Majors, although I have one particular breeding cock that hit me from behind once and took the beanie clean off my head. But if you want a Galah as a pet, he can learn to imitate human speech, usually very fluently, and will learn to whistle. Galahs are always ready for a scratch around the head with their lit­ tle face feathers fanned out to greet you. There are exceptions in both species, I will have to admit. Back when I was only a kid I had a Galah that had a clipped wing. He was a real mate (buddy) for a kid, I sup­ pose you could say. He used to do a lot with me, a talking, whistling, very easily handled bird that loved to ride around on my head and shoulders. From that perch he would lean down to have his head scratched. In addition to these attributes he was a free roam­ Western Galab cock. Photo by John McGrath ing bird, but he had a cage with the door open where he slept at night and he could find food. He often even My Lifetime of Experiences VVith went for horse back ride with me when I got the milking cows and their calves in' of an afternoon. I also GALAHS remember he was in trouble on more In Both Field and Aviary than one occasion for pruning my Eolophus roseicapillus mother's flowers. This Galah was a real little character. by John McGrath, Yass, NSW, Australia At one particular time the whole Copyright retained by author. family had gone off to town. On arriv­ Introduction Pets ing home I was unable to find the hat are you breeding Although the Galah is not prized in Galah. I eventually found him floating bloody Galahs for? Was a its own country, I feel it makes one of face down in a half-filled 44 gallon W question asked one day by the best pet cockatoos going. I have drum ofwater that we had been using a fonner Zebra Finch breeding work- often had people ask me if I had a as a reservoir during ,concreting. He mate! My immediate gut reaction was young Major Mitchell's Cockatoo must have climbed up the outside and who is having a go at who here, but I Cacatua leadbeateri suitable as a pet. lost his balance on the lip of the open guess that would be the reaction to Most people believe that because a topped drum or had attempted to most people about to read this article. particular cockatoo is "pretty" to look reach the water for a drink. I was fair­ Read on and I will endeavor to at that it will have all the necessary ly grief stricken at the time. It was a impart my acquired knowledge on a attributes of a good pet. Invariably I sad day and obviously this was a pre­ cockatoo that is not only monospecific attempt to talk the person out oftaking ventable tragedy, had the drum been but one that I find very interesting ­ on a Mitchell's as a pet as, often, the covered or emptied. a bird that most Australians see every­ Major does not make a confiding, I am always reminded of his sun­ day of their lives and take so much for good talking pet. Plus, once their flower-smelling breath whenever I granted, yet is a bird very much prized breeding hormones kick in they will smell the same on another parrot. in most overseas countries as an aviary turn very spiteful to the owner. Hand­ Even today I have several Galahs that inhabitant. Yet here in its own country reared Mitchell's I have kept can be a will greet me on my aviary rounds it can be despised as a pest bird and real handful. When you attempt to with fanned out faces, ready for that accordingly exterminated by various breed them, they are extra savage and head scratch that they have become means including shooting and poison­ usually come straight at your face. As accustomed to. ing. Both methods of control result in they have been hand-reared, they fields littered with corpses. show no fear of their human keeper. The Unique Galah Hand-raised Galahs, on the other I guess most people know very lit­ hand, can be aggressive, but do not tle about the life cycle of Galahs or for seem to be generally as bad as the that matter even care. Have you ever

18 September/October 1998 stopped and taken a good look at that the Galah chick possesses. These haVing trouble locating replacements. Galahs? hybrids are intermediate in size ObViously, where these defined How many people realize that the between the two parent species. There subspecies overlap there would be an Galah is unique amongst our have been many examples of this par­ inter-subspecies hybrid population. Australian cockatoos and apparently ticular type of hybrid produced across There are two other possible sub­ shares one of its features with only one the country. Although I do not con­ species. I have seen "South Australian of the Indonesian cockatoos. Some of done hybridization generally, I do not Galahs" advertised. Other than that I you will say "Oh Yeah! They are pink really have a problem with crossing of know little else of them. Maybe th~re and grey." And that's absolutely true. two of our more common cockatoos, is a geographically isolated population