Flora and Fauna Friday: Meet Patilpa the Ringneck Parrot

🟡⚫🔴 #ReconciliationWeek edition

This week’s #FloraAndFaunaFriday is for Australia's vibrant and vocal Ringneck Parrot. Known for their beautiful call and stunning green, blue, and yellow feathers, they're widespread across arid southern Australia. But what many people don’t realise is that they also hold deep cultural meaning for First Nations peoples, like the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) people of the Central Deserts who call them 'Patilpa'.

In many Aboriginal languages, bird names are onomatopoeic - they come from the sounds the birds make. Patilpa is no exception. This way of naming reflects a reciprocal relationship with nature - one where sound, identity and language are interconnected.

Why this matters during Reconciliation Week

Reconciliation isn't just about fixing history. It’s about respecting and embracing living cultures, including the languages that have sung across our continent for over 60,000 years. When we learn and use Aboriginal language names for birds like the ringneck parrot, we’re not just using different words - we’re engaging with a different way of seeing, listening, and relating to Country. And this week in particular, it’s worth remembering that the health of Australia's environment and the strength of our Reconciliation journey go hand in hand.

Celebrate Reconciliation Week by:

✅ Learning and sharing First Nations names for your local wildlife,

✅ Supporting Indigenous-led conservation and cultural fire management,

✅ Respecting Country - not just as land, but as our teacher, spirit, and home.

📸 I took this photo of two Patilpa almost twenty years ago when I was living on Arrente Country in Alice Springs. They're curious, confident, and characteristically cheeky.

What birds do you see near your home? Do you know their names in the local Aboriginal language? Share in the comments section below.