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Exploring Siruvani Hills during Official Coimbatore Forest Survey 2019
Sravan kumar K
[email protected]
Siruvani, the name synonymous to Coimbatore. I am fortunate to explore this hills during the first official
Coimbatore Forest Survey 2019 for both Birds and Butterflies organised by Coimbatore Forest Division along with
TNBS, CNS and WWF.
I am happy to be part of Boluvampatti team, my team mates are Mr. Pavendan, TNBS, Mr. Ganesh and Mr. Rajesh,
trainee ACF from CASFOS. After a well organised opening survey meet at Forest college auditorium, we 4 started to
our camp at Irutupallam for overnight stay. It was not a good start as my work horse Maruti Gypsy showed us how
things can always go wrong. Just 5 minutes into our travel, back tyre got punctured. I am fortunate to find puncture
shop just 100 mtrs away. After fixing it, we all headed our camp.
It was a cloud 9 moment for me once I reach the camp. It was a suite room with all amenities, thanks to organisers
and Forest department for the stay arrangement. After brief discussion, we all went to bed, setting alarm at 5 am.
The day started with lot of hopes and excitement, we both had different species wish list. To name a few, I want to
see Yellow breasted flat, Nilgiris grass yellow, royals and white bellied woodpecker. After a cup of Chai and packed
breakfast we entered Chadivayal checkpost, the starting point of our survey. We were accompanied by forest
Guard Ms Uma Nandhini.
It was early morning 6.30, clouds are still on with gentle breeze and haziness, driving into the woods felt like I am
the luckiest person in the world. Just minutes into our exploration, i could hear husking voice, Heat spotted
woodpecker. Nano second iding skill Mr. Pavendan spotted Heat spotted woodpecker. It was a hurrah moment, but
I am not as lucky since I loaded my DSLR with Macro lens and kept my 100-400 in the car, before reacting it just
entered the bushes. We stayed there for sometime exploring both birds and butterflies, we got regular species but
no wow moment again. With determination of finding something rare, we moved deep into the woods.
Man proposes, god disposes. Life is always expect the unexpected, on that day we were praying god please do not
rain, but god has something else for us in store. With overnight heavy rains, sun was adamant not showing to us. It
drizzles for couple of minutes and them stops and that happens till noon.
In the process, forest guard Ms. Anu Nandhini got interest and started to look out for butterflies, she even took few
pictures in her mobile. She was every eager to learn, we to the maximum extent helped her how to Id each
butterflies and what butterflies means to our environment and why we should conserve them so on. We were
happy to create interest among forest custodians. More they get into these tiny creature, we are assured that the
future of forest is in safe hands.
PATTAMPOOCHI
A TNBS MAGAZINE
WINGS 4 VEINS 1
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