Wunthurru – early storm season
Flying foxes and certain bird species start their seasonal migration in Wunthurru
Late summer: January to February
High humidity, hot, monsoons.
Lifestyle of the Yanyuwa communities during Wunthurru
Temperatures regularly top 40° C with accompanying high humidity. Night-time temperature rarely falls below 25° C with humidity persisting. Throughout Wunthurru, there may be intense, rainless electrical storms. Lightning strikes, during such storms, often start bushfires. Along the coast, rolling clouds (morning glories) often appear. These clouds indicate that flying foxes and certain bird species will start their seasonal migration.
The monsoon, a seasonal wind, has a heavy hold on the weather during January and February. It brings cloud and heavy showers. The daytime temperatures are high with a sticky humidity. Overnight temperatures fall to the mid-20°s C. The first storms of the wet season provide relief from the hot humid conditions.
Harvest plants and animals
Cormorant and egret chicks are still available with land snails prevalent after the first rains. Ma-bikiki (Green Plum), ma-manja (Wild Passionfruit), a-kalwakalwa (White Plum) and ma-wijku (yams) are harvested during this season. Yams are collected in such a way as to allow for regrowth.
Lhabayi – end of the wet season
Autumn: March to May
Heavy rainfall, monsoon weakened.
Sometimes cyclones and high wind.
Lifestyle of the Yanyuwa communities during Lhabayi
Lhabayi is a period of heavy rainfall with the rain falling less violently than during Wunthurru. The monsoonal winds weaken. An unpredictable variable in the wet season are warlungarnarra (cyclones) that can occur any time between November and May. March is a common month for cyclones. Late in the wet season there are usually burrumanamala (knock-him-down) winds. These are windy rain storms that often flatten the high grass that has rapidly grown during the wet season.
Harvest plant and animals
Dugong and turtle are still available early in the season.
Rra-mardu – dry season
From mid-season, the Kuthajuthayi (Oystercatcher) lays eggs on the beach
Winter: June to July
Sunny, pleasant.
Not too hot.
Lifestyle of the Yanyuwa communities during Rra-mardu
A long pleasant period with sunny, generally cloudless, days and cool evenings. Rra-wuna (heavy fogs) often occur. The fogs produce very heavy dews making sleeping in the open wet and unpleasant. Murnnyi (winter rain) is rare.
Harvested plants and animals
Fruit available during this season includes wularia (bush bananas), ma-warrangayi and a-mangkudiji (island fruit). Ma-rnayi (Water Lily) is harvested as a food source. Rra-mardu sees the return of the flying foxes. These creatures are used for food once their young have been weaned. Bush honey is very rich and plentiful during the early dry season, due to the number of plants flowering. The Kuthajuthayi (Oystercatcher) lays eggs on the beaches from mid-season, and sea bird eggs are cooked. Muyu begins: the migration of mullet and stingray upstream.
Ngardaru – hot season
Early summer: August to September
Winds becoming hot.
Dust storms begin.
Lifestyle of the Yanyuwa communities during Ngardaru
Early in the season a-wurrarumu (the north wind) blows from the sea, becoming yunduyunduwarra (hot winds) as the season progresses. Kurumbirribirri (dust storms) are prevalent. During Ngardara, grasses die back, waterholes often dry out and dust storms are whipped up.
Harvested plants and animals
Cycad and pandanus nuts are harvested, then ground, dried and stored to be made into dampers. Mature Water Lily corms are harvested.
Na-yinarramba – humid season
Summer: October to December
Very hot ground.
Some inconsistent rain.
Lifestyle of the Yanyuwa communities during Na-yinarramba
Na-yinarramba is hot humid weather. It's a season of extreme human discomfort as temperatures regularly top 40° C with accompanying high humidity. There is little relief at night time, as the temperature rarely falls below 25° C and the high humidity persists. During this period, there are often intense rainless electrical storms. Lightning strikes often start bushfires. Along the coast, julayarriyarri (rolling clouds) known as 'morning glories' are seen. The cloud indicates that flying foxes and certain bird species are about to commence their seasonal migration.
Harvested plants and animals
Fishing is the focus during Na-yinarramba, as it is too hot for other activity. Barramundi is caught in fish traps at creek mouths, and sea turtle eggs become available.
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