The survey on August 5 and 6 covered all nine ranges of the sanctuary and seven types of vegetation like shola, evergreen, semi-evergreen, swamps, tropical dry deciduous, tropical moist deciduous and thorn forests. This is the first survey on birds and butterflies of the sanctuary held in the lean season and another survey will follow in September or October to study them during peak season.

Founding Member of Tamil Nadu Butterfly Society , A Pavendhan said that altogether, 102 birds and 136 butterfly species were documented during the survey .

A number of endemic butterfly species like Palni Fritillary, Palni Four Ring, Nilgiri Clouded Yellow and bird spe cies like Nilgiri Pipit, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon could be spotted.

"Considering the season -the fag end of summer without flowers in bloom, the number of species of butterflies and birds spotted is really handsome," Pavendhan said. "For instance, 283 bird species were recorded in Dindigul district earlier and finding 102 in Kodaikanal sanctu ary is very optimistic. The number will increase once the season starts."

Kodaikanal forest range officer, R Ravi said the annual survey on tiger and prey base are usual but birds and butterflies are studied for the first time in Kodaikanal sanctuary . The department will conduct another survey to study them again during monsoon months.