Garrang-garranginy – Australian Darter
Australian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) (Also called “Snake Bird” and “Diver Jack”) Roord nginji nginyjiny garrang-garranginy goorndarribaya laarne. Ngarrgarlin thad nginji, yilag, Woorlalwan. Nginyjiny garrang-garranginy, bawoo-wawoo ngerne, miyale goorndarrim-boorroo. This is a Darter sitting up high with a fish. He is sitting upright on the rock. Down near the water at a place called Woorlalwan (Bullock Hole). This darter calls out for his food, the fish. “Garrang-garrang garrang-garrang garrang” woomenjende. Goorndarrim boorarrgarr boorroodboo naw, yilag. He says “Garrang-garrang garrang-garrang garrang” (a loud rattling call that sounds like an old noisy car – this kind of car is given the same name as this bird). The fish come out then, down in the water. Bawoo-wawoo-ngarri ngerne, boorarrgarr boorroodboo nawan-biny naw. Gemane gerlirli boorroorn jalarn. Nginyjiny bawoo-wawoo-ngarri ngerne. “Gayi ngenengga bawoo-wawoo ngerne?” birringirriyan goorndarrimbi dam. When he calls out, they all come out from the underwater holes. They all come out into the open. This bird calls out. “Where is this one calling out?” those fish ask each other. Boorarrgarr-ngarri boorroodboo, deg ngerne “Marri ngoorrinya, ngoorrooma joorroob boorroorn.” Nyirreg ngoowoonji, gamboord nyemenji. Boorab ngidji goorndarribaya yilang, goorloo-biny. Bawoo-wawoo-ngarri ngerne “Garrang garrang garrang”, goorndarrimbi boorarrgarr boorroorn naw. When they all come out, he looks (and says to himself) “Goodness me, there they are coming in a line.” He dives down and grabs one. He comes out with a fish from down in the water. When he calls out “Garrang garrang garrang” all the fish come out. Geman, boorarrgarr boorroorn. Girlirli naw boorroorn. Rarrawoolib boorroodboo, melagawoom. Boorarrgarr-ngarri boorroorn, wel, nhawoondi nyirreg ngoowoonji naw. Loorroobji ngirni gamboord naw. Marrarn. Geman beniyinji ngarrgarlen-gili jang ngerne. They come out into the open. They are all swimming about then. They all come rushing about like a mob of ants. When they come out he dives into the water. He chases and grabs hold of one then. He’s got it now. He takes it outside to the rock and eats it. Warany. Alright. Note. The word ‘Garranggarranginy’ is also used by Gija these days to mean an old rattling car because it is like the call of this bird.
