Salim Ali

Salim Ali

• Salim Moizuddin Abdul Ali was born on November 12, 1896, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
• He is one of the greatest ornithologists and naturalists of all time, known as the “birdman of India”.
• He is also credited with the creation and recognition of biodiversity hubs, the Keoladeo National park in Rajasthan and the Silent Valley National park in Kerala.
• In 1930, he published a research paper discussing the nature and activities of the weaver bird.
• In 1941, he published “The Book of Indian Birds in 1941″ in which he discussed the kinds and habits of Indian birds. 
• In 1948, his book ‘Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan’ (10 Volume Set) along with S. Dillon Ripley, a world-famous ornithologist, describes the birds of the subcontinent, their appearance, habitat, breeding habits, migration.
• He received the Padma Shri in 1958 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1976.
• He was also nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1985.
• In his autobiography ‘The Fall of a sparrow’ in 1985, Dr. Salim Ali wrote that his interest was in the "living bird in its natural environment."
• He died on June 20, 1987.
• In 1990, the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) was established at Coimbatore by the Government of India.
• One of the world's rarest bats (Latidens salimalii), the subspecies of the Rock Bush Quail (Perdicula argoondah salimalii) and the eastern population of Finn's Weaver (Ploceus megarhynchus salimalii) was named after him. A subspecies of the Black-rumped Flameback Woodpecker (Dinopium benghalense tehminae) was named after his wife, Tehmina.
• November 12th is celebrated as National Bird Watching Day in India.
• www.sacon.in
• www.salimalifoundation.org