Dear Butterfly Lovers,
வணக்கம் [Greetings].
The last quarter of an year usually brings lot of excitement to the butterfly lovers as the months of October,
November and December are the true butterfly months. The Northeast monsoon becomes active during this
period and the butterfly contingent including the rare ones appear. Thus making the tour plan of naturalists a
tough one of where to visit and when, since the sightings need to be maximised during this period. This year, the
NE monsoon was good and active over Tamil Nadu land mass and the Western Ghats and until December, we
had spells of rains. This ensured that the pre-monsoon migration of butterflies kept their dates and the upward
migration from plains and the Eastern Ghats to the Western Ghats were active from September to October end.
We also saw Emigrants and Albatrosses make movements during November. The conservation managers of the
forest department were also busy planning out surveys to take stock butterfly species occurring within their
limits. In all, a productive quarter for the conservation managers and naturalists!
In the current issue, the first article highlights the results of a long-term study carried out by TNBS at Kallar on
the butterfly species occurrence. A significant mark of 200 species is recorded and the detailed report is
submitted to the District Forest Officer of Coimbatore Forest Division. The next article briefs about the first
integrated birds and butterflies survey held at Coimbatore Forest Division in association with like minded NGOs
and 192 butterfly species were reported. The next article highlights another survey held at Sathyamangalam
Tiger reserve. The survey is second integrated one on birds and butterflies and 157 butterfly species were
recorded with a few surprise rarities. The next article is on a visit made by couple of TNBS members to the north
east India for NEBM, to Namdapha Tiger Reserve in specific. All these were penned by Mr. A Pavendhan.
In another article, Mr. Theivaprakasham Hari shares his observations from the butterfly walk at Thirukurungudi
Malai Nambi Kovil, Tiruneveli district where he documented 101 butterfly species. In the last article, Mr. Sravan
Kumar Kadambi shares his camp experience from the Coimbatore Birds and Butterflies Survey. This is followed
by “In the News” section where the latest butterfly news published in press is highlighted. “From the Facebook
Pages” section portrays the regular photo gallery picked up from Facebook postings during the quarter by
members.
We hope you enjoy going through this Newsletter and looking forward to your valuable feedback. We believe
that the News Letter belongs to every one of us and expect more contribution from all our members going
Editorial Team
The Nature and Butterfly Society
Pattampoochi– A quarterly magazine of The Nature and Butterfly Society
Wings 4 Veins 1
Jan–Mar 2019. Issued on 01.01.2020
Issued from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Cover Page: Sinhalese Five-ring (Pavendhan A)
For Private Circulation Only. Copyright is with TNBS. Please write to us for
getting permission to use any of the contents. Full Page Picture Credits:
Editor: A Pavendhan
Editorial Team: Balakrishnan R, Gopalakrishnan S, Nishanth CV,
Theivaprakasham H , Viswanathan S and Ramanasaran H Long-banded Silverline (Pavendhan A), Plains
Cupid and Common Lascar (Theivaprakasham H),
and Plains Blue Royal and Common Silverline
(Gopalakrishnan S).
The Nature and Butterfly Society (259/2018) is registered under the
Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975
PATTAMPOOCHI
A TNBS MAGAZINE
WINGS 4 VEINS 1
3