Salim Ali

The Fall of a Sparrow

1. IDEA 1

   A sparrow started a scientific life

   Salim Ali, India's best-known ornithologist, tells the story of his life. He describes how as a boy he shot a sparrow with a yellow throat, and his curiosity about it led him to study birds.

2. IDEA 2

   A society encouraged him

   Ali describes how the Bombay Natural History Society helped identify his bird and nurtured his interest. In his account, a first meeting with knowledgeable people gave him confidence and guidance. A sense of belonging to a community of naturalists helped him continue.

3. IDEA 3

   He surveyed India's birds

   Ali describes conducting bird surveys across many regions of India. In his account, he travelled long distances to count and record species in many kinds of land, from forests to deserts. These surveys gave India a detailed picture of its birds.

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