It was a day well spent for hundreds of butterfly lovers and lepidopterists who armed with checklists and cameras set out on a mission to record butterfly species for Delhi’s first ever ‘ Big Butterfly Count’  in different parts of the national capital region (NCR) on Sunday.

The census is organized by the Conservation Education Centre (Delhi wing of Bombay Natural History Society). The ‘ butterfly month’ which was kicked off On September 1st, at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary aims to provide an accurate and updated list of butterfly species found across NCR. The results of the count will be announced on September 23.

Participants enthusiastically covered 15 locations across NCR that included Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Aravalli Biodiversity Park and Okhla Bird Sanctuary, among others. Each team was headed by an expert team captain. The team was provided with checklists so that each participant could mark the spotted butterfly species which can later be tallied. Participants also carried cameras so that the species can be correctly identified and verified before being added to the ‘sighted’ species list.

The count began at 8 am and lasted for four hours until noon. According to experts, that is the best window to record butterfly species. Among the rare sightings made include psyche (leptosia nina), red pierrot, Indian red flash and pale palm dart, among others.