Nature Galah

Galah · **3 Likes**

Male Galah by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

And today I found out that you can tell the male from female by their eyes. The male's eyes are dark.

Galahs - gender by eyes by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

PS DA*300 + HD DA 1.4x TC hand held.

**PJ1** · 12-22-2014, 03:29 AM

Nice shots. Thanks for the trivia. I will store that away for when I want to sound knowledgeable.

**eaglem** · 12-22-2014, 03:59 AM

As we are seeing a few around my area I must take off the Macro lens and put on the Bigma.

RobG · 12-22-2014, 03:59 AM

Originally posted by PJ1

Nice shots. Thanks for the trivia. I will store that away for when I want to sound knowledgeable.

You're welcome! I knew about the cere of the Budgie from when I was a kid, but I happened to notice the difference in the eyes of this pair of Galahs and looked it up.

slowpez · 12-22-2014, 08:55 AM

They look to be friendly little birds.

AussieTrev · 12-22-2014, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by slowpez

They look to be friendly little birds.

The name is used in Australia for a person that is a bit of a fool, and the bird is well named, stupid as, but very entertaining.

Rob, great shots. We have lots here at Guyra, but I haven't got out to try my hand at shooting them, with the camera of course.

p38arover · 12-22-2014, 02:43 PM

We had one as a pet many years ago. It used to hang upside on its perch. Because it couldn't easily get back upright, it used to just let go and fall onto its back.

Tom Gotzy · 12-22-2014, 02:45 PM

That's interesting, the male and female share the same colors! Nice captures!

**Des** · 12-22-2014, 03:04 PM

More of your fine shots Rob.

Originally posted by AussieTrev

The name is used in Australia for a person that is a bit of a fool, and the bird is well named, stupid as, but very entertaining.

Like a lot of parrots they are playful but not stupid. Actually they are very smart. They are brilliant at finding seeds - which is why they are one of the few species to have prospered since European settlement. They pair bond for life and are very affectionate with one another.

It's hard to convey the nuance of "Galah" as a description for a person. Yes, it means fool, but I think in the sense of someone who draws attention to themselves doing silly things.

One of the few Australian birds with a common name taken from an Aboriginal language.

RobG · 12-22-2014, 03:58 PM

Originally posted by eaglem

As we are seeing a few around my area I must take off the Macro lens and put on the Bigma.

Sounds like a plan! I'd be interested to see if they look any different.

Originally posted by slowpez

They look to be friendly little birds.

Actually, they're quite big birds; about 35cm (14") long.

They're certainly not unfriendly, and a lot less prone to being a problem like the White Cockatoo. I've seen White Cockatoos pulling the lining out of street lights and attacking the cables on household TV antennas. Still, I prefer native birds any day to the ferals!

Originally posted by AussieTrev

The name is used in Australia for a person that is a bit of a fool, and the bird is well named, stupid as, but very entertaining.
Rob, great shots. We have lots here at Guyra, but I haven't got out to try my hand at shooting them, with the camera of course.

I remember seeing a flock of about a hundred of them on a farm on the hinterland of the NSW mid-north coast, flying around a farm trough where they had been drinking. It was an amazing sight (and sound) but I doubt it would work as anything other than video.

Originally posted by p38arover

We had one as a pet many years ago. It used to hang upside on its perch. Because it couldn't easily get back upright, it used to just let go and fall onto its back.

I've seen them hanging upside down off power lines in a thunderstorm flapping their wings to literally have a shower.

I guess that behaviour didn't come from being so low to the ground as a perch.

Originally posted by Tom Gotzy

That's interesting, the male and female share the same colors! Nice captures!

Thanks! There's quite a few birds where it's hard to tell the genders apart, but most of them are very different; usually the males are the prettier (being more expendable).

Originally posted by Des

More of your fine shots Rob. Like a lot of parrots they are playful but not stupid. Actually they are very smart. They are brilliant at finding seeds - which is why they are one of the few species to have prospered since European settlement. They pair bond for life and are very affectionate with one another. It's hard to convey the nuance of "Galah" as a description for a person. Yes, it means fool, but I think in the sense of someone who draws attention to themselves doing silly things. One of the few Australian birds with a common name taken from an Aboriginal language.

