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Nyoongar Location MapNyoongar Calendar
Nyoongar calendar from the south-west of Western Australia showing six seasons
December - January February - March April - May June - July August - September October - November
Birak Bunuru Djeran Makuru Djilba Kambarang

Bunuru -
Second summer (season of the adolescence) February - March

Bunuru is the hottest time of the year with little to no rain. Hot easterly winds continue with a cooling sea breeze most afternoons if you're close to the coast. Therefore, traditionally this was, and still is, a great time for living and fishing by the coast, rivers and estuaries. Because of this, freshwater foods and seafood made up major parts of the diet during this time of year.

Bunuru is also a time of the white flowers with lots of white flowering gums in full bloom, including Jarrah, Marri and Ghost Gums.

Another striking flower that is hard to go past is the female Zamia (Macrozamia riedlei). Being much larger than that of its male counterpart, the huge cones emerge from the centre of the plant with masses of a cotton wool like substance.

As the hot, dry weather continues the seed upon the cones change from green to bright red, indicating they're ripening and becoming more attractive to animals, particularly the emu, that will eat the toxic fleshy outer.

Permission to use the Nyoongar seasonal calendar is granted by "South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council".

Kurongkurl Katitjin, Edith Cowan University's Centre for Indigenous Education and Research produces an electronic newsletter, with each edition coinciding with one of the six Nyoongar seasons. This newsletter contains a regular article highlighting the season and its significance to plants, animals and the weather.

For full article and further information: www.ecu.edu.au/schools/kurongkurl-katitjin/news-and-events/newsletter-our-place