Butterfly Migration 2017– An update
Albatross Migration
Common Albatross (Appias albina) from the Pieridae family was making news this year. They were seen in large numbers dur-
ing August and September and were making movements. Although the Common Albatross migration in and through Aralam
Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala is well marked event every year, their movements within Tamil Nadu is not well known.
This year, however, Common Albatross were seen in good numbers, first during as part of migration with other butterflies,
and then as a well formed group of themselves moving. During the first week of September, Common Albatross were seen
along with other migrants near Mettupalayam.
Between 17th and 19th September, Common Albatross were observed in good numbers in Alagar Hills and Sathankudi villages
and joining these two points as origination and migration path, they were well heading to the Western Ghats and this is con-
firmed by the observation made at Saptur which is at the tip of the western ghats and also at Palani Hills.
On 21st September, Common Albatross were seen moving between Vellore and Pallikonda. The migration was running parallel
to the River Palar. Marking the movement of direction, east to west, on the map, it may be assumed that they were moving
probably from Vilappakkam Reserve Forests and Kannamangalam RF to the Koundiya Wildlife Sanctuary.
A huge population of Common Albatross in year 2015 was reported from Pachamalai (of Eastern Ghats from Trichy Dt) and it
could have migrated to elsewhere too, but no observations were available. On the current year running, Yercaud Hills were
seen with good population of Common Albatross during September and in the foothills of Palani Hills too.
All these observations indicate that Common Albatross are migrating within Tamil Nadu between Eastern and western Ghats
and within Eastern Ghats. Long term observation will provide us more clues on their actual behaviour.
Narration : Pavendhan A
Observers: Andipatti Pandi, Arun Kumar, Gopalakrishnan S, Hema Mohandas, Jeswin Kingsly, Kumaresan Chandrabose, Naveen,
Nishanth CV, Padmashree Vijayakumar, Pavendhan A, Prakash G, Prakash Loganathan, Rama Neelamegam
Ramanasran H, Ramasamy SRK, Sharan Venkatesh, Theivaprakasham Hari & Vikas Madhav
Pictures Credits: Pavendhan A, Kumaresan Chandrabose (Common Albatross mud-puddling)