First spring: August-September
Noongar words for Djilba season
Noongar English
Warra bad
Kep koorliny rain coming
Aliwa look out
Yorga woman
Woorda fungi
Noombat numbat
Noongar English
Warra bad
Kep koorliny rain coming
Aliwa look out
Yorga woman
Woorda fungi
Noombat numbat
This is the start of the massive wildflower season that happens in the South West of WA. This starts with the yellow flowering plants such as the Acacias. Also colours that are around at this time of year are creams, combined with some vivid and striking blues.
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Djilba is a changing time of the year,
with some very cold and clear days combining with warmer, rainy and windy days mixing with the occasional sunny day or two. |
Birds eggs and parrots in nests also provided food. The tubers of native potatoes were dug up and eaten.
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Family groups had moved to inland hunting areas as the rains had filled the rivers and creeks.
Traditionally, the main food sources included many of the land based grazing animals as in the season before. These included the Yongar (kangaroo), the Waitj (emu) and the Koomal (possum) who were driven from their holes with sticks. Snakes and lizards were also hunted when they came out to warm themselves towards the end of Djilba. As the days start to warm up, we start to see and hear the first of the new borns joeys with their proud parent out and about providing them with food. |
The woodland birds will still be in their nests. The swooping protective behaviour of the Koolbardi (Magpie) increases and if watched closely, so to do the Djidi Djidi (Willy Wag Tails) and the Chuck-a-luck (Wattle Birds).
As the season progresses and the temperatures continue to rise, we'll start to see the flower stalks of the Balgas (Grass Trees) emerging in preparation for the coming Kambarang season.
WA Orchids