But there's more. as long as it is controlled. that differs from the norm in that vast How many of you realize that the Examples of some of the other state - maybe not. Maybe these S.A. Galah species itself consists of several Galah hybrids have been observed in Galahs are just from that state or a nat­ different subspecies, with noticeable the wild as well. I know from person­ urally occurring phase between the variations in color, distribution, al observation that inter-species eastern and the western birds. plumage type including crest type, eye hybridization does occur in nature! Then, speaking with a well respect­ ring color, as well as body size, and ed Western Australia aviculturist and that the same bird is now being devel­ Subspecies as I Know Them, amateur ornithologist, I was informed oped in several mutations in Australian There are three generally accepted of a little-known subspecies that aviaries. Galah subspecies. The nominate inhabits the Kimberley region, a bird Galah hybrids I have seen were Eastern subspecies Eolophus roseicapil­ that is reputed to be similar to the east­ crosses with Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Ius roseicapillus is the bird I am most ern states birds (E. r. roseicapillus) Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Western familiar with which inhabits most of including a red eye ring. If anyone Galah X Western Long-billed Corella, the east side of mainland Australia. knows more of these birds I would be plus I once had a hen Little Corella X The Galah from south west up to glad to hear from them. Galah (this bird had the reddish iris of mid-west of Australia, E. r. assimilis, as a Galah hen). I have seen other cap­ its name implies, is "similar," and to the Description tive examples ofthis latter hybrid, plus casual observer it really is similar. All mature Galah cocks possess a several of the other Galahs hybrids Then there is the smallest of the dark rusty brown iris and the hens a mentioned, as well as having seen the subspecies, the bird that inhabits the reddish orange iris. A very visible dif­ Little Corella X Galah hybrid cockatoo tropical north and northwest, E. r. ference can be seen when comparing free flying as I will described later. kuhli. I have kept all three of these the two sexes side by side. The iris of I had a friend with just a few pet subspecies, having bred two. I lost an immature bird is usually brown and birds in a backyard aviary who unin­ both birds of a pair of kuhli from dif­ differs during the time taken to acquire tentionally produced Galah X Sulphur­ fering causes before haVing the oppor­ their adult color. All Galahs have a crested Cockatoo hybrids. He had a 30 tunity to breed from them and am now crest that curve-sweeps to the rear. plus year old Sulphur hen that was a family hand-me-down pet. He had this pet for a great number of years then, at some stage, someone gave him a road victim cock Galah with a damaged wing. Thinking they may make good buddies, they were housed together. The urge to reproduce for this pair was so great that they burrowed into the earthen floor under a garbage bin that their seed tray was mounted on to lay FIND OUT WHY HUMIDAIRE their first clutch - and they went on to EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN THE produce several such broods. The CHOICE OF ZOOS, PRE­ chicks produced by this pair are very SERVES AND PROFESSIONAL beautiful hybrids, the pink ofthe Galah BREEDERS WORLDWIDE FOR parent is replaced by a brilliant yel­ OVER SIX DECADES. WRITE, • low/orange color and the crest is close to the same color but is similar in shape CALL OR FAX FOR YOUR to that of the the Galah. The back of FREE CATALOG! these hybrids can vary from pied grey/white to a dilute grey. The chicks P.O. BOX 9, NEW MADISON, OH 45346 U.S.A. TELEPHONE [U.S.A.) Toll-Free (800) 410-6925 are covered in an orange down as IlumlDAIRE WORLDWIDE (937) 996-3001 • FAX (937) 996-3633 INCUBATOR COMPANY opposed to the Sulphur-crested E-MAIL [email protected] Cockatoo's lemon yellow and the color the afa WATCHBIRD 19 ~ around the butt of the folded wing. the eye ring is a very distinct blue-grey e ~ The flight feathers are grey, the color color, sometimes with a red vein-like a5 ofthe chest region flows up to a cut off affect and can become very large and ~ point on the head that is exactly the granulated in appearance especially in 8 horizontal centre of the eye, if a mature cock birds. o :g straight edge of some type is placed Immatures of at least assimilas and a. through the Eastern Galah'"s eye this rosecapillas are a little smaller but in line is easy to see. I also find this fea­ general the pink colored portions of ture very discernible in the field. Then their body plumage are infused with a above that there is a paler pink cap rich grey. This can give some young region ("capillus," no doubt used to Galahs an almost totally grey appear­ describe this