James Fisher

1912-1970. Ornithologist and writer, among the foremost advocates of field study and conservation through publishing, wireless broadcasts and television. Editor of the New Naturalist series 1943-70; author of The Fulmar (1952) and Sea-birds (1954, with Ronald Lockley).

One of the great naturalists; as a popular influence second only to Peter Scott. Made his name with Watching Birds (1940) and early work with BTO on nest records and sea-bird census. Tall and broad-shouldered, climber and island-hopper; member of dozens of conservation bodies (he could be said to have 'collected' them); leading light of RSPB and IUCN; member of National Parks Commission, which led to being vice-chairman of the newly formed Countryside Commission 1967-70.

Bibliophile and assiduous note-taker, learned in bird art and literature, amassed vast archive material on population changes of fulmar, gannet and collared dove; also expert on fossil birds. Affable and charming, 'a master of one-upmanship' (Stephen Potter), 'a natural communicator'. A rare combination of brilliance, dynamism and affability; life crowded with 'what-ifs', including its tragic end in a road accident.