Kid Territory:Critters: The Berry Sisters

Zoo names: Cranberry, Raspberry, and Strawberry
Species: Galah or rose-breasted cockatoo
Location: San Diego Zoo

Their story

The Berry Sisters hatched on March 4, l997 at the San Diego Zoo’s behind-the-scenes Avian Propagation Center. Hand-raised by the bird keepers and transferred to the Children’s Zoo, the three galahs have been animal ambassadors for their entire lives. Their pink-and-gray beauty and perky personalities make them popular with their handlers and our guests. During presentations, the adaptations that help galahs survive in the grasslands and savannas of Australia help us explain why cockatoos, even hand-raised cockatoos, are a handful.

Busy, busy birds

Our galahs are small birds, about 12 inches (30 centimeters) tall and weighing less than 1 pound (300 to 325 grams). But they are mighty in energy and personality. The sisters are always busy, busy, busy. So their handlers stay busy during animal presentations, too, keeping an eye on all the cockatoo antics. The galahs march up and down their handlers’ arms. They look in our pockets for seeds. They pick at our shirts. They pick at our watches and nametags. They run their little beaks under our fingernails (which feels creepy!) and along cuticles. They throw leftover sunflower seed shells on the ground. And, they poop a lot. The Berry Sisters also excitedly watch their surroundings and raise their crests, they flap their wings and make that unmistakable ear-piercing cockatoo scream. All of these natural behaviors that could last for a lifetime of 50 years help show why, for most people, cockatoos don't make good pets.

Galahs in the wild

Basically the galahs are acting much as they would in the wild, grooming and talking and foraging for food. Galahs live in large flocks. Since they eat seeds, grasses, fruits, and nuts, they can destroy Australian farmers' crops, and the birds are sometimes considered pests. One of our educators grew up in Australia, and told of her friends who used to feed wild galahs. The people spread seeds out on their porch railing and enjoyed watching the beautiful birds fly down and eat. But, when the people went on vacation the galahs, as usual, flew down. When they didn't find any food, they chewed up the wooden porch instead! Our educator also thought that wild galahs were pesty (and unwanted) alarm clocks. Every night, a flock of galahs roosted in a tree outside her bedroom window. Every single morning, as the sun rose, the galahs woke up and screamed, waking up all the humans, too.

Where you can see them

The galahs live off exhibit at the Children’s Zoo, yet our guests still often see and hear them. The Berries appear at the Children’s Zoo during informal walk-around animal presentations. We also take the sisters to assembly and other off-grounds programs, Zoo party events and classes, and even worldwide, via videoconferences. Are you wondering how to tell the three Berry Sisters apart? The sisters seem identical even to many of their handlers. So here’s the secret: look at their identification bands, small silver rings on their legs. Raspberry has a band on her left leg, Strawberry’s band is on her right leg, and Cranberry has one on each leg.

Update: Strawberry passed away September 2008, but her two sisters are still doing fine. We miss her.

More

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Animal Bytes: Cockatoo
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