feature). When raised, the ance if they are seen in a shadow. crest has a higher portion at the front They lose their immature color as they and this drops away to shorter feathers molt into adult plumage at about 12 to the rear. The eye ring in E. r. rose­ months of age. icapillus is red and can vary in color Captive weights I have recorded: intensity and size between sexes and mature cocks range 290 to 390 grams, individuals. Below the eye ring there is mature hens range 230 to 290 grams, a lighter whitish mascara section no immature birds range 240 to 300 grams doubt to aid with sunlight deflection, both sexes. for the same reason cricket players "don" artificial mascara each summer. Northern Galah E. r. kuhli Northern Galah. Bill is hom colored, feet are grey. In keeping with most tropical sul::r Captive weights I have recorded: species it is markedly smaller than its Mature cocks and mature hens are southern cousins. My easiest way of Eastern Galahs E. r. roseicapillus around 280 to 300 grams. describing it to you would be a petite The sexes differ as above, the basic Galah similar in size to an Eastern King grey back and wings can vary in shad­ Western Galahs E. r. Assimilis Parrot Alisterus scapularis. The kuhli ing on an individual basis, from almost I find from observation of my aviary subspecies is probably generally a deep charcoal to a very light fog birds, distinctive differences in the lighter in shading than the southern grey. For an example, Galahs I have Western Galahs from the Eastern birds, birds and has a smaller more erect seen in the Pilliga scrub region of NSW but firstly the assimilis I keep and the crest and a distinctive red horizontally are a very light colored form. The roseicapillus are of a similar weights. ovate eye ring. I am informed (by rump is more of a mist grey in color. Unfortunately I am only able to base someone who keeps and breeds this This becomes very evident if you are my data on captive birds. subspecies) that the eye ring loses the in a position to view the bird from They share the same basic color intensity of color in captivity. behind as it takes flight or comes in to pattern with their Eastern cousins.The land with the "rudder" down. Tail overall color of the Western bird is a Naturnl History and feathers usually match the grey of the more pastel grey, with the rump the Wild Observations back in color. same as above but in my aviaries I I will only present my personal As the grey varies so can the pink of have recorded birds with pink feathers observations and local knowledge of the chest, from a dull washed out color on the rump, and I find the pink is the nominate subspecies. to, in some birds I have seen, an more intense but with a misty grey The Galah now inhabits most of the almost vivid red-pink. The under interspersed throughout that pink. The main Australian continent which was wings are pink and the pink can flow feet and bill are the same as the East­ not always the case. European man ern birds. The crest is a much fuller has helped the Galah colonize in to than the that of the Eastern, with the the eastern and south western portions crest being more intense pink in color. by several means. By making available CotJ8ratuIations :',_,_, / When erect, the crest displays feathers more permanent water supplies in the to the AfA "~~:~ ~~ that are virtually the same length form of stock watering troughs, and throughout its entirety, with only a land clearance seems to have aided the for gettitJ8 it off ~~f./:~ very gradual rear taper, giving the bird spread of the Galah. The Galah origi­ ?i~\' ~~ a very full head appearance when nally inhabited the sparsely treed inte­ the ground, and keepitJ8 ( :, excited. This "larger head" makes rior of the continent. Land clearance it in the air-for 25 years ~1(IJ)J» these birds generally appear larger, the has made them feel more at home and Gordon I1ayes pink of the "cap" tends to cascade the cleared ground has given them down the back of the neck without large feeding areas. 75 years experienced aviculturist that defined cut off point, they still New methods of growing crops <£>an Pedro, California have the mascara under the eye but have provided the Galahs with a much

