I have been asked to help with the beginners classes for the new Nyoongar language class term, which as a wedjela or if you like, nydiyang person who really hasn’t been learning for very long, and I feel very privileged and honoured to have this knowledge to share.

When our teacher asked if anyone spoke a second language, out of the class of 25 plus, no one put up their hand. Perhaps these people are learning the language of the boodjar they are standing on, with apparently no other language interests, because they feel a sense of responsibility, or to get closer to culture and country or out of interest. It just gave me a nice feeling to think that so many people were taking an Aboriginal language as their first second language.

It’s definitely a Djilba feeling sort of day. Such a short season, today could be more of a Kambarang.

You know it’s Djilba when these words become especially important

koolbardi – Australia magpie (deathchicken, murderbird…)

djankang – Red Wattlebird

balay – look out!

bakanabiny – being dangerous

noorook – egg

manga – nest

djet – flower

#5words #aboriginal #australia #indigenous #noongar #nungah #nyoongar

Blue Spotted Hawker? Who knew?

  I found out how to get a log in to iNaturalistAU as when I was originally setting up the iNaturalist I'd done it from the main site, through Google. All the iNaturalist sites talk to each other, but not all of them let you log in with Google, and AU is one of those. 

Okay...I asked on the forum and was given some lovely clear instructions that worked, basically put in a password on my iNaturalist settings. This translates across to the AU site so now I can do this https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?user_id=aliciasmith for you. I'm doggedly putting in all my photos of plants and critters I've taken since Google photos was a thing. Before that, well, we'll see. 

When I come to the Finland visit I'll enter it from the iNaturalist site I guess?

Because the iNaturalistAU site is part of The Atlas of Living Australia https://www.ala.org.au/ data that the collector has marked as having permissions (there are various copyrights you can mark stuff with without giving away the farm) is transferred to the Atlas of Living Australia.
You are the eyes on your bit of country and you're directly contributing to environmental science.

I just think it's fantastic! And people come along and tell you what those species are that you've always wondered about around the place. I'm not strong on plant and insect i.d but wow, now I'm getting pointers. Blue spotted hawker just sounds *cool*!

And if you're on Blogger you can set up a widget! https://leeceandherhappenings.blogspot.com/?zx=ff159969ab302c7a - of course if you're reading this on  Blogger you'll have already seen it. :-)