George is a Galah, a bird species often called a pink and grey cockatoo or rose-breasted cockatoo. Galahs are native to Australia and can be found in the wild throughout Australia. The word Galah (gilaa) is from the Aboriginal Yuwaalaraay language of northern New South Wales.

Galahs have a reputation for being loud, highly intelligent and full of personality. They are affectionate and friendly but can be unpredictable, especially if they don’t get enough attention or get bored.

George will never win a beauty contest but he oozes street cred.

George joined the flock in September 2016 as a rescue. We don’t know much about his life before he joined the nest. He was a pet bird, but we don’t think he had a great life. He still has some health issues, which means, unfortunately, he would not survive in the wild. George has a skin condition that affects feather growth on his chest, but it doesn’t cause him any discomfort. It just means he has to live in a temperature-controlled environment. Thankfully, we have air conditioning for Australia’s hot summers and underfloor heating when it gets cold in winter. He is a very pampered rescue birdie.

George always looks scruffy, and it’s not unusual to find leftover food in his crest. This just adds to his ‘Gangsta George’ image.

Although he has lived with us for some time, his behaviour can still be unpredictable. George is aware of the ‘house rules’ but can be known to ‘fluff his feathers’. We are so grateful he chose us; we adore him just the way he is.