The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research.

[2] British hunters in Bombay organized a hunting group around 1811, their activities included riding with foxhounds and shooting.

They proposed to meet monthly and exchange notes, exhibit interesting specimens and otherwise encourage each other.According to E. H. Aitken (the first honorary secretary, September 1883-March 1886), Dr D. MacDonald was the fons et origo (Latin for "source and origin") of the society.

The description of ant-bird interactions in German by Erwin Stresemann was reviewed in a 1935 issue leading to the introduction of the term anting into English.

His diet consisted of fruit (like plantains and wild figs) and also of live mice, scorpions, and plain raw meat, which he ate with relish.

In his obituary of W. S. Millard, Sir Norman Kinnear made the following remarks about William:[11] Every visitor to the Society's room in Appollo Street will remember the great Indian Hornbill, better known as the "office canary" which lived in a cage behind Millard's chair in Phipson & Co.'s office for 26 years and died in 1920.

[12] The Asian waterbird census is an annual exercise undertaken in India by Bombay Natural History Society in association with Wetlands International, in which enthusiastic birdwatchers count the birds by observing them near their respective breeding grounds.

It also aims to create awareness regarding bird species as well as health of the wetlands, which are facing severve threat amidst anthropogenic disturbance.