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The Noongar Six Seasons
Unlike the European calendar, there are six Noongar seasons in Western Australia’s South West region,
which are indicated by changes in local plants and animals.
Learn how to pick the change of seasons with this handy guide.
Traditionally Noongar people hunted and gathered food according to the seasons,
being guided by the signs in nature as to which animal and plant resources were plentiful at those times.
Birak (December - January)
The ‘hot and dry’ was characterised by the onset of hot easterly winds. The signals of this season were the Christmas and paper bark trees blossoming. Noongar people burnt mosaic sections of scrubland through fire-stick farming. This forced animals into the open to hunt and opened the canopy to the November rains, which increased germination of summer foodstuffs. An abundance of food was found along the coastal lakes and river estuaries. The mullet, bream, marron and crabs were fat and ready for harvest. Colours of this season are green, blue, orange and yellow.
Makuru (June - July)
During the ‘cold and wet’ Noongar people moved inland from the coast to the Darling Scarp to shelter from the cold coastal winds. The flowering sheoak trees meant the kangaroos were ready to eat. Wild carrots and several species of wild potato were ready for harvesting. Colours of this season are grey and black.
Bunuru (February - March)
The ‘fruiting’ was characterised by hot easterly conditions with afternoon sea breezes. Noongar people moved to coastal estuaries and reefs where fish and abalone constituted a portion of the seasonal diet. This was also the salmon and herring season. Large fish could be speared from overhanging trees along river banks.
Colours of this season are yellow, orange and red.
Djilba (August - September)
As the weather started to get ‘warmer’ Noongar groups moved to the drier Guildford and Canning Kelmscott areas. This calmer weather allowed the bush to rejuvenate and plants begin to bloom. Eggs from water fowl, emus, swans and ducks were collected. Tortoises, berries and roots also supplemented the larger game of kangaroo, emu and ringtail possum. Colours of this season are black, blue and green.
Djeran (April - May)
‘First rains – first dew’ began when the weather became cooler with winds from the southwest. Fishing continued, the emus were fat and the zamia palm nuts, bulbs, and other seeds were collected and prepared for food. Colours of this season are red, brown and grey.
Kambarang (October - November)
The ‘flowering’ is the height of the wildflower season. Quandong trees were ripening, ready for harvesting later in the season, as well as other small shrubs that produced berries. Families moved towards the coast where frogs, tortoises and freshwater crayfish or gilgies and blue marron were caught. Snakes and goannas were also a source of food during this season. Colours of this season are blue and green.
From: melvillecity.com.au/pineylakes. 24 June 2021