You Silly Galah

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Pink Galahs

You Silly Galah

is a slang colloquialism

in Australia

which means

You fool

perhaps the phrase arose

from

the galah's gaudy dress

or

the silly way he struts

 

 The Pink Galah

or

Rose Breasted Cockatoo

is the most common

and widespread

of the Australian cockatoos

The word galah

comes from the Aboriginal word gilaa

 

 distinctive pink and grey plumage

and

 bold loud behaviour

characterise this cockatoo

 

When I drove into my street

this morning

returning from my walk

I spotted this pair of Pink Galahs

 on the nature strip

 

We have Ruffles

who is a rather disheveled

and weather beaten looking female

 

and Mr Smooth Top

her consort

something of a 'toy boy'

 

the galahs

were nibbling in the grass

for seeds or roots

 

Ruffles

had a reddish brown eye

 

 whereas Mr Smooth

had a darker browny black iris

Galahs are very social

and often flock together

in the evenings

roosting en mass

 

Ruffles decides

to cross the road

knowing that

the grass

is always greener

Mr Smooth

follows suit

 

Yes

I was right,

says Ruffles

delicious greenery

 

 and what are you looking at...

 

 I'm looking at Ruffles' beak

it appears mis-shapen

Galahs have a high pitched cry

'chill chill'

however

I heard the pair communicate

in barely audible

  soft muffled tones

 

time for a shake

rattle and roll

 

 woops

a bad feather hair day results

 

 Galahs make loving life-long pets

they are affectionate

very talkative

become very attached to their owners

maybe to another pet

cat or dog in the family

 and may even outlive you...

In the wild they can live 30 years

but in captivity their longevity

can extend to 80 years

Galahs can develop

the communication

and problem solving skills

of a two year old child

So

they are not so silly

afterall

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