Gwangal moronn – autumn – season of honey bees

Late March to 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.

For the woodland areas of Gariwerd, gwangal moronn brings the following:

Plants

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

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.

Insects

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

For the wetlands areas of Gariwerd, gwangal moronn means the following:

Plants

River red gums flowers continue to attract honeyeaters.

Birds

Masked lapwings and grey fantails are flocking.

Reptiles/ 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.