A cockatoo looks like it was coloured by someone who only had pink and grey crayons left. The galah is impossible to miss. Rose-pink underparts and face contrast with a grey back and wings. A pale pink crest rises when the bird is excited. It is loud. It is gregarious. It seems to enjoy being noticed. Attention is sought, not avoided. The name galah comes from the Gamilaraay language of Indigenous Australia. It sounds like the bird's call. The bird has been called worse. Nomenclature is often descriptive. This instance is accurate. Sound defines identity. The call is distinct. Recognition is immediate for those who know it. Feeding involves seeds, grasses, and insects. Foraging happens on the ground. Walking occurs with a waddling gait. Head is down. Tail is up. A flock of galahs feeding is a sociable affair. They call to each other. They jostle for position. They watch for danger together. Cooperation increases survival. Isolation increases risk. Group dynamics are complex. Flight is direct and slightly ponderous. Deep wingbeats drive movement. A flock of galahs in the air is a moving cloud of pink and grey. They call constantly. A high-pitched "chee-chee-chee" carries for kilometres. Noise marks presence. Silence implies absence. The sound is persistent. It does not stop. Galahs are not native to New Zealand. They are native to Australia. Distribution covers most of the continent. The New Zealand population is small and localised. It is probably descended from escaped cage birds. The largest flock is around Waitakere, west of Auckland. A few birds exist near Ruawai. Others are in Canterbury. Spread is limited. Establishment is partial. Nesting happens in tree hollows. Large old eucalypts with deep cavities are preferred. The nest is lined with wood dust. Two to five eggs arrive. The female incubates alone. The male feeds her. Both parents feed the young. Cooperation ensures success. Division of labour is efficient. Roles are defined. The galah is a successful species. In Australia, it has expanded its range with land clearing. Cockatoos love open country. They love farmland. They love the edge. The galah has thrived. Adaptation is key. Flexibility allows persistence. Success is measurable. In New Zealand, it has not spread. The population remains small. Reasons are unclear. Possibly competition with native parrots plays a part. Possibly the wrong trees exist. Possibly the birds just prefer Australia. Ambiguity persists. Explanation is elusive. The galah is not a threat to native birds. It is too rare. It is simply an exotic presence. A splash of pink in the green countryside. A visitor that stayed. Presence is noted. Impact is minimal. Coexistence is passive. The call is raucous. A galah screaming from a power line is hard to ignore. It knows this. It screams anyway. Noise is a statement. Volume is a trait. The bird carries on. No one told it otherwise.