National Bird Day – 12 Nov: Salim Ali's 130th birth anniversary

11 November 2026 · English Important Days

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Current affairs of 11 November 2026 (Shanmugam IAS Academy) – explained for UPSC, TNPSC and other competitive exams

News

12 November, the birthday of ornithologist Dr Salim Ali, hailed as the 'Birdman of India', is celebrated in India as National Bird Day; it is also called National Birdwatching Day. Salim Ali was born on 12 November 1896; 2026 marks his 130th birth anniversary. He was the first Indian to conduct systematic bird surveys across India, and his books popularised ornithology in the country. BNHS's EIACP centre, the Maharashtra Pakshimitra Sanghatana and Bird Count India hold 'Pakshi Saptah' (Bird Week) and the Salim Ali Bird Count from 5 to 12 November, with birders uploading sightings on the eBird app. No record of the day being created by a gazette notification was found, though Union Environment Ministers have paid tribute on the day.

Key facts for the exam

Background

• Life: Salim Moizuddin Abdul Ali grew up in Bombay; his uncle Amiruddin was a BNHS member, and BNHS secretary W.S. Millard introduced him to ornithology. He surveyed birds in princely states such as Hyderabad and Travancore-Cochin. 'The Book of Indian Birds' and the 10-volume 'Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan', written with S. Dillon Ripley, are his best-known works.
• BNHS: the Bombay Natural History Society, founded in Bombay in 1883, is one of India's oldest conservation NGOs. After Independence, Salim Ali saved it from closure for lack of funds, with funding from Prime Minister Nehru, and led it.
• Environment: Salim Ali first documented the birdlife of Thattekad in Keralam and recommended a sanctuary; created in 1983, it is 'Keralam's first bird sanctuary' – the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (Ernakulam, 25.16 sq km). He also helped protect Bharatpur (Keoladeo) in Rajasthan. India's national bird is the peacock (1963).

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Sources: Free Press Journal (12 Nov 2020); SACON profile; WII; TN Tourism; Bird Alliance (Pakshi Saptah 2024); Keralam Tourism (Thattekad); TN Forest Dept (State symbols); BNHS timeline. Compiled by Shanmugam IAS Academy.

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