David John Fisher was born on 13th December 1954 in Cardiff, Glamorgan. His father, Bernard, fuelled an early interest in birds. Later, when David attended Rhydypenau Junior School, one of the teachers, Mr Amos, further developed David’s knowledge of birds and other wildlife. It was here that he met Mike Powell, who was to become a life-long birding friend and part of a subsequent local birding group that included Peter Lansdown and Richard Lyon. All became members of the Ornithological Section of the Cardiff Naturalists’ Society, where they, and several other young birders, were encouraged and educated in all bird-related matters by the wonderful Amy Heathcote.