20 September/October 1998 readier and more easily procurable South Wales (ofwhich the Yass district food source. Whether it be from the is a part) around the late 1930s. Being cultivated crop or the "weed crop'" interested, I verbally checked this with which occupies some fields during the my late father whose reply was, "That off season, the birds are thriving. would be about right." Galahs, from mans' point of view, are Another interesting piece of infor­ destructive to the ripening crop. From mation was passed on to me by my the birds' point they are only taking friend Victor (since deceased) during advantage of an easy food source.. It is a dinner conversation. Victor informed this point, though, that can cause con­ me that as a youth he had been asked flict between man and bird although, to collect some young Galahs as pets. in this case, the bird seems to have The Galahs were new to the Yass dis­ won the war. They are thriving as man trict at the time, and no doubt a bit of still tries to decrease their numbers in a novelty, and as far as Vic knew, he some areas. had collected the chicks from the first e Actually, if at any time the persecut­ nest in this district. After Vic passed ing property owners were to observe away it became apparent to me that babies from the Galah when the bird is not direct­ his collecting of these chicks was at manv blood lines ly attacking their crop, they would see about the same period I refer to above. that Galahs eat a lot of seed from pas­ I believe he knew every cockatoo M.A.P. certified ture weed pest species. Earlier this nest in this area. To my way of think­ year in the early part of spring I was ing we should capitalize on whatever Li maExoti(@·aol. com helping a neighbor with some fencing, verbal knowledge is passed down to Ralph Lima and every afternoon not far from us by our elders. where we were working a mixed Since that period 60 years ago, the (818) 703-11 1'2 flock of Galahs, Sulphur-crested Galah has spread south through the P.O.Box 6496 Cockatoos, and another small flock of Australian Capital Territory and Woodland Hills CA 91365 feral Little Corellas, came to feed on Monaro region, and east across the the seeds of Saffron Thistle, surely by Southern Highlands, now being a the bird's consuming seed of such a familiar bird seen feeding on median pasture-invasive weed it must pick up strips in the suburbs of both Canberra a few "Brownie Points." That is, it must and Sydney. I have seen Galahs on become the landholders ally in helping beach fronts in the far southeast of the Magnolia Berd reduce the amount of seed spread by state of NSW. such pest weeq species. Galahs appear to have been either Farm I have read that the Galah appeared deliberately released in parts of on the southern tablelands of New Tasmania or have become established We in certain areas from aviary escapees. Several years ago whilst on a family Buy visit to Tasmania I saw several flocks, Birds the most memorable being around a wildlife park on the east coast near • Bicheno. This flock not only contained We Galahs but Little Corellas, as well as their wild flying hybrids. I have actual­ Sell ly seen one of the same hybrid cocka­ Birds ~ toos here with a local Galah flock some summers past. The flocks I saw Complete Bird Supplies in Tassie were not of the magnitude 8990 Cerritos Ave. that we have become familiar with on Anaheim, CA 92804 the mainland and therefore are less (714) 527-3387 conspicuous. I saw only small geo­ (closed for vacation, first 2 weeks of July) graphically scattered flocks on the 12200 Magnolia Ave. island during our visit. Riverside, CA 92503 I believe in relating wild bird obser­ (909) 278-0878 vation to the birds we keep in captivi­ (closed for vacation, first 2 weeks of August) ty - wild observations have a lot of benefit to any aviculturist. We should OPEN 9 TO 5 DAILY Closed Sun., Mon. & holidays Eastern Galah hen. try and transfer things learned while

the afa WATCHBIRD 21 obselVing wild birds to the keeping of their captive cousins. During a Summer of the mid 1960s there was a large flock ofGalahs about our property and adjoining properties, concentrated no doubt by the drought conditions of that era and by the local grazers handfeeding oats to livestock, providing a good food source for the birds. This flock numbered hundreds of individuals if not thousands and the main two feeding grounds were in a field of ours at the front of our proper­ ty close to the road and about a mile away in the neighbors old crop field. Of particular interest in this flock were two individual birds. One appeared to the distanced eye to have pure white replacing the grey upper coloration, (appeared as if a Little Corella was feeding with the flock). The other bird was just the reverse, the pink under body was replaced with pure white with normal upper grey ComjJaring Galahs) le.ft to right: Western cock Eastern hen, Eastern cock, Western hen) (the white under body really became and next door, a Corella cock. evident in flight). I've never seen the latter coloration again. pink grey pink grey from back to various types'fit the bill well for such a Yes, you guessed it. I thought I was front~ven today I am awe struck! .display. The birds also utilize overhead good enough to trap these two indi­ As conspicuous as a large flock can telephone and power lines and if the viduals. Wrong. Odds were against me be in flight, put the same grey-backed latter lines are too close together they due to the size of the "flock, plus too flock on the ground feeding and they can suffer death as they spin around much food about even though I baited camouflage so well