Contents: 1. Life and times. 2. Ornithologist extraordinary. 3. The birdman as a man. 4. New names of birds. References.

"He was the first Indian to systematically study ecology and the birds of the Indian subcontinent. For generations of bird-watchers and ornithologists, Salim Ali’s beautifully illustrated and meticulously written bird books were their first exposure to the world of Indian birds.

"This is the delightful story of the man whose name has become a legend in the field of Indian ornithology. The driving force behind the Bombay Natural History Society, Salim Ali was the most outspoken advocate of the conservation of India’s avifauna. His pioneering work helped to preserve the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary near Bharatpur, which Salim Ali described as no less a wonder than the Taj Mahal." (jacket)