Silver wattle and magpie time

July-August – the cool weather continues but some warmer days arrive. The bush comes alive with the sight and smell of flowering wattles and the call of many birds. 

Gurruk (Australian Magpie) begin to construct nests for raising young. Water Ribbon tubers are roasted and eaten. Flowering Early Nancy signal that the eggs of Black Swans are ready for collection. The wood from some wattle species can be used for making tools. 

Early Nancy and Scented Sundews form white carpets on slopes and hilltops at places like Kalimna Park, the Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve and the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. Wararak (Silver Wattle) bursts into flower along the Loddon River and Campbells and Forest Creeks.  

• Water Ribbon tubers flower and seed along rivers and creeks

• Migratory Cuckoos (Fan-tailed, Pallid, Shining Bronze and Horsfield’s Bronze) arrive and begin calling for the breeding season

• Many Acacia species burst into flower including  Wayi-Galk (Golden), Wararak (Silver), Rough and Woolly Wattles  

• Rakali (Water-rat) mate

• Early Nancy and Scented Sundews form white carpets on slopes and hilltops.

Frog and yellow (flowering) time

September-mid-November – as the weather warms, the peak flowering season for many wildflowers begins. Frosts and rainy days are often still common. 

As the water warms over spring, River Blackfish and Murray Cod become more active. These are caught in traps constructed along waterways using stone and woven baskets. 

Watjarang (Platypus) along Campbells Creek breed and lay eggs. This is peak flowering season for many wildflowers, such as Murna (Yam Daisy), Gitjawil Matom (Chocolate Lily) and Bam (Bulbine Lily), which can be seen at the Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve, Kalimna Park and Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park.  

• This is peak flowering season for many wildflowers, such as Murna (Yam Daisy), Gitjawil Matom (Chocolate Lily), Bam (Bulbine Lily), Sticky Everlasting, Clustered Everlasting, Grey Everlasting and Orchids, as well as for shrubs such as Downy Grevillea, Rough Mint-bush, and Fairy Wax-flower.

• Watjarang (Platypus) breed and lay eggs

• Brushtail Possums carry their young from nests

• River Blackfish spawn

• The bush is bright with yellow daisies that provide a landing pad where insects can warm up on cold mornings

• Australian Reed-warblers begin calling along creeks and rivers  

• Rainbow Bee-eaters arrive from northern Australia to nest along creek and river banks

• Large flocks of White-browed and Masked Woodswallow arrive from northern Australia and can be heard calling in the sky 

• This is peak frog breeding season – large frog choruses can be heard in wetlands and along creeks and rivers 

• Black Wattle and Red Box flower. 

Long-necked turtle and seed time

Mid-November-December – increasing warmer weather brings out many reptiles and insects, while grasses flower and set seed. Creeks and rivers begin to dry and the bushfire season may commence in drier years. 

The seed of some wattle species is collected to grind up into flour using stone mortars. Berries of Dhurunguk Gurrka (Flax-lily), Kangaroo Apple and Apple-berry are ready to be eaten, while turtle eggs can be collected. Native grass seeds ripen and is ground into flour. 

Wurrumuk (Long-necked Turtle) lays eggs near Forest Creek, while young Brush-tailed Phascogale leave the nest at Kalimna Park. Common Reed flowers and seeds along the Loddon River. 

• Peak flowering for Darrk (Yellow Box) 

• Berries of Bulotj (Cherry Ballart) ripen 

• Insects are most active – butterflies, cicadas, moths, dragonflies

• Berries of Dhurunguk Gurrka (Flax-lily), Kangaroo Apple and Apple-berry ripen, and Wattle Pods go brown and split open, releasing their hard, black seeds.  

• Bluebells, Sweet Bursaria and Mistletoes flower, providing a valuable source of nectar

• Wurrumuk (Long-necked Turtles) lay eggs

• Young Brush-tailed Phascogales begin to leave their nests 

• Native grass-seeds ripen including Kangaroo, Wallaby, Buwatj (Tussock) and Spear Grasses – providing food for ants and finches 

• Koala breeding season

• Sand Goanna and Lace Monitor lay eggs

• White-throated Nightjar heard calling at dusk and dawn 

• Common Reed flowers along creeks and rivers 

• Native bees are active in flowering eucalypts

• Lorikeets arrive to feed on flowering eucalypts.