that you can walk one wire and accidently make contact the trap with oats. I do remember almost on top of them (unless of with the other, "boof" a small cloud of catching several young Galahs and course they happen to be in a com­ smoke and they are history - and even a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, but bined flock with Sulphur-crested often as not someone is without neither was my interest they only Cockatoos, then one warning screech power. being a nuisance. The two eluded cap­ from the Sulphur sentinel sends the I have also been witness on several ture long enough for the season to whole flock skywards) yet alone they occasions to Galahs flying at high break and conditions to return to nor- can be silent and invisible except for speed on moonlit nights. You cannot , mal. This large flock dispersed and the the squealing squabble fight over a "I physically see these birds but you can two mutant variants were gone from found it first" food morsel or the con­ tell they are moving fast from the dis­ my life forever. tinual leapfrogging flight from rear to tance between their calls. I have In the early 1980s I was employed front of flock as the flock progress for­ known my captive birds to call out on on the railway and as the train moved ward in an ever increasing crescent moonlit nights as well. slowly over a section of rail, a flock of formation, to cover more ground in Another sighting I was fortunate Galahs were feeding not far from the search of food. enough to witness was two immature track. There were two white birds feed­ A couple of other thoughts: How (uncolored) birds rolling, locked ing with them. Corellas? No, two birds many of us have witnessed Galahs together via bill and foot, over and as I had seen almost 20 years previ­ enjoying an afternoon summer rain­ over near some grain storage silos ously, Galahs with white backs. I later storm or shower, hanging by either bill where the majority of the flock were did some checking with some other or feet or a combination of both, with feeding on spilled grain. These two interested birdos and found that the wings out stretched, at times com­ were squealing with obvious delight pair had been about the area for some­ pletely upside down whilst absorbing and I was able t9 approach very close time. They also eventually disappeared. the moisture and preening themselves, to them as they where oblivious to any Every time I see a large flock in taking complete advantage of the free danger. flight it reminds me of the flock from shower and at the same time squealing. Acting on these observations, I now all those years ago, to see them wheel­ with delight. The stage for this scene provide my cockatoos with therapy ing through the air with precision and can vary from a bare branch to the chains, a length of chain attached in unison screeching and oscillating upper wire on a fence. Antennas of securely and suspended from the

22 September/October 1998 aviary roof. This chain is an item that They will eat the carrot tops we often usually build the sprouts up as the the majority of my cockatoos spend a throw out as well, in fact there are not breeding season approaches. Just prior considerable amount of time swinging many vegetables that Galahs won't eat. to chicks hatching and during the time on in playtime. (If you contemplate Throughout the winter months my they have chicks in the nest they get installing such a chain, make sure the cockatoos are given either a half or sprouts twice a day and as the chain links are not open ended and whole paddie melon per pair every nestlings grow I increase the amount that the links are not big enough for a few days. The melon from a cultivated from a small handful to enough to fill bird to get its foot through. Be sure to field pest species usually are about 100 a 600ml cup (about a pint) at each check that the birds do not become mm in diameter. The birds eat flesh feeding. entangled as has happened to one par­ and seed alike. The Galah will eat fruit like apple, ticular bird in my collection). My Sprouted seed, like sunflower, and they don't reject a chicken thigh Galahs enjoy these chains. wheat, mung beans, safflower seed, bone (either cooked or raw) very often pigeon peas, lupins, are all relished, either. When chicks are in the nest, or Captive Housing and Feeding palticularly when feeding chicks. I as an extra calcium/protein morsel My breeding birds are housed in flights that are 18 feet long by 3 feet wide by 7 feet high, and these flights form part ofa bank ofcockatoo flights. I prefer solid metal partitioned walls for pair privacy between each flight and I supply a natural branch perch at either end of the flight. The whole of the front section is door and covered in mesh. It is on this door that I hang MARION, IWNOIS a folded U shaped mesh tray to feed "Growers of live pet foods" the birds greens in, that is, their flow­ ering and seeding