Butterfly Watching

Butterflies fascinate people with their colour, grace and beauty and yet butterfly watching has still not caught up as a popular hobby in India, although it has tremendous scope to be a rewarding outdoor pastime and learning experience. However, interest in butterfly watching has been growing, especially among birdwatchers.Since many serious birders already have the type of binoculars suitable for butterfly watching, and already possess keen observation skills, it is only natural that birders take up butterfly watching. Non-birders and nature enthusiast in general will also find butterfly watching quite interesting and enjoyable

Butterfly Watching in Bangalore

Bangalore provides an ideal place to observe butterflies with its myriad parks, campuses, gardens and roadside greenery. Bangalore has about 150 species of butterflies and it would be useful to get familiar with this checklist and cross-check them with field guides before one begins to explore. There are a couple of good field guides available on Indian and south Indian butterflies in the market at a reasonable price, and these would be of obvious use in field. It is important to keep in mind some simple rules to make your hobby effective. One must start early in the morning, as it is easy to observe them during this time. This is because butterflies need the heat of the sun to warm themselves before they begin to get active. One should be patient and tread slowly without letting ones shadow fall on them. A pair of binoculars would be useful in some situations. Clear sunny days are better than cloudy ones. It is advisable to carry a field note book and to take notes and observations which could prove rewarding later on. Gardens with lots of flowering plants and weeds provide excellent sightings. Some of the good places to explore in Bangalore would be the Bannerghatta National Park, Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, IISC Campus, Bangalore University Campus, Cubbon Park and other parks and gardens.

One can also combine Photography together with Butterfly watching and it is comparatively easier to photograph them in the early mornings as they bask in the sun. Photographs can also serve a documentation purpose and help in easier identification with experts without hurting the butterfly. Butterfly watching provides one with many other surprises as one gets into it deeper such as the adult and larval food plants of butterflies, their seasonality, migration, camouflage, mudpuddling and many other interesting aspects. As one proceeds, butterfly watching becomes a compelling and enjoyable addiction and can get one hooked for life!