Thanks Des! Agreed, parrots are generally very intelligent and what we might say is "stupid" behaviour is often them playing. I watched a Corella (another local species of parrot) trying to play with another Corella by poking at the other bird with its beak then rolling on its back. It was also playing with a stick. Galahs seem to go a little crazy sometimes, flying around like mad things after some sort of trigger; it can be a problem when cars are around. You're right, many Australian birds have names taken from European species which look superficially similar but are generally unrelated like the Robin or Magpie.

Mike L · 12-22-2014, 04:27 PM

Originally posted by RobG

And today I found out that you can tell the male from female by their eyes. The male's eyes are dark.

That's something I didn't know. Mum and Dad will be pleased to find out after 30 years that their pet galah, Joey, is actually Joseph and not Josephine.

RobG · 12-22-2014, 04:55 PM

Originally posted by Mike L

That's something I didn't know. Mum and Dad will be pleased to find out after 30 years that their pet galah, Joey, is actually Joseph and not Josephine.

Maybe some of his behaviour will become clearer now.

AussieTrev · 12-22-2014, 06:40 PM

Originally posted by Des

Like a lot of parrots they are playful but not stupid.

Perhaps it was seeing them drunk across from home some seasons back. The fruit from the trees fermented. Hasn't happened now for some seasons. It was very entertaining.

I still think they act like Galahs.

RobG · 12-22-2014, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by AussieTrev

Perhaps it was seeing them drunk across from home some seasons back. The fruit from the trees fermented. Hasn't happened now for some seasons. It was very entertaining.

That would be funny to see! I've heard of birds becoming so drunk that they couldn't fly anymore.

Quote:

I still think they act like Galahs.

Very likely!

**Des** · 12-22-2014, 07:36 PM

Originally posted by AussieTrev

Perhaps it was seeing them drunk across from home some seasons back. The fruit from the trees fermented. Hasn't happened now for some seasons. It was very entertaining.

I still think they act like Galahs.

Hence the Australian expression, "pissed as a parrot". (Which, for our American friends, means drunk not angry.)

RobG
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by RobG
	Find threads started by RobG
	Find threads in which RobG has posted

12-22-2014, 03:04 PM	#9
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	More of your fine shots Rob. Originally posted by AussieTrev The name is used in Australia for a person that is a bit of a fool, and the bird is well named, stupid as, but very entertaining. Like a lot of parrots they are playful but not stupid. Actually they are very smart. They are brilliant at finding seeds - which is why they are one of the few species to have prospered since European settlement. They pair bond for life and are very affectionate with one another. It's hard to convey the nuance of "Galah" as a description for a person. Yes, it means fool, but I think in the sense of someone who draws attention to themselves doing silly things. One of the few Australian birds with a common name taken from an Aboriginal language. Last edited by Des; 12-22-2014 at 03:16 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pink & Grey Galah	Westoz	Monthly Photo Contests	0	09-23-2013 04:42 AM
Nature Galah in Flight	Cee Cee	Post Your Photos!	9	01-26-2013 02:18 PM
Nature apprehensive Galah	Cee Cee	Post Your Photos!	9	12-12-2012 08:58 PM
Nature Pink & Grey Galah	eaglem	Post Your Photos!	1	04-20-2012 09:48 PM
Galah aka Rose-breasted Cockatoo	CypherOz	Post Your Photos!	3	04-16-2009 06:37 PM

12-22-2014, 03:29 AM	#2
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,486	Nice shots. Thanks for the trivia. I will store that away for when I want to sound knowledgeable.

12-22-2014, 03:59 AM	#3
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,160	As we are seeing a few around my area I must take off the Macro lens and put on the Bigma.

12-22-2014, 03:59 AM	#4
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Originally posted by PJ1 Nice shots. Thanks for the trivia. I will store that away for when I want to sound knowledgeable. You're welcome! I knew about the cere of the Budgie from when I was a kid, but I happened to notice the difference in the eyes of this pair of Galahs and looked it up.

12-22-2014, 08:55 AM	#5
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461	They look to be friendly little birds.

12-22-2014, 02:30 PM	#6
AussieTrev Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,590	Originally posted by slowpez They look to be friendly little birds. The name is used in Australia for a person that is a bit of a fool, and the bird is well named, stupid as, but very entertaining. Rob, great shots. We have lots here at Guyra, but I haven't got out to try my hand at shooting them, with the camera of course.

