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A 9-year-old female rose-breasted cockatoo (Eolophus roseicapilla) was presented for a humeral fracture. At presentation, the bird was severely lethargic and obese. On physical examination, an open right humeral fracture, healed left ulnar fracture, and intertarsal joint swelling were present. Results of hematologic testing and biochemical analysis revealed severe leukocytosis with heterophilia and increased creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase activities consistent with musculoskeletal lesions. Radiographs confirmed a right humeral fracture and showed severe polyostotic lytic and expansile lesions of the appendicular skeleton, as well as an enlarged hepatic silhouette. Surgical repair of the fracture was attempted, but the bird died during the procedure. Postmortem examination revealed severe bone deformities involving the fractured humerus, both ulnas, and the left tibiotarsus. Histologic findings were consistent with multiple intraosseous lipomas of the long bones and severe hepatic lipidosis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of multiple intraosseous lipomas in a bird. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Part of the diagnostic workup for cardiac diseases is radiographic imaging. To determine an enlarged heart, species-specific reference values are necessary. Wild birds are rarely diagnosed with cardiac disease, and only a few studies have been done to investigate the cardiac silhouette in wild birds. Methods: In this retrospective study, the cardiac silhouette of 36 wild galahs, presented at the hospital, was investigated in relation to other anatomic landmarks like the thoracic width, clavicula width, synsacrum width, distance between the third and fourth rib, distance of the clavicula, and length and height of the sternum using a digital DICOM viewer. Results: The cardiac width was significant compared to the thoracic width with a minimum to maximum of 50 to 65%. The cardiac width compared with the coracoid width also showed significant results with a minimum to maximum range of 570 to 743%. A significant correlation was found between the weight and the cardiac width and length. Conclusion: The cardiac silhouette in wild galahs is easily measured in both radiographic views, and the heart size can be compared to other anatomical landmarks.

The pathophysiology of heat illnesses in birds has not been well characterized. In this study, we describe the changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, blood biochemistry and histopathological findings in galahs and rock doves after heat exposure under standardized conditions designed to induce heatstroke. Birds in the heat-exposed group were exposed to environmental heat stress and compared to control birds. Both groups of birds were under general anaesthesia throughout the experiment and serial blood collections were performed for biochemical analyses, while organs were collected at the end of the experiment for histopathology. No electromyography traces consistent with the onset of heat cramps were observed in any of the birds. Biochemical changes suggestive of skeletal muscle and hepatocellular injury, including hyperkalaemia and increased serum muscle and hepatic enzyme activities, were often observed in heat-exposed galahs and rock doves at the onset of heatstroke. Microscopic analyses did not reveal any significant cardiac changes, although some lungs had signs of acute congestion. Some heat-exposed rock doves had microscopic changes indicative of necrosis in the pectoral muscle. There were significant hepatic changes in some heat-exposed galahs, but not in rock doves. This suggests that there may be species differences amongst birds in the organs most affected by heatstroke. The observed species differences in the physiological, biochemical and histopathological changes indicate that bird species should be studied separately for clinical syndromes such as heatstroke. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Biochemical changes suggestive of skeletal muscle and hepatocellular injury in heat-exposed galahs and rock doves at the onset of heatstroke No electromyography traces consistent with the onset of heat cramps were observed Some heat-exposed rock doves had indications of necrosis in the pectoral muscle There were significant hepatic changes in some heat-exposed galahs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avian orders differ in their thermoregulatory capabilities and tolerance of high environmental temperatures. Evaporative heat loss, and the primary avenue whereby it occurs, differs amongst taxa. Although Australian parrots (Psittaciformes) have been impacted by mass mortality events associated with extreme weather events (heat waves), their thermoregulatory physiology has not been well characterized. We quantified the upper limits to thermoregulation under extremely hot conditions in two Australian parrots: the mulga parrot (Psephotellus varius; ~55 g) and the galah (Eolophus roseicapilla; ~265 g). At air temperatures (Ta) exceeding body temperature (Tb), both species showed increases in Tb to maximum values