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Birds & Butterflies Survey of Coimbatore Forest Division
Discussion
An impressive 211 bird species and 192 butterfly species have been recorded from the recently concluded two-day survey con-
ducted by Coimbatore Forest Division (CFD) of Tamil Nadu Forest Department and jointly organised by WWF-India, Coimbatore
Nature Society (CNS) and The Nature and Butterfly Society (TNBS), mentioned Mr D Venkatesh, District Forest Officer of Coim-
batore Forest Division.
Announcing the results, Mr. D Venkatesh, DFO has congratulated all the participants and forest officials for the successful exer-
cise despite a cloudy and rainy conditions in many parts of the division during the survey. He has mentioned that the data gen-
erated on these birds and butterflies will be used as a baseline now and will help identifying areas which need special focus
with respect to conservation. Detailing chronologically, various surveys undertaken in CFD and elsewhere, the DFO has men-
tioned the advantages of such surveys with examples of Lion-tailed Macaque and increased participation of well-informed vol-
unteers of late.
The DFO has also mentioned, much to the delight of participants that the birds and butterflies survey will now be assessed
more regularly covering different seasons over the next few years. This will help in continuous monitoring of the eco-system.
Mr. D. Boominathan, Landscape Coordinator, WWF-India, commented that it is heartening to see the field level staff getting
exposed to birds and butterflies, while the focus is usually on the elephants and tigers. He requested for the continuous moni-
toring of the status of birds and butterflies of the division.
Mr. P.R. Selvaraj, President, Coimbatore Nature Society, mentioned that it is a new experience for the members of CNS despite
the regular weekly field visits and appreciated the participating members and accompanying department staff for their level of
involvement and quality of the work carried out.
Mr. A. Pavendhan, President, The Nature and Butterfly Society (TNBS), highlighted the higher number of species present in the
Coimbatore district (270 +) and within the Coimbatore Forest Division, in areas like Siruvani Hills and Kallar.
Participating members have shared their experiences of the survey and appreciated the richness of the division and touched
upon areas of focus and immediate attention. Some of them have even requested for extending the scope of the survey to
other lesser known life forms present within the division.
Among the total number
of 192 butterflies re-
corded, 15 belongs to
swallowtails
(Papilionidae), 27 be-
longs to the whites and
yellows (Pieridae), 56
belongs to the Nymphali-
dae family, 54 belongs to
blues
and
judies
(Lycaenidae and Riodini-
dae) and 40 to the Skip-
pers (Hesperiidae). But-
terflies such as Common
Rose, Lime Butterfly,
Grass Yellows, Common
Emigrant, Mottled Emi-
grant, Tigers and Crows,
Bushbrowns,
Sailers,
Pansies, Lineblues, Grass
Blues, Awls, Chestnut Bob, Borbo species are seen dominating in all ranges of the forest division during survey.
Interesting butterfly sightings include Singhalese Five-ring (first record photographic record for the Coimbatore district), Com-
mon Onyx, Nilgiri Grass Yellow, Blue Admiral, Nilgiri Tit, Orange-tailed Awl, Common Sergeant, Many-tailed Oakblue, Common
Imperial and Leaf Blue.
PATTAMPOOCHI
A TNBS MAGAZINE
WINGS 4 VEINS 1
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