Galahs eat a wide variety of seeds, roots, green shoots, leaf buds, insects, and insect larvae. Rose-breasted cockatoos are found throughout Australia and Tasmania, primarily inhabiting city parks, arid shrublands, grasslands, and vegetated areas along streams and ponds. They become independent in six to eight weeks. Newly fledged birds leave the nest in about 45 days and gather into treetop nurseries of up to 100 birds. Nests are made in a tree hollow, typically one formed by termite activity, and both males and females incubate the nest and feed the young. The courtship continues with mutual preening and mating. During a courtship display, the male will raise his crest, weave his head from side to side, and strut along a branch toward the female, uttering soft chatters-the bird equivalent of sweet nothings-as he approaches. Within the large flocks that they form, most cockatoos form long-lasting mated pairs. It is also used as a slang term meaning “clown” or “fool,” derived from the noisy antics of these birds. “Galah” is the Aboriginal name for these birds (from the Yuwaalaraay, the language spoken by the indigenous people in what is now New South Wales) and was adopted into Australian English. At sunset, galahs begin pre-roosting acrobatics, flying swiftly in and out of trees, swooping down to the ground, and screeching loudly the whole time. This is an adaptation for gripping food items while feeding and for climbing. These birds’ have “zygodactyl” feet, which means two toes face forward and two face backward. They are also used like a third limb for climbing or holding onto branches. Rose-breasted cockatoos have heavy beaks that they use to crack open hard-shelled seeds and nuts. Extremely gregarious, they will form noisy flocks of up to 1,000 birds. Rose-breasted cockatoos-or “galahs”-are relatives of parrots that are often seen in city parks in Australia.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |