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Bannerman, NPWS, NSW.

2.2 Role and interests of Indigenous people

The preservation of Malleefowl in central Australia is important both for the species' conservation and because Malleefowl feature in Indigenous mythology and are associated with certain 'Dreaming' sites and trails. Here are some stories which demonstrate the significance of Malleefowl. Others that haven't been included are equally important. A list of some the Indigenous names for Malleefowl is presented in Appendix I.

Why mallee bird lays her eggs in the sand

(From 'Legends of the Birds')

WAYAMBEH a descendant of the original Wayambeh, who was turned into a tortoise, married Kookaburra, a very unusual union. They argued about where their eggs should be laid. Kookaburra (male) argued that they should be in a nest where they can be kept warm, Wayambeh (female tortoise) argued that she couldn't fly and would break the eggs if she sat on them to keep them warm. The couple argued so much when it came time for the turtle to lay their eggs Kookaburra had left. Wayambeh had no choice but to lay her eggs in the sand. She had an interested spectator – Woggoon, the Mallee Fowl who said it was a silly place to lay her eggs. Wayambeh explained she lay them close to the surface where the sun keeps them warm and didn't have to sit on them to keep them warm "See how much trouble we are saved". Woggoon spoke to her husband and said she was going bury her eggs that year. The husband and wife argued all night but the next morning the male bird gave in and helped her to make a mound of leaves, sticks and sand and scraped a hole in which to bury her eggs. After waiting and checking the nest every day eventually the female was convinced her eggs had died and so dug up the nest to find only eggshell. And then she saw little Malleefowl chicks whom she recognised at once as her own. Ever since then Woggoon has followed Wayambeh's example and has laid her eggs in leaf-mound so they will hatch in the warm earth (Legends of the Birds n.d.).

A Malleefowl egg in an open mound with two Malleefowl ©Graeme Tonkin, NMRG.

Lyra, the Almanac, and Human Emotions

The story of the Lyra constellation for the Boorong Indigenous people around Lake Tyrell in northwestern Victoria makes for an insightful connection between the location of stars in the night sky and the ability to predict and find a valued food source. One of the stars in the Boorong night sky was called Neilloan. It is named after the Lowan or Loan (Malleefowl). The star is part of a constellation that