Protecting and conserving habitat is the main way to help preserve plants and animals, including endangered species.

Water, one of the most precious and scarce resources in Australia, is abundant in the Grampians/Gariwerd area.

The Grampians National Park is home to many rare and endangered species of plants and animals, and is recognised as the single most important botanical reserve in Victoria.

Understanding the land through seasonal observations was once essential to survival and is today, essential to management.

There are many different ways of understanding this ancient landscape.

The language groups, Djapwurrong and Jardwadjali are the languages used by the custodians for the Grampians/Gariwerd region.

There are six distinct weather periods recognised in the Brambuk seasonal cycle. These are genuine seasons which relate to climatic features as well as referencing environmental events such as plant flowering, fruiting and animal behaviour patterns.

Permission to use the Gariwerd seasonal calendar and related information on the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website is given by the Elders/Directors of Gariwerd which includes the Gunditjmara, Winda Mara (Kerrup Jamara), Goolum Goolum, Kirrae Whurrong and Framlingham peoples. Visit www.brambuk.com.au for more information.

Nesting bird season  Dramatic weather changes  Wettest time of year  Rivers run high

Honey bee season  Warm, still days  Country starts to cool  Cooler mornings  Red sunrises and golden evenings

Eel season  Hottest and driest time  Scarce surface water  High bushfire risk  Night sky is bright with stars

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There are six distinct weather periods recognised in the Gariwerd seasonal cycle. The language groups, Djapwurrong and Jardwadjali are the languages used by the custodians for the Grampians/Gariwerd region.

Gariwerd seasons

Navigate back up to the calendar overview with the links at the end of each season.

Kooyang—season of eels

Late summer: Late January-late March

Kooyang is depicted by eels, galaxia, baby animals, mistletoe as well as eeling and fishing.

The lifestyle for the Gariwerd communities during Kooyang

Eel trapping is common during this season, a favourite food of the Gariwerd people. Stone huts could be seen on Salt Creek for the eel harvest.

Herbal medicines are available:

Old man weed for cold and chest complaints

Tannins from gums and wattles for stomach complaints and burns

The stars were used for navigation with star formations having creation stories.

The woodland areas during Kooyang

Tree frog by Ceredwyn EalantaAmphibians Tree frogs can be heard squeaking. Insects Many insects can be seen in larval form or beginning to hatch: labyrinth butterflies hatch

longhorn beetles emerge from wattle trunks

gum emperor moths emerge

spitfire grubs of sawfly wasp eat new leaves on seedling gums

stick insects eat treetop leaves

featherhorn beetles emerge Butterflies are frequent: imperial white butterflies can be seen

symmons skipper butterflies are common

brown tailed moth butterfly found on mistletoe Flies are pesty during kooyang and robber flies often cruise along bush tracks.

Mammals Mammals emerge during kooyang. Boxing kangaroos can be seen during this time. Reptiles Snakes are seen basking in the sun. Birds Red wattle birds flocking and fantails scurry down bush gullies. Young birds are emerging during this season. Plants Some plants continuing to flower including mistletoes, messmates and the long leafed box. The flowers of river red gums attract honeyeaters.

The wetland areas during Kooyang

Insects Water boatmen migrate from drying ponds. Many aquatic insects emerge as adults, attracting swallows and martins. Fish Galaxias (small native trout) move downstream to estuaries to spawn. Kooyang is the peak time for eel.

Birds Second brood of swamp hens are running. Plants Ribbon weed and swamp lily flowering. Elodea waterweed stems break and migrate.

Gwangal moronn—season of honey bees

Autumn: Late March-end of May

Gwangal moronn season is depicted by insects, pink heath and being at home in the wuurn.



The lifestyle for the Gariwerd communities during Gwangal moronn

People gather in villages.

People in the south lived on raised platforms to escape waterlogging.

Layered cooking ovens are used at this time and are passed over generations.

Distinct roles and tasks included foraging and gathering by females and hunting by males.



The woodland areas during Gwangal moronn

Fly agaric fungus by Ceredwyn EalantaPlants and fungi

Gwangal moronn sees berries ripening. Plants flowering including: cranberry heath and hop goodenia in full flower

pink heath and flame grevillea

candlebark and manna gums Many orchid shoots showing first rosettes of greenhood orchids

parsons bands orchids are flowering Peak of fungi season: red and white "fly agaric" fungi Insects

Wattle goat moths can be seen and giant swift moths are laying eggs at the base of gums.

