Sálim Moizuddin Abdul Ali (1896 – 1987) was known as the “Birdman of India” and was closely associated with a great many eminent people – such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Sidney Dillon Ripley. His life-long interest in birds started in his childhood, when he shot a yellow-throated sparrow and had it identified at the office of the Bombay Natural History Society. Dr. Ali was the first to conduct systematic bird surveys across India. He authored Handbook of the Birds of India & Pakistan (vols. 1-10) and several popular bird books.
Astonished the 1950 International Ornithological Congress in Uppsala, Sweden, by arriving there on a motor bike. He did not ride out all the way from India, he later confessed.