weeds, vegetables, etc. Next to the greens tray I hang a cup for their sprouted seed. The back six feet is shelter in which the nest log is mounted and the hard seed is sup­ plied in an upside down garbage can lid, which is mounted three to four feet Mini, Sm., Md., off the floor. • STANDARD MEALWORMS Lt. Water is supplied in either an enam­ el dish or a ceramic mixing bowl, both • GIANT MEALWORMS of which usually hold in excess of 10 liters (about 10 quarts), which aids in Sm., Md., Lg. stopping some of my larger cockatoo • SUPERWORMS species overturning their water, although certain individual cockatoos • WAX WORMS .. '. will persist until they up end even ~, . / . '- these large bowls. I have a water tap in • CRICKETS 10 standard sizes. Custom sizes available the safety flight that fronts all the cock­ atoo flights. Under this tap I scrub out, clean, and refill th.e bowls. • OTHER WORMS &ACCESSORIES I feed most of my cockatoos a basic Enjoy the highest qualitV live pet foods from nmbetfine's state-of­ hard seed diet of sunflower, oats and, the-art growing facilities. Featutfng unmatched customer senflce at times, seeds like millets and plain with Timbetfine's extended business hours. And only nmbetflne canary. I also supply the birds with various greens depending on availabil­ offers Superwonns in three sizes to accommodate all your needs. ity and season. Often what a gardener sees as just weeds will be a very tasty morsel to a parrot but, if I can get GUARANTEED LIVE DELIVERY them, I prefer milk thistle, capeweed, Extended Customer Service Hours! dandelion, and plants like wheat, oats, etc., when in seed. My Galahs enjoy ~~~·4~~·~~4~' f!X (~1~) ~~1-4~~~ www.tim~~rli~~fi~~~ri~~.~~m pumpkin skin and seeds, both items • most people would discard as rubbish. the afa WATCHBIRD 23 some time now I have witnessed Galahs feeding on dirt adjacent to the Calcium Molasses blocks that we sup­ ply to our cattle, and even chewing at the side ofthe block whilst hanging on with their feet. After having watched Galahs at this behavior for some time I decided to break a small section off one of these blocks and give it to a captive pair of my birds. The pair demolished this portion in no time. So it becomes obvious that we as avicul­ turists need to supply similar blocks to our birds. There are now quite a num­ ber of recipes around for such blocks.

Breeding in Field and Aviary It is in this portion of my writing that I will elaborate on the two unique attributes ofthe Galah, although I have mentioned one already. In the wild around here the breeding season is heralded by Galahs inspecting nest hol­ lows more frequently. Even though the pair will keep a check on "their prop­ erty" at any time throughout the year, they now start to haul the eucalypt leaves to the site. Galahs carry the little eucalypt branchlets in either bill or foot. Once at the nest site the branchlet is broken down into small twigs and ~s, There is an area on this tree uJhere a Galah has cheuX3d qtf the bark. This is a individual twigs and leaves are sign qf a Galah nest in the tree. ped off and placed in the hollow. luey seem to do this to renew and addition to their diet, a good quality dirt spread out on the floor, and they refresh the old nest site, lining the nest block cheese is enjoyed by Galahs if it will also glean dirt from the roots of sometimes to a depth of 300 mm (12 is cut into little "fist" sized pieces for some ofthe weeds I pull from the pad­ inches) or more with the leaves. them to handle. I will also give them dock. I even had one hen rearing Why Galahs do this is a mystery to seed pods offsome of the native bush­ chicks devour an earthworm out of most. Is it to provide nest chamber es from our garden like wattle, bottle­ that same dirt this year. To collect this humidity, insect control, maybe simply brush, and grevillea. They also period­ earthworm she actually left her flight a way of raising the chamber contents ically get eucalypt branches which are via the partially ajar door and pulled to stop flooding in the advent of heavy provided not only for nesting but as a the worm from the dirt on the roots of rain? Is it a behavior of a long gone supplementary food source. a weed on the floor ofthe safety flight. ancestral form, alternately a desert­ I supply grit simply as fine gravelly Mealworms may be worth a try. species-induced behavior or even The one major problem with Galahs something from the days when is that they will run to fat if their diet is Gondwana was covered by lush and not controlled. Don't give them too tropical rainforest? Leona Valley much fat in the form of hard seeds, What ever the reason, they do it and Bird Farm rather, tend more to the greens and captive birds, if they cannot get any sprouts. When I am supplying sprout­ eucalypt leaves, will lay eggs and raise •Hookbill Exotics ed seed, the dry mix hardly ever gets their chicks on whatever nesting mate­ eRingnecks- touched. rial is provided in their nesting cham­ a speciality The Galah is a hard flying long dis­ ber. But if they cannot get the eucalypt eHandfeds tance hauler in the wild, and captive leaves, they will often use the rem­ and Breeders living takes away the opportunity to nants of any green food supplied. owners: exercise, so watch that diet! It is during this period that the Lane and Mitzi Costle Transferring one of those field Galah mating process can be seen. (805) 270-0628 • fax (805) 270-0319 observations to an aviary situation, for Often mating will occur close to the

