Largest bird: Ostrich, native of North Africa. It grows UP to eight to nine feet in height.Smallest bird: Helena's Humming Bird that is found in Cuba. It grows up to six cm in height.Fastest flying bird: Spine Tailed Swift found in USA, travels 160 to 170 km per hour.Fastest bird on land: Ostrich. It travels 64 km per hour and can run faster than a horse.Fastest wing beat: Hummingbird found in South America beats its wings 90 times per second.Highest flying bird: Bar-headed Goose can fly at an altitude of over 25,000 feet as it migrates from Himalayas to Bharatpur.Fastest swimming bird: Gentoo Penguin found on the Antarctic Islands can swim 40 km per hour.Largest nest: Bald Eagle's. Found in North America and North Eastern Siberia its nest is 9.5 feet wide and 20 feet deep.Largest wingspan: Wandering Albatross has a wingspan of 10 feet four inches.Deepest diver: Common Loon found in North America can dive up to 160 feet under water.The Great Bird Man' is what Dr Salim Ali (1896-1987) was internationally known as. Superlatives were heaped upon him, it is impossible to enumerate them in this column. Honours rested lightly on his shoulders. Also with the passing years came numerous national and international awards. This year we celebrated his 102nd birthday on November 12, 1997. His love for birds was immense. He was associated with BNHS from 1944 to 1987. After yielding 43 years of yeoman service to BNHS, he passed away at the age of 91. He dedicated his lifetime for the study of birds. He was a fine teacher, an exacting critic and beloved friend, an inspiration for several generations of nature lovers and biologists. He was a father figure for BNHS, the institution that he nurtured. Dr. Salim Ali's pioneering work in the field of ornithology was of great importance. It was after him that the Indian birds got recognition. He surveyed India as well as the neighbouring countries and wrote innumerable books on birds. The Book of Indian Birds and The Pictorial Guide to The Birds of The Indian Sub-continent are two vital books which can enable any amateur bird watcher to study birds. As a tribute to this Great Old Man of Ornithology, BNHS celebrates his birthday by holding `Salim Ali Bird Count' all over India. Enthusiastic birdwatchers from all places participate in this event.We will always be indebted to him for having instilled in us a love for nature, for the wonderful books he wrote on birds and for making his fellowmen conscious of the importance of conservation of nature.
