The other night, I went along to my local RSPB meeting (as every month),where we had an absolutely brilliant speaker on bird biology.
I learnt more in that hour and a half than any book could teach me over weeks. He was incredible. I now understand so much more about wing structure, feathers, flight muscles,beaks, claws etc.
He had first rate slides and gave us time to ask plenty of questions and I came away feeling like I really understood something properly-books make me frustrated sometimes because there's not enough depth. You can't ask questions either.
So what this thread is really saying is, for the very small sum of £2, I was given some first rate education. It's really worth while joining these local groups and learning about wildlife from those who do know what they're talking about , the experienced.
Julie