24 September/October 1998 cockatoos are a little shorter than an arm's length to the nesting chamber. This short log allows much easier inspection of both eggs and chicks. I ins.pect o~ all my cockatoo nesting logs twICe dally as the breeding season nears. The birds learn to trust you but will sometimes object. Aviculture though, is about bird husbandry, and therefore nest inspection mustgo hand in hand with good husbandry. In the case of Galahs, a log around 600 to 800 mm (22-40 inches) deep with an internal diameter of 200 to 250 mm (8-10 inches) seems to suit them. I find that the natural nests of Galahs often are no more than arm's length down the hollow anyway, so I believe what I supply is close to their require­ ments. Galahs will enter the nest head first or tail first, sometimes a bird will use a combination of both head and Eolophlls roseicapilllls assimilis hen leauing the nest log. tail first entry. My logs are placed on top of l2 gal­ nesting site. As the urgency to repro­ chewings on a trunk where the actual lon drums or lashed by wire to the duce increases, the frequency of mat­ nest hollow entry may be several aviary wall. In both cases you can see ing will increase. The cock will meters above the cleaned area in a into the nest. Again in both cases the approach the hen, mutual preening limb. Sometimes several sections logs are positioned vertically. A note of will take place, eventually the hen will maybe chewed on one tree and some­ warning here - be Vigilant that the lower herself to the perch, and the times several layers of bark may be end of the drum you are using does cock will mount her and copulation removed in successive seasons. not rust out, which could cause the will occur. This process is repeated up Why these bare sites? There are sev­ collapse of the nest log. to three or more times with mutual eral proposed explanations, one being In the past I have been successful in preening of both head and ventral a mark of ownership of a site, another breeding Galahs in 10 gallon metal area, occurring between each mating. is, perhaps, to make the tree trunk too milk drums (as milk was once deliv­ This display continues throughout slippery for enemies like Goannas to ered in) with a weld mesh ladder sup­ egg laying, and I have seen this in my get to the nest chamber for an easy plied and wood dirt in the bottom. The aviaries often over the years. feed. This latter theory could make problem with them is they get very hot Once egg laying commences an egg sense when the Galahs lived in their is laid with intervals of at least two former desert habitat where the trees days between eggs, with incubation were small and the tree could have usually proceeding with the laying of been completely circumscribed with ~ ~::U?b~~~s;t~Yts~~?e~i:d the first egg. Both sexes incubate, the their cheWing activity. This may features a full range of quality merchandise for explain why some of the large trees bird owners, enthusiast and nature lovers. hen will do the evening, night, and 285 Liberty Street, NE #210· Salem, OR 97301 early morning shift and the cock the have bark off them in sections on all Call (503) 585-3395 • fax (503) 585-3574 day shift. The change over is at about sides. Maybe time doesn't allow for the www.absolutelyaussie.com 8:00 A.M. in the morning and about pair to complete the job on a tree of 4:00 to 5:00 P.M. in the afternoon. this size. Who knows? This behavior Wild Galahs chew the bark off the seems to be exaggerated with this ~ tree they are nesting in, and coat the species, all cockatoos chew to some tBiris Jtncf -- area chewed with a powder (appar­ extent around their nest site. I have tBeasts ently off their feathers). I have an only observed this behavior done on assimilis cock bird that as the breeding live trees and, for the observant, even Quality Birds· Domestic & Imported season approaches vigorously runs his if you are not looking up you can BUY· SELL· TRADE bill up and down any object close to stumble across a heap of bark chips on owner: Rick Rosenthal his nest. From wild observations, this the ground under a tree and you are (714) 996-BIRD . (714) 996-6740 activity of cheWing may not necessari­ able to make a fair bet the Galahs have fax (714) 996-7004 ly have any bearing on the entrance to a nest above. P.O. Box 651 . Yorba Linda. CA 92686 the nest site chosen. I have seen the The nest logs I supply to all my