Mammals

Marsupials active: young bandicoots out of pouch

antechinus active

dingoes mating Possums are beginning to breed. Birds

Pre northern migration flocking begins: red wattle birds flocking

first flame robin juveniles and females come down from the hills

flocks of insectivorous birds pass down gullies

pied currawongs come down from mountains Many birds are moulting feathers during this season.

Honeyeaters and wrens are searching for moths and insects.

The wetland areas during Gwangal moronn

Plants

River red gums flowers continue to attract honeyeaters. Birds

Masked lapwings and grey fantails are flocking. Reptiles and amphibians

Skinks and tortoises hibernate.

Many tadpoles can be seen in ponds.



Fish

Mature eels head out to sea to breed. Insects

Hawk moths are common.

Aquatic insects emerge as adults, attracting swallows and martins.

Chunnup—season of cockatoos

Winter: Late May-end of July

Chunnup is depicted by cockatoos, fungi as well as clothes and totems.

Return of Aquila constellation (Bunjil).

The lifestyle for the Gariwerd communities during Chunnup

Bands moved to rock shelters in the hills for refuge.

Long cloaks were made from possum skins.

Old people and pregnant women rubbed emu fat into the skin for protection from the cold.

For ornamentation people wore kangaroo teeth necklaces, hat mats and nose piercings.



The woodland areas during Chunnup

Tall Greenhood by Ceredwyn EalantaPlants and fungi Fungi appear including: coral fungus on mossy ground

boletus fungi in wet litter First of the winter orchids including: tall greenhood and early nancy lilly in flower

first nodding greenhoods and helmet orchids flower

first flowering chocolate lilies

Many early wattles flowering: long leafed wattle in flower

golden wattle and prickly moses in flower

cranberry heath in flower Fire damaged trees show epicormics shoots.

Yellow box flowering. Mammal Possums have young in pouch during chunnup.

Sugar gliders give birth.

Echidnas are searching for mates.

Birds Several bird species nesting including: brown thornbill building first nests

scrub wrens

jacky winter flycatcher returning to nesting sites

dive bombing magpies and lapwings Many birds active and on the move: shrike tits tear bark off manna gums

yellow tailed cockatoos on the move

first calls can be heard of fantailed cuckoos

flocks of sittellas pass through

yellow tailed cockatoos seek new feeding grounds

newly flowering eucalypts attract honeyeaters

noisy miners call loudly at dawn

satin bowerbirds on the move

little ravens flocking

powerful owls laying eggs

The wetland areas during Chunnup

Birds

Large flocks of pink eared ducks seen on lakes.

Swans and coot graze on lake shores.

Rising waters cause ducks to seek new feeding and nesting areas.

Lapwings are nesting on eggs.



Reptiles and amphibians

Frogs actively calling during chunnup. Insects

Ponds full of little water creatures.

Larneuk—season of nesting birds

Pre-spring: Late July-August

Larneuk is depicted by owls and eagles; tubers (orchids and murrnong) providing underground larders; and, cultivation.

The lifestyle for the Gariwerd communities during Larneuk

Murnong and other tuberous roots were dug up by women using long, pointed sticks, collected in large baskets and cooked in underground ovens.

Baskets were frequently being made during larneuk.

The woodland areas during Larneuk

Plants and fungi

New growth can be seen on eucalyptus trees.

Many ground orchids in full flower including greenhood, donkey and spider orchids. Many plants in flower: pultanaea bush peas

manna gums and long leafed box

purple coral pea, stackhousia and wattles

grass tree spikes Tree ferns unfold new fronds and cup fungi grow under large eucalypts.

Birds

Many small birds are nesting, including lapwings.

Early nesters can now be seen feeding young.

Spotted pardalote build nesting tunnels for first brood.

Cuckoos return and call continuously.

Fledgling powerful owls and wedge tailed eagles emerge. Insects

First butterflies appear and imperial white butterflies take wing.

Caterpillars and grubs emerge with sawfly grubs common on young eucalypts.

Woolly bear caterpillars are common.

King crickets lay eggs in banksias.

The wetland areas during Larneuk

Birds

Some migratory birds return: sandpipers and stints arrive on mud flats

reed warblers return from north Early ducklings walk to water.

Insects

Mosquito wrigglers are abundant. Fish

Rivers run high and galaxias migrate from the sea.

