“… It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;” (Psalms 92:1 NKJV)
Tag Archives: Galah
Lee’s One Word Monday – 5/9/16
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GOODNESS
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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV)
Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) and Dan
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Ian’s Bird of the Week – Galah

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Galah ~ by Ian Montgomery
Newsletter – 6/6/15
I’m back home after cutting short the camping trip in Western Queensland owing to a foot problem which made both camping and walking difficult. The foot is responding well to treatment at home in preparation for the New Caledonian trip in two weeks time. So I didn’t return with lots photos of dry country species for you but I did get treated to a fine display by an extrovert male Galah who came along to distract me while I was putting up my tent in Hughenden.
He wasn’t the only distractor; the camp site know-all gave me a lecture on the order in which to assemble my tent. The Galah was more welcome and I encouraged him, unlike the human, verbally. You can imagine the conversation going a bit like this.
‘I’ve heard that you bring birds fame and fortune with your Bird of the Week email. Can I be your bird of the week?’
‘Sorry Galah was BotW in 2006 (below). I like to have a different species each time.’
‘Ah, pleeeease!!!’ (below)
‘Well, okay, we’ll see. But you’ll have to do something spectacular to make it worth my while.’
‘How about this? I’ll look cute and demented at the same time.’
‘Mmmmh. Not bad but the juvenile Galah did that in 2006 and simultaneously begged for food.’
‘I can hang upside-down and look at you at the same time without losing my grip.’
‘That’s better! Anything else?’
‘I can hang upside-down with just one claw, no safety net, raise my crest and nibble my other foot simultaneously without falling off.’
‘Now that’s impressive: you win. You can be the next bird of the week.’
‘Whoopee, thank you!!! Happy camping!’
At that point the camp-site know-all came along.
The Galah said: ‘Oh no! I’m out of here!’ and flew away. Despite their name, Galahs aren’t stupid.
Just in case you are wondering why I said the bird was a male, it’s all in the eyes. Males have dark brown irises, females have red ones as in the photo above taken on a different occasion at Pentland not that far from Hugenden. This is also the case in Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo.
Greetings
Ian
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Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Tel 0411 602 737 ian@birdway.com.au
Bird Photos http://www.birdway.com.au/
Where to Find Birds in Northern Queensland: iTunes; Google Play Kobo Books
Recorder Society http://www.nqrs.org.au
Lee’s Addition:
The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. (Psalms 111:2 KJV)
What a delightful newsletter. Sorry about your foot though, Ian. We will be praying that you heal quickly so you can make that next trip. Who knows what adventure you will come back to tell us about?
As many of my readers know, the Galah has become on of my favorite birds. Every since our encounter with the Galah at Brevard Zoo, when this photo was taken.
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- Ian’s Birds of the Week
- Ian’s Cockatoo Family Photos
- Birdwatching Adventure to Brevard Zoo in Viera, FL
- Just Back From A Birdwatching Adventure – Viera
- Cockatoos – Cacatuidae Family
- Sharing The Gospel
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5 Day Black and White Photo Challenge #3 – Galah
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; (1 Peter 4:12 NASB)
There are only two rules for this challenge:
1. On 5 consecutive days, create a post using either a past or recent photo in B&W.
2. Each day invite another blog friend to join in the fun.
My third nomination is Through Open Lens, because he is a great photographer and has some stunning photos. The articles are short, but informative. An all around variety of nature.
Again, I was nominated by Our Rumbling Ocean, and I nominated AussieBirder, Sukanya Ramanujan and now Through Open Lens. Please check out all of these fine sites.
