Seasonal Moon Names

January

Fledgeling Moon, Bushfire Moon, Frog Moon
Although the bushfire season in the South-West is from November to February, January is often the height of our bushfire season. Birak is also the season when fledgling birds are starting to leave their nests, and baby frogs are completing their transition to adulthood as the weather gets hotter and drier and waterways are drying up.

February

Illyarrie Moon, Dry Moon
February is our hottest and driest month of the year. It’s also when the Illyarries come spectacularly into bloom, along with niaouli.

March

Ocean Moon, Fruit Moon, Fish Moon
The end of Bunuru, March remains very hot, and most waterways are at their driest. This is a time for spending by the coast and rivers, and fish, seafood, and freshwater foods are traditionally a core part of the diet this time of year. This is also the time when many fruits are in season: summer crops are ending and autumn crops have started.

April

Ancestor Moon, ANZAC Moon, Cooling Moon, Whale Moon
April brings the cooling of the weather, and peak whale-watching season. April also brings lots of rumination on our ancestors, with ANZAC Day, followed by ShadowFest (or Samhain).

May

Sheoak Moon, Crone Moon, Nesting Moon
As we get closer to the Winter Solstice, the year enters it’s Crone phase. The Sheoaks are covered in flowers, and many birds are beginning to nest.

June

Quiet Moon, Long Nights Moon (if near the solstice), Black Swan (Maali) Moon
Towards the end of June, the Winter Solstice occurs. The weather is becoming cold and wet, but does not yet have the intensity that comes after the solstice. Aside from the weather quieting down, the rain and cold picking up means the social landscape becomes much quieter as well. The black swans all gather at their nesting grounds.

July

Storm Moon, Winter Moon, Dark Moon
The height of Makuru, July is our coldest, darkest, and stormiest month. The landscape is looking green from the months of rain, although most perennial plants are still in hibernation, with the introduced deciduous trees looking bare by contrast.

August

Awakening Moon, Wattle Moon, Grass Tree Moon, Cygnet Moon
August starts with the blooming of wattles, and Wattle Day used to fall on August 1st - they’re the heralds of Djilba and warmer weather coming. The balgas have started growing their flower spikes, trees are starting to sprout new leaves, and some flowers are starting to bloom. Cygnets and other ground/water-dwelling chicks are starting to venture out of their nests.

September

Magpie (Koolbardi) Moon, Strawberry Moon, Planting Moon
As any Aussie is aware, this is the time of year when magpies get territorial in defence of their young and swoop anyone who dares to venture nearby. This is the ideal time for planting seeds, re-potting plants, and other garden maintenance. It’s also solidly into strawberry harvest season. Wildflower season is well underway.

October

Wildflower Moon, Orchid Moon, Snake Moon
Wildflower season is at its peak, and October represents the tail-end for the early-blooming orchids and the start of those blooming later. With the warmer weather, snakes are beginning to stir, and October represents the months where they’re most spotted in urban areas.

November

Jacaranda Moon, Moodjar Moon, Grain Moon
In November, the city turns purple with jacaranda blossoms, and the golden-orange flowers of the Moodjar (or Western Australian Christmas Tree, the world’s largest species of mistletoe) begin brightening up bush spaces. November is also the height of the grain harvest in the nearby Wheatbelt region, with the hope the harvest can be completed without losing any crops to bushfires, which often start this time of year.

December

Mosaic Moon, Bushfire Moon, Fledgeling Moon, Frog Moon
With Easterly winds in the morning followed by seas breezes in the afternoon almost like clockwork, this was the time of year the Noongar people would do their controlled burning of the landscape, in mosaic-like patterns. Unfortunately these conditions are less favourable when the fires in question are not controlled, and bushfires are a risk. This is also when many young animals start to mature, with fledgling birds beginning to leave the nest, and many baby frogs are reaching their adult stage.

References:
Heka Arcane Apotheca: 2020 Full Moons