working on a hollow to create a nest, Canberra
jml297 
Leave a reply to Peter Klopp Cancel reply