Petyan—season of wildflowers

Spring: September-November

The spring season is depicted by bird eggs, wildflowers and great meetings.

The lifestyle for the Gariwerd communities during Petyan

There were great meetings of Aboriginal bands of up to 1000 people for settling legal conflicts, singing and dancing corroborees, wrestling and boomerang throwing competitions, football games, trade, seeking partners for marriage.

Clans were summoned by smoke signals or message sticks.

The woodland areas during Petyan

Plants

Many orchids and lily are in flower, including: leopard orchids, hare orchids, pink fingers and sun orchids

leaves of common bird orchid appear

leek orchids appear

nodding blue lilies

flying duck orchids Trees are in flower including silver banksia, yellow box and late black and silver wattles.

Many shrubs/grasses are in flower including parrot peas, mint bush, bauera, tetratheca, rice flowers and christmas mint bush. Many herbs and grasses in flower, including: yam daisy

lomandra mat rush has fresh spiky flowering heads Fringe lilies, tall sundews, grass trigger plants, grass trees and kangaroo grass flowering.

Cherry ballart is fruiting. Insects

More butterflies emerge: wanderer and common brown butterflies are plentiful

caper white and wood white butterflies emerge Insects active, including: bees swarming

hover flies visit guinea flowers

cicadas emerge, leaving pupa case on tree trunks

first termites take wing

red ichneumon wasps common

large number of insects visit the bush pea and lily flowers

moths and beetles collect around lights Caterpillars create leaf damage on eucalypts and sawfly grubs are now large.

Mammals

Many mammals are breeding during petyan.

Ring-tailed possums carry young.

Koala young leave pouch at approximately 7 months old.

Koalas mate again.

Lots of mammal activity with holes appearing everywhere as bandicoots dig for grubs and echidnas dig for ants. Birds

Bush rings with sounds of courting birds, frogs and insects.

Many birds are moulting.

Olive-backed orioles are calling.

Cuckoo shrikes are feeding on caterpillars. Many birds are breeding and nesting, including: grey butcher birds

superb fairy wrens

currawongs

wood swallows nesting after migrating south Many birds returning south: fly catchers arrive from the north

trillers move south

rufous fantails and rainbow bee-eaters arrive from the north Migratory birds return.

Reptiles Snakes and skinks are active: skinks and snakes basking in the sun

lizards becoming active among the rocks.

The wetland areas during Petyan

Plants

Swamp paperbarks are in flower. Mammals

Platypus lays eggs. Birds

Snipe return to long grass around swamps.

Swamp hens have running young.

Reed warblers return.



Reptiles and amphibians Frogs active: loud frog chorus

pobblebonk and growling grass frogs on the move Fish

Eels migrate downstream.

Ballambar—season of butterflies

Early summer: Mid November-late January

The lifestyle for the Gariwerd communities during Ballambar

Bands moved back to the plains taking minimal possessions, e.g. weapons, digging sticks, baskets and cloaks. Stone tools were left behind.

Sweet drinks made from banksias and manna gums with water ribbon cooked and eaten.

The woodland areas during Ballambar

Plants

Many plants still in flower: teatrees, shaggy peas, hop goodenia and guinea flowers in bloom

banksia, grass trees, blue dampiera and christmas mint bush

sweet bursaria at flowering peak

hycathinth, tongue and duck orchids

Murnong is flowering in heathlands Some plants in fruit/seeding: kangaroo grass seeding

beard heath has berries

seed pods of silver wattle open Reptiles

Snakes and lizards bask in sun including copperhead snakes and jacky lizards. Insects

Beetles and moths collect around lights at night.

Butterflies chase each other in the warm sun.

Lacewings hatch.

King crickets in old banksia logs.

Birds

Birds active include: orioles and white throated warblers calling

squabbling honeyeaters clamber over the flowering banksias

kites prey on mice and locusts Many birds still have young including: bee-eater chicks hatch in nesting tunnels

kookaburras and sacred kingfishers feeding young

bee-eaters feed on young dragon flies

pardalote and yellow robin nestlings leave nests Many birds have post nesting moulting. Mammals

Pygmy possums have young.

Echidnas seeking ant nests.

The wetland areas during Ballambar

Plants

Water ribbons in creeks develop flowering spikes.

Nardoo are growing vigorously.

Cumbungi grows in streams and wetlands.

Birds

Grebes build floating grass nests on lakes for second brood.

