Publications

Learn more about the ecology and heritage of Jirdarup through our published resources.

ABOUT OUR PUBLICATIONS

We publish a range of information for people who want to know more about Jirdarup.

Our publications are made possible by our volunteer authors and subject matter experts as well as our generous photographers who allow us to use their images.

They are available at our on-line store, at our events and in local bookstores. Thanks to generous sponsors, our pamphlets are free of charge. 

Corporate publications such as our annual report can be found on our Committee page.

For photographers who may not be aware, we have posted a link here to ethical guidelines for wildlife photography published by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Download the guidelines here.

 

Go direct to our online store
Our book about Jirdarup

Our book about Jirdarup

Have you ever wondered how this precious bushland survived in the middle of suburbia? With the support of the Town of Victoria Park, our first publication tells this story accompanied by some of the best shots by our generous photographers.

 

Our book Jirdarup Bushland and the Friends who care for it is now available.  You can read it here or purchase a copy online from our store and at our events.  More than 50 people have freely contributed expertise, memories and photographs.  Schools in the Victoria Park area and the local library also have copies as does the State Library of Western Australia.

The purpose of the book is to increase awareness of this “jewel in the crown” of Victoria Park and to be a resource to increase community awareness of the wonders of urban bushland and the many different ways in which individuals can contribute to its conservation and restoration.

The Town of Victoria Park provided a Community Arts Grant to fund the graphic design and printing of the story. Printing costs are being further supported by a personal donation from Mayor Karen Vernon. Even so, we needed to reprint more to meet demand.

The idea for this book arose in 2022, when we included a history display with our Images competition in the Victoria Park Centre for the Arts.

It provoked significant interest and that information has now formed the basis for our book.  The history covers the development in and around the site since 1901, the recollections of local people who have been visiting different parts of the site since the 1950s, and information about the plants and wildlife found there over the last 100 years.

The story reflects on the impact of European settlement on a parcel of land that the Whadjuk people inhabited for over 50,000 years and its progressive conservation and restoration since 2000 in response to community pressure. The Precinct itself is within a 40Ha (100 acre) area leased to the then Municipality of Victoria Park by the State government for 999 years in 1912.

We know from newspaper reports that there were kangaroos and emus around Victoria Park in the early 1900s and that as early as 1899, there was concern that enthusiasm for the local wildflowers would put their survival at risk.

Read some of the reviews here.

Birds of Jirdarup

 

 

 

Author Dr Dan Carter is a local who has spent a lifetime studying birds and can tell so many interesting stories about their behaviour as well as being able to recognise their unique sounds.

The guide is designed for people who want to identify the birds they see in our banksia woodlands and to help them thrive by providing bird habitats in their gardens across the suburbs. 

This book is for everyone who has an interest in nature and conservation with a will to save our wonderful bird species from further decline in urban areas. It is a pure joy to read. Our gardens can be the corridors that support fauna that is being squeezed out of urban areas and offer a place to breed, feed and bring joy into our lives – Sabrina Hahn

Almost 70 species of birds have been observed in Jirdarup, some regularly and others passing through. For these birds to thrive, state and local governments must make a concerted effort to increase the tree canopy and conserve bushlands that provide a variety of plants that are suitable for the birds to find food, shelter and nesting sites.

Publication of our second book about the Birds of Jirdarup has been a priority for 2023 and 2024. The author Dr Dan Carter is a local who has spent a lifetime studying birds and can tell so many interesting stories about their behaviour as well as being able to recognise their unique sounds.

The guide is designed for people who want to identify the birds they see in our banksia woodlands and to help them thrive by providing bird habitats in their gardens across the suburbs. It includes photos and a brief description of 50 birds that might be seen over the period of a year have been included. Water birds that are only seen flying over are not included. 

A very big ‘Thank you’ to our major sponsor, the Wettenhall Environment Trust, and to our local Member of Parliament, Hon Hannah Beazley MLA, for their generous support to bring so much knowledge together in one place.

The Wettenhall Environment Trust provides grants to support projects that enhance and maintain the vitality and diversity of the Australian natural living environment.

In addition to information about the birds, the publication has a strong conservation message including ideas for local gardeners to adapt their gardens to increase food and habitat for our local birds.

There is also a strong Noongar element which includes several Dreamtime stories about birds found in Jirdarup. Our Djerap brochure includes some of these stories.

Once again, local photographers have generously donated a collection of great images. Western Australia’s own birdman Eric McCrum OAM has given the project his tick of approval.

In putting this publication together, we have across many web-based resources to attract birds to your garden.

Thank you to those photographers who have provided such wonderful photos. 

As their contribution to celebrating NAIDOC Week 2014, the Friends of Jirdarup Bushland launched their new brochure Djerap: Noongar Bird Stories recorded by Noongar Elder Emeritis Professor Dr Lennard M Collard with artwork by Noongar Whadjuk/Yamatji man Ron Gidgup.

