Mumbai: The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is all set to launch the revised edition of A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent by Salim Ali and S Dillon in a new attractive ‘avatar’.
The new Birds of the Indian Subcontinent —A Field Guide is the work of three authors -- Ranjit Manakadan, J C Daniel and Nikhil Bhopale — who give their valuable insights that span three generations of avian expertise at BNHS.
What is significant about the new book, to be released on July 30, is that it includes both the old and new common names of birds along with the scientific names. “It has been observed that names of several bird specis have been changed over time to aid better identification and classification,” said Atul Sathe, Public Relations Officer, BNHS. “It will also avoid confusion in the minds of bird waters and readers,” he added.
Containing some 1251 species of birds from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives, this 400-page edition has 112 plates of colourful illustrations as well as over 50 photographs. For nature lovers keen on bird watching, they can now get useful information on the size, colour, plumage and beak of various species to aid field identification.
The original book published in 1983 was considered unique as it was one of the first volumes to depict the bird species of the sub-continent region. Salim Ali was among the first Indians to conduct systematic bird surveys across India and his bird books helped develop ornithology in the country. He became the key figure behind the BNHS after 1947 and used his personal influence to garner government support for the organisation, create the Bharatpur bird sanctuary and help prevent the destruction of what is now the Silent Valley National Park.