the afa WATCHBIRD 25 and it is easy to see the species would need the numbers of eggs to survive. This excessive number offertile eggs and clutch size may explain a natural phenomenon, one that I call "flyers." Usually the youngest of a clutch is in a position where it is left in the nest on its own and, being on its own, it attempts to follow its siblings without being fully able to fly. It will flutter and crash to the ground in an unprotected area often to be consumed by a predator. Actually, if found, these particular birds are often very close to being weaned and, from my past experience, take very little to feed to independence and can become tame and confiding pets. Double brooding for Galahs seems to be to some extent normal, as a few years back the first pair of Galahs I A digital scale is a Itseflll toolfor recording weights qleggs andyoung birds. referred to in this article completely "disemboweled" the contents of their nest from the first round - eggs leaves as the summer progresses. A clutch of four or five eggs for and all were out on the deck in a heap I only supply one nest site per pair Galahs seems to be about the norm. with eggs beyond hope. The same and with all my cockatoos the log stays When first laid, the eggs appear to season I saw a pair of eastern Galahs, in the aviary all year round. have a dull luster, are oval, and weigh down in the field do exactly the same The wild Galahs will nest in a vari­ between 13 to 16 grams (fresh). They thing - total nest contents at the base ety of situations. I have seen nests in soon lose this luster as they become of the tree. Both pairs did exactly the hollow tree limbs, either vertical or nest soiled. I date each egg with a lead same to the day. There may have been horizontal, at a great height off the pencil as it is laid. a problem in the season. The captive ground or in stumps only about two to From my notes, approximately 25 pair laid their second clutch and raised three meters (6-9 feet) off the ground. days seems to be the incubation peri­ chicks from it. I know ofone nest that was in a stand­ od for Galahs. I know that a person may be ing dead tree in the backwaters of the Generally a chick takes about 48 classed as crazy for breeding Galahs Burrinjuck Dam near here. (The trees hours to free itself from the egg. The but, as you can see, this cockatoo can died when the natural forest was inun­ Galah chick is born blind, weighs about be a real challenge. dated with backed up water 60 odd 10 grams, and is covered with wispy If you want additional information years ago). In this case it was only a vermilion pink down. I believe it to be on Galahs I recommend the following: matter of standing up in a boat to see the only cockatoo chick to have pink the chicks. down, barring, apparently, the Goffin's Video- "White Cockatoos:" part of the Land ofParrots set. Another example of how low the Cockatoo from Indonesia. I read about Australian Parrots and Parrots ofthe World Galahs will nest was reported recently Goffm's having the same down color as by Joseph M. Foreshaw. The World of Cockatoos by Karl in a magazine article. A Queensland Galahs in an article on Indonesian Diefenbach. stationhand (ranch worker, i.e., cow­ Cockatoos in AFA Watchbird Journal Parrots, Their Care and Breeding by boy or sheepherder) was found dead, MarchiApril 1997 page 32. Rosemary Low. Australian Cockatoos by Stan Sindel and hung by one arm from a low stump. I find I am able to band Galahs Robert Lynn. Apparently he had found a nest of about the time their eyes start to slit at The Galah by Ian Rowley Also a back issue Galah chicks on his rounds of the about two weeks ofage and the chicks of one of the Australian Bird Keeper series carried an informative article by ranch and set off to collect them as weigh in the vicinity of 100 grams. As Dr. Jim Gill on the Northern pets. Apparently he had ridden his with any form of banding, repeated Subspecies of Galah E. r. kuhli. horse up to the stump containing the checks need to be made to see the leg I keep all of these references in my chicks. After reaching down for the band stays on the chick. own library. It is surprising that over­ birds his horse bolted leaving him sus­ I had a really remarkable old pair of seas aviculturists often know a lot pended to die. Maybe the noise made disabled Galahs that in 1996 laid a total more about our Galah than we do, as by the startled Galah chicks had in turn of nine fertile eggs in two clutches. can be borne out by some of the texts startled the horse. By the time the Relate fertile egg figures to the situa­ listed above. The last two books are other ranchhands noticed their mate tion in the wild - with many disasters long overdue Australian titles that was missing it was far too late. awaiting the unsuspecting chick - cover the Galah in detail. .".

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