The stories of the happy Kulbardi (Magpie), the lazy Wardong (Raven), the Djitti-djitti (Willie Wagtail) and the Darlmoorluk (Twenty-eight Parrot) had been previously gathered by Prof Collard from interviews with Noongar knowledge leaders and were reproduced with his permission.

How to Get Your Copy?

This brochure has been produced with the support of Hannah Beazley MLA and our SNRM grant.

 

Ron Gidgup produced the inspiring artwork specifically for this project. This artwork represents the Wardong and the Kulbardi which are very spiritual birds within Noongar Whadjuk communities. Ron said: “These birds come to us giving us different greetings and messages, which can be omens, or news of good things to come. The colours represent the seasons, Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba and Kambarang in which the Waardong and the Koolbardi can always be seen.”

Hon Hannah Beazley MLA, Member for Victoria Park, was delighted to formally launch the brochure, stating, “These stories connect us not only to Jirdarup, but to 40,000 years of history. It’s wonderful to see the Friends’ ongoing commitment to working with Whadjuk Noongar people to incorporate Noongar katitjin—Traditional knowledge and wisdom—in their resources.”

This brochure has been produced with the support of Hannah Beazley MLA and our SNRM grant.

Related resources

Collard L, Harben S, van den Berg, R (2004). Nidja Beeliar, Boodjar Noonookurt Nyininy: A Nyungar interpretive history of the use of boodjar (country) in the vicinity of Murdoch University. Report prepared for Murdoch University.

Collard, LM (2009) Djidi Djidi, Wardong, Kulbardi, Walitj and Weitj: Nyungar Dream Time Messengers. Westerly 54: 2

Collard, N. Whadjuk Trail Network. Oral stories.  

Dandjoo Moordyap Dabarkan Noongar Language Project. (2014). Djerap: Noongar birds. Batchelor, NT: Batchelor Press.

Kaartdijin Noongar – Noongar Knowledge. South West Aboriginal Land & Sea Council.

Robertson, R et al (2017) Nyoongar Boodj Kooba Bardip Kooratan – Nyoongar Land Long Story Batchelor Press, Batchelor, NT.

Walley, T, Martin, C & B Martin (2013) Mardang Waakarl-ak. Dandjoo Moordyap Dabarkan Noongar Language Project. Batchelor Press, Batchelor, NT.

 

Noongar people recognise six seasons which are characterised by weather changes and its impact on local plants and animals. For this reason they are only roughly aligned with the European 12-month calendar. Those seasons are:

  • Birak—season of the young. First summer: December-January. Associated colour: Pink.
  • Bunuru—season of adolescence. Second summer: February-March. Associated colour: Red.
  • Djeran—season of adulthood. Autumn: April-May. Associated colour: Green.
  • Makuru—season of fertility. Winter: June-July. Associated colour: Blue.
  • Djilba—season of conception. First spring: August-September. Associated colour: Orange.
  • Kambarang—season of birth. Associated colour: Yellow.

This poster depicts one plant that is flowering in Jirdarup in each Noongar season however each Noongar season is characterised not by a single plant, but by a myriad of plants and animals that are abundant at that time. The lines between the Noongar seasons are blurred to emphasise that the change in season is related to the fluctuations in nature, rather than being fixed to the international calendar.

For more kaatdijin – knowledge- about the Noongar seasons visit a dedicated website here.

To get a high resolution copy of this poster, go to our store.

Jirdarup at a glance

Copies of our 2024 brochure are available at our events and at venues around Victoria Park. It has been produced by the Friends of Jirdarup Bushland with the support of a State NRM grant. The Town of Victoria Park and the Hawaiian’s Park Centre have contributed to the printing.

You are welcome to download a copy or contact us to arrange to collect a copy.

If you simply want to get to Jirdarup, catch the 960 bus to the corner of Etwell and Kent St in East Victoria Park and walk about 200m across the ovals.  If you are driving, at the roundabout on the corner of Etwell and Kent St, head north for 200m past the ovals to the car park. 

Go to our online store

Current Project,Fauna,Publications

Birds of Jirdarup

More

Bushland,Publications

Our Book about Jirdarup

More

Publications

Noongar Six Seasons

More

Subscribe to receive our newsletter

Discover

Supporters

This website is sponsored by the Town of Victoria Park, the Commonwealth Government and the Federal Member for Swan, Zaneta Mascarenhas MP.

ACknowledgement

We recognise and respect the Traditional Custodians of the Jirdarup Bushland Precinct, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, and their connection to the lands, waters and skies.

Copyright © Friends of Jirdarup Bushland Inc. 2024. PERTH, WA 6101. ABN 19 355 833 413. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use & Privacy Policy