Pink and grey galahs
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326127)
Rockingham, Australia
June 7, 2023 3:43am CST
On our way home with the caravan the other day, we stopped in a truck bay. There were two piles of ‘stuff’ in the bay. I’ve put up a photo of one asking what others thought it might be. I’m thinking now it must have been lupin seeds.
The other heap was wheat and soon after we stopped a large flock of pink and grey galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla) settled on the heap to feed. You can see from the photo that there was a large number of them.
Once, these birds were never seen so far south but now they are found all over the state and have even adapted very well to living in suburbia.
Their pink and grey plumage is very distinctive. They have a light pink crest and are about 35 cm (14 in) in length. In captivity, with a good diet, they have been known to live to 72 years of age but life expectancy in the wild is more likely to be around 20 years.
17 people like this
20 responses
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
7 Jun
They're very striking looking...
I wonder if they'll start taking over cities there like pigeons have in the US?
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
7 Jun
@JudyEv Crows here now torment some people, especially if the people bother them... I watched a video a few days ago about ravens in Japan that bombard people/cars with rocks because they think it's funny to see the humans react to the bombardment.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Jun
@DaddyEvil Honestly? Ours will be doing that next. They're much smarter than people give them credit for.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86823)
• United States
7 Jun
Gosh you have such lovely creatures there Judy.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86823)
• United States
11 Jun
@JudyEv Isnt it..I hate seeing wild things locked up.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun
@RebeccasFarm Mostly these types of galahs and parrots are given very small cages. It's cruel really.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118556)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun
Those are very cool looking birds! Love the colors!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118556)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun
@JudyEv Yes, I guess you are used to seeing them everywhere. If I saw one, I would be enthralled with it and watch it for hours.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Jun
@moffittjc I could watch your deer for hours too - and bears, if it were safe. lol
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157188)
• United States
7 Jun
They remind me of our pigeons. 72 years is an amazing age.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Jun
@LindaOHio You do worry for your pets, that's for sure.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (157188)
• United States
8 Jun
@JudyEv That's why we don't want dogs anymore. We're afraid they will outlive us; and we won't know if they get a good home or not!!!
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
7 Jun
It's the first time I've seen this type of bird. They look pretty and love the pink crest.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
7 Jun
@JudyEv oh wow! They look like parakeets.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Jun
@toniganzon I guess they are similar but a bit bigger.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15746)
• Raurkela, India
7 Jun
They really look beautiful feeding. Their pink colour is prominent. They look like the Indian pigeon.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15746)
• Raurkela, India
8 Jun
@JudyEv Oh! I see. So they can be kept as pets too.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13382)
• Hong Kong
7 Jun
They are very pretty birds. I'm just curious. What's the average life expectancy of most birds?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170489)
• United States
7 Jun
They look like pigeons. Sadly, any pigeons here are gray or brown.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95722)
• Marion, Ohio
7 Jun
They are pretty. That is a long life for a bird
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jun
In some areas they are a pest - around wheat bins, etc as they chew holes in any sort of protective covering. They sometimes break power/telephone lines too by playing on them.
@Marilynda1225 (79961)
• United States
7 Jun
I've never seen birds like that and they really are very pretty with their pink crest. That's amazing that they can live such a long life in captivity.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jun
Most of our parrots/cockatoos are very long-lived. With a good diet and no predators, they tend to live longer than they would in the wild.
@Kouponkaren (5495)
• United States
8 Jun
72 years life expectancy? Wow, that's a long time. I have never heard of them before so thanks for the photo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jun
They are very pretty in a subdued sort of way. More pastel shades than in your face brightness. Here's one having fun.
