Galahs, a love story

Tap tap, tap tap... I looked up from my old favourite lunchspot today to see a Galah  Eolophus roseicapillus enthusiastically pecking away at a Eucalyptus tree nearby. 

After a few minutes he flew up into the tree, so I investigated a bit closer and saw he was pecking at a hole - perhaps a potential nest hole - Galahs (and many other cockatoos) like to nest in holes in trees. 

Looking up to where the Galah had flown I saw he had a mate!

Little by little they edged closer to each other...

 until they had a little kiss!

and another...

and another!

I believe the male is on the right of the picture and the female the left, as in this last shot you can make out the colour of their irises - males have brown and females have red!  It was amazing to see these two lovebirds together.  In fact, Galahs will usually mate for life (and they live for a long time, up to 80 years as pets, though nearer 30 in the wild, according to galah.galah.com.au ).  If their mate dies, they have been known to get depression!  When I was first told what these cute little birds are called I was told that Aussie slang calls someone a 'silly Galah' if they are being a bit daft, but I think these birds are anything but silly, they are true romantics!  I will be sure to keep an eye on that hole in the tree to see if there will be the pitter-patter of little Galah feet in a few weeks time!