around 43-44°C, accompanied by rapid increases in resting metabolic rate above clearly defined upper critical limits of thermoneutrality and increases in evaporative water loss to levels equivalent to 700-1000% of baseline rates at thermoneutral Ta. Maximumcooling capacity, quantified as the fraction of metabolic heat production dissipated evaporatively, ranged from 1.71 to 1.79, consistent with the known range for parrots, similar to the corresponding range in passerines, and well below the corresponding ranges for columbids and caprimulgids. Heat tolerance limit (the maximum Ta tolerated) ranged from 44 to 55°C, similar to the range reported for passerines, but lower than that reported for columbids and caprimulgids. Our data suggest that heat tolerance in parrots is similar to that in passerines. We argue that understanding how thermoregulatory capacity and heat tolerance vary across avian orders is vital for predicting how climate change and the associated increase in frequency of extreme weather events may impact avian populations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before its 20th century expansion the Galah, Eolophus roseicapilla, was considered a bird of the inland but its pre-European distribution has received scant and only recent attention. Galahs were unknown to early colonists until explorers travelled deep into the Murray-Darling, Cooper and Diamantina catchments. They were later found around the Gulf of Carpentaria and in the southern Kimberley, Pilbara and deserts of Western Australia. European and indigenous sources accord that Galahs were not established in Central Australia until the closing decades of the 19th century. In 19th century South Australia Galahs occurred only in the far northeast, along the Diamantina and Cooper drainages, and indigenous language groups elsewhere generally had no name for them. Their reported occurrence in the Gawler Ranges appears erroneous. In the pre-European period, the three presently recognised subspecies existed as almost or actual allopatric populations, although it is likely that eastern E. r. albiceps was in contact with northern E. r. kuhli. We find that the Galah's range expansion was not entirely centrifugal, as previously assumed, because it occurred towards the centre as well as coastwards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional thinking for many years held that the holotype of the GalahEolophus roseicapilla, obtained in 1801 by the Baudin Expedition from France, was from south-eastern Australia. This did not mesh well with what is known of Galahs not having occurred in that part of Australia at that time. That it must have been a western bird is now strongly supported by bibliographic and morphological evidence. Our earlier phylogeographic study of the Galah had shown geographical structure in its mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). We reasoned that if mtDNA could be extracted from the holotype the matter should be resolvable. We report the results of this work and affirm the case made from morphological and bibliographic data. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Simple Summary: Cardiac diseases are a common finding in captive parrots. In this retrospective study, the cardiac silhouette of 36 wild galahs was measured in the ventrodorsal and laterolateral projections using radiographic images. The aim of the study was to determine reference values of the width and the length of the heart of wild galahs in relation to other anatomic landmarks. The evaluated reference indicates that the width of the heart is 50–65% of the thoracic width and 570–743% of the coracoid width. Background: Part of the diagnostic workup for cardiac diseases is radiographic imaging. To determine an enlarged heart, species-specific reference values are necessary. Wild birds are rarely diagnosed with cardiac disease, and only a few studies have been done to investigate the cardiac silhouette in wild birds. Methods: In this retrospective study, the cardiac silhouette of 36 wild galahs, presented at the hospital, was investigated in relation to other anatomic landmarks like the thoracic width, clavicula width, synsacrum width, distance between the third and fourth rib, distance of the clavicula, and length and height of the sternum using a digital DICOM viewer. Results: The cardiac width was significant compared to the thoracic width with a minimum to maximum of 50 to 65%. The cardiac width compared with the coracoid width also showed significant results with a minimum to maximum range of 570 to 743%. A significant correlation was found between the weight and the cardiac width and length. Conclusion: The cardiac silhouette in wild galahs is easily measured in both radiographic views, and the heart size can be compared to other anatomical landmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the survival strategies of parrot varieties including mulga (Psephotellus varius) and galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla) found in Death Valley in California. Also discusses the effect of temperature on their bodies, and strategy of parrots to evaporate water from their bodies to keep themselves cool.