12-22-2014, 02:43 PM	#7
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	We had one as a pet many years ago. It used to hang upside on its perch. Because it couldn't easily get back upright, it used to just let go and fall onto its back.

12-22-2014, 02:45 PM	#8
Tom Gotzy Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 717	That's interesting, the male and female share the same colors! Nice captures!

12-22-2014, 03:58 PM	#10
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Originally posted by eaglem As we are seeing a few around my area I must take off the Macro lens and put on the Bigma. Sounds like a plan! I'd be interested to see if they look any different. Originally posted by slowpez They look to be friendly little birds. Actually, they're quite big birds; about 35cm (14") long. They're certainly not unfriendly, and a lot less prone to being a problem like the White Cockatoo. I've seen White Cockatoos pulling the lining out of street lights and attacking the cables on household TV antennas. Still, I prefer native birds any day to the ferals! Originally posted by AussieTrev The name is used in Australia for a person that is a bit of a fool, and the bird is well named, stupid as, but very entertaining. Rob, great shots. We have lots here at Guyra, but I haven't got out to try my hand at shooting them, with the camera of course. I remember seeing a flock of about a hundred of them on a farm on the hinterland of the NSW mid-north coast, flying around a farm trough where they had been drinking. It was an amazing sight (and sound) but I doubt it would work as anything other than video. Originally posted by p38arover We had one as a pet many years ago. It used to hang upside on its perch. Because it couldn't easily get back upright, it used to just let go and fall onto its back. I've seen them hanging upside down off power lines in a thunderstorm flapping their wings to literally have a shower. I guess that behaviour didn't come from being so low to the ground as a perch. Originally posted by Tom Gotzy That's interesting, the male and female share the same colors! Nice captures! Thanks! There's quite a few birds where it's hard to tell the genders apart, but most of them are very different; usually the males are the prettier (being more expendable). Originally posted by Des More of your fine shots Rob. Like a lot of parrots they are playful but not stupid. Actually they are very smart. They are brilliant at finding seeds - which is why they are one of the few species to have prospered since European settlement. They pair bond for life and are very affectionate with one another. It's hard to convey the nuance of "Galah" as a description for a person. Yes, it means fool, but I think in the sense of someone who draws attention to themselves doing silly things. One of the few Australian birds with a common name taken from an Aboriginal language. Thanks Des! Agreed, parrots are generally very intelligent and what we might say is "stupid" behaviour is often them playing. I watched a Corella (another local species of parrot) trying to play with another Corella by poking at the other bird with its beak then rolling on its back. It was also playing with a stick. Galahs seem to go a little crazy sometimes, flying around like mad things after some sort of trigger; it can be a problem when cars are around. You're right, many Australian birds have names taken from European species which look superficially similar but are generally unrelated like the Robin or Magpie.

12-22-2014, 04:27 PM	#11
Mike L Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,472	Originally posted by RobG And today I found out that you can tell the male from female by their eyes. The male's eyes are dark. That's something I didn't know. Mum and Dad will be pleased to find out after 30 years that their pet galah, Joey, is actually Joseph and not Josephine.

12-22-2014, 04:55 PM	#12
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Originally posted by Mike L That's something I didn't know. Mum and Dad will be pleased to find out after 30 years that their pet galah, Joey, is actually Joseph and not Josephine. Maybe some of his behaviour will become clearer now.

12-22-2014, 06:40 PM	#13
AussieTrev Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,590	Originally posted by Des Like a lot of parrots they are playful but not stupid. Perhaps it was seeing them drunk across from home some seasons back. The fruit from the trees fermented. Hasn't happened now for some seasons. It was very entertaining. I still think they act like Galahs.

12-22-2014, 07:00 PM	#14
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Originally posted by AussieTrev Perhaps it was seeing them drunk across from home some seasons back. The fruit from the trees fermented. Hasn't happened now for some seasons. It was very entertaining. That would be funny to see! I've heard of birds becoming so drunk that they couldn't fly anymore. Quote: I still think they act like Galahs. Very likely!

12-22-2014, 07:36 PM	#15
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by AussieTrev Perhaps it was seeing them drunk across from home some seasons back. The fruit from the trees fermented. Hasn't happened now for some seasons. It was very entertaining. I still think they act like Galahs. Hence the Australian expression, "pissed as a parrot". (Which, for our American friends, means drunk not angry.)