We at AERO believe in nature as our classroom and how best to understand a forest than being in one and observing it first hand? |
During the entire duration of the walk 40 species of butterflies were seen, the highlights being the Common Nawab, Black Prince and Indian Sunbeam. Participants got some great views of puddling Common Jay and Tailed Jay. Malabar Tree Nymph and Common Map gave fleeting appearances but enough to elevate the curiosity quotient of the participants.
Black Prince Rohana parisatis |
Common Nawab Polyura athamas |
Purple Leaf Blue Amblypodia anita |
Indian Sunbeam Curetis thetis |
Participants got multiple opportunities to photograph some of these beautiful butterflies and observe them closely coupled with the experience of trekking along the Tamdi Surla stream, crossing it and getting a chance to see a Green Vine Snake with a full belly, basking.
Participants observing and photographing the Indian Sunbeam |
Closer look at the basking Green Vine Snake |
Trekking through the forests of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary |
Observing and photographing the Common Nawab |
Everyone was all smiles at the end of the walk with many participants ticking off well earned lifers. Walks like these are AERO's efforts to raise awareness amongst people of Goa, especially youngsters to help them connect with nature with an aim to instil the need to live a sustainable life which is closer to nature.
The group all in smiles after an amazing morning of butterflying |
AERO always maintains detailed biodiversity lists of sightings from its various initiatives and believes strongly in the power of citizen science. We also make sure that our observations are always reported in the sighting registers of the respective Wildlife Sanctuaries where our events are hosted. Butterfly list from this walk has been entered into the sighting register at the Range Forest Office of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. Butterflies observed and documented during the walk are listed below.
Rustic | Purple Leaf Blue |
Common Bluebottle | Pygmy Scrub Hopper |
Three-spot Grass Yellow | Indian Sunbeam |
Glassy Tiger | Common Nawab |
Common Wanderer | Common Mormon |
Malabar Tree Nymph | Common Jay |
Chocolate Pansy | Tailed Jay |
Brown Awl | Blue Mormon |
Tamil Yeoman | Great Eggfly |
Monkey Puzzle | Bush Hopper |
Angled Pierrot | Plain Tiger |
Cruiser | Black Prince |
White banded Awl | Common line Blue |
Restricted Demon | Common Leopard |
Common five-ring | Common Lascar |
Transparent six-line Blue | Common grass Yellow |
Common Sailer | Common hedge Blue |
Common Map | Common Barron |
Tailed Palmfly | Red Helen |
Red Spot Duke | Common four-ring |