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Hi
My first post here, but I've searched the web and can't find an answer to a puzzle.
Yesterday I called in to an old acquaintance here in Western Victoria, home of many thousands of galahs. She had one in a cage at her back door. It had been picked up as an injured baby about ten years earlier (ruling out beak&feather disease I'd guess) and had been kept as a pet. One wing had been badly broken and it had been attacked by the local mob, intent on murder.
A common incident, except for the bird's colour. It was a deep vermilion-pink, all over. The crest was the same deep pink colour, and the wings were edged in grey, giving a delicate scalloped look. The back and tail were similar. It was stunning! I assume it was a natural mutation, the reason for the attack by the other birds, but I can't find any reference to it on any bird sites. I have seen the cross which produces a dilute bird with pale apricot instead of the pink but this was nothing like that. The known aviary mutations produce a paler grey.
She hadn't noticed any difference between it and the other locals! She did say it went a paler colour during the year (before moulting, I suppose) but retained the all-over pink. I intend to wangle another invitation with my camera.
Has anyone seen or heard of anything like this in galahs? Is it unusual, or am I looking at just a sad, lonely, diseased cripple on its last legs? I hope not, -it was glorious.
Lyn Faull
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