Fire and snake time

January-mid-March. The warmest and driest time of year, many plants become dormant but animal activity is still high, as the young of many species disperse. This is peak bushfire season. Occasional La Nina years bring heavy summer rains. 

The bark of Biyal (River Red Gum) is used to make canoes, shields and other tools, the leaves have medicinal properties, while the seeds can be eaten.  

As the water recedes, Old Man Sneezeweed grows with other small herbs on the mudflats of Bells Swamp and other local wetlands. Tiger Snakes hunt for frogs along the Loddon River. 

• Cicada calls can be heard throughout the bush 

• Old Man Sneezeweed grows with other small herbs on the floors of drying wetlands  

• Tiger Snakes hunt for frogs along creeks, rivers and wetlands

• Geckoes and Blind-snakes hunt on warm humid nights

• White-striped Freetail Bats can be heard in the sky on warm nights 

• Jewel Spiders spin their webs between shrubs and trees 

• Biyal (River Red Gum) and Lightwood flower 

• Yabbies dig deep tunnels as waterholes dry

• Nomadic, dry-country birds such as Black Honeyeater and Yellow-plumed Honeyeater can appear in some years

• Male butterflies congregate at high points in the landscape – this is called ‘hill-topping’

• Red-browed Finches feed on fallen grass seeds

• Wasps feed on nectar produced by mealy bugs on Wattles

• Furry caterpillar trains march across the forest floor in search of new feeding sites

• Dodder Laurels fruit.

• Lorikeets arrive to feed on flowering eucalypts.

Banksia and parrot time

Mid-March-April – the bush responds as the first autumn rains rehydrate the often dry landscape. 

wurrak (Tree Banksia) flowers are soaked in water to extract the nectar and make a sweet drink. This is also a good time to collect sap from wararak (Silver Wattle) and Black Wattle, which can be eaten or mixed with ash to be used as glue for tool-making. gurndi (Cranberry Heath) berries ripen and are ready to eat.  

At Liang-a-nhuk (Mount Alexander) mosses spring to life with the first autumn rains, while fungi send up fruiting bodies on animal dung, through  leaf litter and on logs. Flowering Yellow Gums in the Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve attract Swift Parrots, honey-eaters and lorikeets. 

• Some Orchids flower – including Parsons Bands, Autumn Greenhood, Striped Greenhood

• Spreading Wattle flowers

• Brushtail Possums breed

• Mosses spring to life with first autumn rains 

• Fungi respond to rain and send up fruiting bodies on animal dung, through leaf litter,  and on logs 

• Swift Parrots arrive from Tasmania and join many other honey-eater and lorikeet species feeding on flowering eucalypts such as Yellow Gum, Yehrip (Red Ironbark), and Grey Box 

• Bibron’s Toadlets can be heard in wet gullies

• Eastern Spinebills arrive from cooler habitats to the south and feed on nectar-rich flowers

• Flame Robins and Golden Whistlers arrive from cooler habitats

• Female Common Brown Butterflies become active after summer aestivation

• Grey Currawongs arrive and are signalled by their noisy call

• Rain Moths emerge from underground larvae and scatter eggs from the air around eucalypt trees.

Emu and echidna time

May-June – the coolest time of the year, frost can be common and rainfall is often at its peak. Rivers and creeks start flowing and wetlands begin to fill. 

Possum skin cloaks are worn, barramul (Emu) eggs may be collected for cooking.  

Bushy Needlewoods flower at Kalimna Park, while Common Froglet and Southern Brown Tree-frogs can be heard calling along Forest and Campbells Creeks.  

• Mammals breed – including Brush-tailed Phascogale, yulawil (Short-beaked Echidna), Yellow-footed Antechinus, Agile Antechinus, Krefft’s Glider

• Bushy Needlewoods flower

• Owls breed – Barking Owl, Southern Boobook and Powerful Owl

• White-winged Chough families construct/refurbish mud nests for raising young

• Male barramul (Emu) incubate eggs

• Fungi fruiting is at its peak

• Pied Currawongs arrive from cooler habitats to the south

• Common Froglet and Southern Brown Tree-frogs can be heard calling along creeks.