ABORIGINAL SIX SEASONS OF KAKADU

The landscape and wildlife changes throughout the year in response to the seasons. Two major seasons are recongised: the wet which begins officially on 1 October and the Dry which officially commences on 1 May. The wet is influenced by monsoon systems which arrive in late December and February is often the wettest month. When the rain commences, the wet season has a special charm but between January and March road access to some bush areas may be limited due to flooding of roads. The dry season is the best time for star gazing.
For birders, the highest number of species are present in September/October. October and November are great because many of the dry season migrants are still around and most of the wet season migrants have arrived. (Niven McCrie & James Watson) .

Source: Kakadu National Park Visitor Guide, Australian Nature Conservation Agency, 1994.

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~eparker/kakadu/kakseas.html

And Tourism NT.

Gudkeuk or Gudjewg (January, February, March)

This is the monsoon time with violent electrical storms with Namarrgon, the lightning man growling. There are long periods of torrential rain, waterfalls thunder and creeks flood. The heat and humidity generate an explosion of plant and animal life. Spear grass grows rapidly.

Magpie Geese nest among the reeds in the wetlands. It’s egg gathering time. With flooding goannas, snakes and possums may seek refuge in trees where they are easily caught. Frillback lizards fight for territory.

Banggereng or Bang Gerrang (April)

Most plants are fruiting and animals are caring for their young, including Brolgas. The expanses of water recede and streams run clear. Fish are plentifully in the rivers and billabongs. Reptiles are hibernating. Violent storms flatten the 2 metre high spear grass - hence the term "knock 'em down" storms. Lotus flowers bloom.

Yekke or Yegge (May - June)

Early morning mists and fog hang over low areas and waterholes. It’s cooler but there’s still some humidity. The shallow wetlands and billabongs are covered with water lilies. Dry winds signal the time to start burning the bush in patches, 'cleaning' the country to encourage new growth for grazing animals. Early season fires prevent fires occurring later as these are much hotter and more destructive. The Woollybutt, Eucalyptus Miniata, begins to flower and when flowering ceases by early August, fires are not usually lit.

Dragon flies are in abundance and Rainbow Bee-eaters eat them. It’s the time to collect sugar bag. Lemon-bellied Flycatchers and Yellow Orioles sing.

Wurrgeng (June - July)

The 'cold weather' time with low humidity, days of 30C, and nights can be as low as 17C (at Eden we’ve had it 6C). Day skies are clear and it can be windy. Creeks cease to flow and the floodplains dry quickly. Willy willies occur. Magpie Geese, fat after weeks of abundant food, crowd the diminishing billabongs with other waterbirds. Burning continues, dampened by the dew at night. During the day raptors (birds of prey) patrol the edge of the fire to catch insects and other small animals trying to escape. Grevilleas are in flower.

Gurrung (August - September)

Windless and hot, the land seems to lie dormant. It is still 'goose time' but also time to hunt File Snakes and Long-necked Turtles. Green Sea Turtles lay their eggs in a sandy beach nest. White-breasted Woodswallows arrive as thunderheads build again with the return of Gunumeleng.

Gunumeleng (October - December)

This is the pre-monsoon or hot weather which becomes more and more humid. Along creeks the air is heavy with scent of blossoming paperbark trees (Melaleucas) which attract colonies of fruit bats feeding in the evenings. As the season progresses, thunderstorms build in the afternoons and scattered showers bring a tinge of green to the parched earth. Bush foods are scarce.

As the streams begin to run, 'old water,' from stagnating pools, washes into permanent billabongs causing localised fish kills. Waterbirds disperse as water and new growth become more widespread. Barramundi move out of waterholes and swim downstream to the estuaries. It is time to move camp from the floodplain and shelter from the violent storms of the wet season. Gudjeuk, and the cycle repeats.