Seasonal Calendar
WARNKA-MAGENY ANIMALS
Gamarang
Long-necked turtle
- Gamarang is good to eat when it is nice and fat
- Best found in June/July
- ‘Gamarang’ is also used by some as a generic word for turtle
Derrmad / Gawarroong
Fresh Water Crocodile
- The Freshwater crocodile is found in warm freshwater systems
- In the Cold Season, the freshwater croc lays its eggs in the sand
- The Warnka–mageny is the season when the Miriwoong people dig up the eggs for food
Jajan
Catfish
- The Catfish is found in most freshwater and saltwater river systems in the East Kimberley region
- The Catfish spawns in the cold season
- Frogs and prawns make great bait for catching catfish
Jamood
Bush Turkey
- While the bush turkey can fly, it prefers to walk all over the country foraging for leaves, buds, seeds, fruit, frogs, lizards along the ground
- These birds are usually found in pairs or alone
- They are most commonly spotted in June/July
Jilginy
Freshwater Crayfish (Cherabin)
- Freshwater crayfish are found in most fresh water creeks and springs in Miriwoong country
- Freshwater crayfish produce their eggs at the start of the cold season
Manngag / Gayirring
Ground Sugabag
- Ground sugarbag is a species of native bee that makes its hive in rocky places, or sometimes at the base of a tree
- Ground sugarbag can also be found in ant beds (termite mounds) and is very popular with the Miriwoong people
- The Ngareng (bush honey) is nice and sweet to eat
Moonggoong
Short-necked Turtle
- The Short-necked turtle is found in the freshwater systems of the East Kimberley and lays its eggs in the cold weather season
- The Miriwoong people enjoy eating freshwater turtles when they’ve grown nice and fat, as well as the turtle’s eggs
Warnembang
Sugar leaf
- Small sap-sucking insects (psyllids) create a white build-up on leaves called ‘sugar leaf’
- Sugar leaf is a sweet treat that is also high in proteins and fats
- They appear toward the end of the cold season and the beginning of the hot season
Wirringgoon
Cockatiel
- Cockatiels are found all over the country
- These birds breed in the cold season
- The Cockatiel is not hunted as a food source by the Miriwoong people
These are just some of the many animals which come out in the cold time. To find out more, check out the Miriwoong Seasonal Calendar book available at the Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre!
Click below to return to Warnka-mageny or check out some of the plants in Warnka-mageny