(Couldn’t resist turning my favorite photo of Dan into Black and White)
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My photos so far for this challenge:
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Birdwatching Adventure to Brevard Zoo in Viera, FL
We had a delightful and interesting visit to the Brevard Zoo in Viera (Melbourne), Florida on Friday the 3rd. We were over there also visiting Viera Wetland (2nd & 3rd) (article to come) and also went to the Atlantic shore for a few minutes that evening (the 2nd). Some of the highlights were that Galah landing on Dan’s camera. See Just Back From A Birdwatching Adventure – Viera. Luckily I had my own camera and was able to “capture the moment.” What was so interesting about that Galah is that he (or she) had become intrigued by Dan’s camera. A child tried to offer it some of the liquid they sell to feed the birds, but no, the camera was more interesting. (This picture is not good, but it show the action)
Then the Galah hopped up on his camera.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they (we) are without excuse: (Romans 1:20 KJV)
Birds observed at Brevard Zoo: | |||||
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English name | Scientific name | ||||
1 | Southern Cassowary | Casuarius casuarius | |||
2 | Emu | Dromaius novaehollandiae | |||
3 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | |||
4 | Black-bellied Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna autumnalis | |||
5 | West Indian Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna arborea | |||
6 | Coscoroba Swan | Coscoroba coscoroba | |||
7 | Black Swan | Cygnus atratus | |||
8 | Raja Shelduck | Tadorna radjah | |||
9 | White-cheeked Pintail | Anas bahamensis | |||
10 | American Flamingo | Phoenicopterus ruber | |||
11 | Chilean Flamingo | Phoenicopterus chilensis | |||
12 | Marabou Stork | Leptoptilos crumeniferus | |||
13 | American White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | |||
14 | Scarlet Ibis | Eudocimus ruber | |||
15 | Roseate Spoonbill | Platalea ajaja | |||
16 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | |||
17 | Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |||
18 | King Vulture | Sarcoramphus papa | |||
19 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | |||
20 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | |||
21 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | |||
22 | Northern Crested Caracara | Caracara cheriway | |||
23 | American Coot | Fulica americana | |||
24 | Black Crowned Crane | Balearica pavonina pavonina | |||
25 | Sandhill Crane | Grus canadensis | |||
26 | Blue Crane (Stanley) | Grus paradisea | |||
27 | Masked Lapwing | Vanellus miles | |||
28 | Eurasian Collared Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | |||
29 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | |||
30 | Galah | Eolophus roseicapilla | |||
31 | Cockatiel | Nymphicus hollandicus | |||
32 | Rainbow Lorikeet | Trichoglossus moluccanus | |||
33 | Hyacinth Macaw | Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus | |||
34 | Blue-and-yellow Macaw | Ara ararauna | |||
35 | Scarlet Macaw | Ara macao | |||
36 | Golden Parakeet | Guaruba guarouba | |||
37 | White-crested Turaco | Tauraco leucolophus | |||
38 | Laughing Kookaburra | Dacelo novaeguineae | |||
39 | Wrinkled Hornbill | Aceros corrugatus | |||
40 | Southern Ground Hornbill | Bucorvus leadbeateri | |||
41 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | |||
42 | Downy Woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | |||
43 | Fish Crow | Corvus ossifragus | |||
44 | House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | |||
45 | Yellow-rumped Warbler | Dendroica coronata | |||
46 | Myrtle Warbler | Dendroica coronata | |||
47 | Boat-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus major | |||
48 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis |
There were other animals at the zoo, but our main focus was on the birds. It is a very nice landscaped zoo and the over-all appearance was great. The critters all seemed to be well taken care of. It is definitely worth a visit to the Brevard Zoo if you are in that area. It is actually listed as being at 8225 North Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940. Update: 2/11/12 – Dan just posted his photos on his photography website. His photos at – Dan’s Pix – are much better than mine, of course, he has a better camera. Will be doing an article on our visit to the Viera Wetlands soon. *
Just Back From A Birdwatching Adventure – Viera
Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. (Job 40:10 KJV)
Dan and I took off yesterday and drove to Viera, Florida, which is about 30 miles south of Titusville. We birded Viera Wetlands, which is a prime birding spot in Florida, yesterday and then for awhile this morning. After that we went to the Brevard Zoo for about 3 hours and then drove back home this afternoon. It is 101 miles over there and only takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive it. It is interstate or toll road all the way.
That trip is the reason there has not been a blog posted in the last few days. I now have over 140 email messages to go through and 800 photos to sort.
Just as something to share, today at the Zoo, a Galah, in the Cockatoo family, hopped up on Dan’s camera and I was able to take a couple of neat photos I want to share. Ian has photos of the Galah and I was anxious to see one. I never dreamed that we would get this close to one. I even rubbed it’s head for awhile. Wow! What beauty and colors the Lord has given His Creation.
The Galah is in the Cacatuidae – Cockatoos Family.
“The Galah ( /ɡəˈlɑː/), Eolophus roseicapilla, also known as the Rose-breasted Cockatoo, Galah Cockatoo, Roseate Cockatoo or Pink and Grey, is one of the most common and widespread cockatoos, and it can be found in open country in almost all parts of mainland Australia.
It is endemic on the mainland and was introduced to Tasmania, where its distinctive pink and grey plumage and its bold and loud behaviour make it a familiar sight in the bush and increasingly in urban areas. It appears to have benefited from the change in the landscape since European colonisation and may be replacing the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo in parts of its range.
The term galah is derived from gilaa, a word found in Yuwaalaraay and neighbouring Aboriginal languages.” (Wikipedia)
More of the trip in future posts.
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