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07-08-2006, 06:23 AM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,151
| | | What have you learnt?
I've been a member of WAB for 6 months now. In that time, I can honestly say that I have learnt a huge amount. Partly because wildlife of any sort is my passion, but mainly because of what I've picked up on this site, then going out and discovering and trying myself.
I knew nowt about photography-now although really very much, still a beginner, now I understand some of the terms used and have had a good go at using them.
I can id some of the trickier bird species-ie warblers.
I now know, not to jump to conclusions when id'ing insects. I always say'possibly' because there is always a sub-species etc that can trip you up. So I always listen to the experts.
I've been encouraged to join external groups- so I joined-the bat group, the local herpetological group, the BTO (already member of RSPB but volunteer for them now),and do surveys etc for other animal groups when poss.
I'm much more environmentally aware.
I've fallen for dragonflies and being wooed by fungi.
I can tell a fair portion of the native trees.
I've been reading up on most plants, especially orchids-encouraged by the site for sure.
I can pass this information on to the kids I work with.
I'm a better listener-the site has broadened my outlook on lots of topics.
Should I go on? No, I hear you say. I would like to ask you if you are the same though.
What have you learnt?
WW
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
07-08-2006, 08:09 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 3,492
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
Like you ww I have learned masses from being a user of this site. When I started 14 months ago I was fairly conversant with birds and could remember most of the butterflies but after that very little. Wildflowers although I loved to see them their names were a mystery in the main. Dragonflies and Damselflies were a closed book, I am just begining to recognise them in the field. Hoverflies were again recognised as such, but then I didn't know about mimics so again I was often wrong. Could go on most of the morning but suffice it to say it has opened the world of nature to me and I shall never cease to be grateful that I found WAB. Thank you StuartDH for having the inspiration to start the site, I owe you a lot.
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A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.
W.H.Davies |
07-08-2006, 09:12 AM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,463
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
Crikey, what have I learnt? In the 10 months I've been a member, it's a hugh amount.. My wildlife knowledge before I joined was very poor. I often joke about not being able to id a sparrow, well that joke wasn't far from the mark as Wildone can testify from some of my first posts! 
Dragonflies and Damsels I knew nothing of at all. Butterflies, I could possibly id a peacock but not much else. I learn something from this site every day.  |
07-08-2006, 09:26 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Posts: 1,644
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
What have I learned?
Well, I would say I had a reasonable knowledge of the commoner and more visible species around us in terms of birds, butterflies etc, just due to the fact I was interested in nature and wanted to know what things were ... but I would say 2 things have really rekindled the glowing embers of my "interest in nature" fire .... the first one being digital photography, which has brought so many wonderful things on to the monitor of my computer, and in increasing amounts of detail, as the technology really took off; and the second one is the WAB site, which I have found to be a wonderful source of reference. The fact that it is populated by such a friendly, knowledgable and fun group of people is an added bonus.
Keep the fires burning, I say ....
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Jez |
07-08-2006, 09:34 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,449
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
Just how many insects,flowers,birds,bats,dragonflys,invertabrate s there are!
This site has a good balance of experts and humour,wordsmiths and photographers
I just dabble but now and again things like orchids turn up which excite an interest
so I become more aware of yet another plant/flower, something else to watch for.
Best of all is when you see a new member get fired up,which means more help for the
wildlife
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You cannot maintain an ecology, if you lose any of the pieces. |
07-08-2006, 01:42 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,420
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
Where do you start to answer Julie's question?
I am still so pleased that I found WAB and of course we are being joined by new WABers nearly every day .
I have been interested in birds since I was a young child and I think I am now confident in identifying most UK species. I don't seem to have much trouble with UK mammals either .... other than seeing most of them!
WAB has opened up a whole new world of interest for me, particularly butterflies and dragonflies/damselflies and my Sigma macro lens has been very busy these last few weeks.
And then there are the moths .... and the beetles .... and the flowers .... and the lengthy list of lots more. Whilst all that seems challenging, WAB and its contributors makes it all so interesting and fun .
Apart from the wildlife itself, WAB is a constant source of advice and guidance on wildlife watching techniques which should help all of us get even more out of our interest in the UK environment and its inhabitants.
The other thing that I have learnt from WAB is how many like-minded people there are with a passion and commitment for all things wild in the UK. That has got to be good news in these changing times .
Those fellow WABers are also extremely knowledgeable and helpful .... what a community to be part of and we have all played our own part in making it so .
Keep it up everyone .... that way we all continue to learn.
Richard |
07-08-2006, 03:36 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
I have had my eyes opened to so much through this site.
A walk in the park has taken on a new dimension. It now takes three times as long as it used to.
I have learned to listen out for noises, look everywhere and I appreciate my surroundings far better than I ever did previously.
I get excited again by going out for walks, in the way that young kids do. My car trips take longer as I find myself wandering 'whats up there?'
And best of all its all pretty much free and good for you too. |
07-08-2006, 03:57 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Coventry
Posts: 763
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
How do you start to answer this question?
I joined in June this year; I was then a mad photographer and bird watcher.
Since then with the aid of the members of this great site, I have branched out into Flower Fungi when I can see it Moths butterflies and so on.
It never ceases to amaze me at the vast amount of knowledge the members have and more importantly are willing to pass on.
I know this site as only been going a few years, and is going from strength to strength. This can only make this site one of the best wildlife sites on the web.
The amount of knowledge I have gained since joining is quite amazing and I feel comfortable about talking on subjects I would never have before.
One of the best things about this site is there is no such thing as a silly question, we all have to learn and the members we have never put anyone down.
Must admit it cost me a few pounds on books on many topics that are covered on the site, but it was definitely worth it
Long may this site continue, I hope to be a member
Mick
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If you must take something from the countryside, Take a picture |
07-08-2006, 04:05 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Little village called Chedworth
Posts: 4,694
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
yes difficult to answer this one....
My birding has taken a bit of a knock as I spend far longer looking at the ground or into bushes....... I've learnt a whole host of new words and that maybe just maybe the world of insects isn't quite a scarey as I'd thought and maybe I can learn a bit even about species with no actual english name, I'm less intimidated and learning more all the time and suprisingly happy to get to even the 'sp' level. Finding people to enjoy this passion with - yet without the deep seated petty politics that so often infuses local groups of enthusiasts, is frankly worth it's weight in gold  |
07-08-2006, 04:08 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Gill Catton yes difficult to answer this one....
My birding has taken a bit of a knock as I spend far longer looking at the ground or into bushes....... I've learnt a whole host of new words and that maybe just maybe the world of insects isn't quite a scarey as I'd thought and maybe I can learn a bit even about species with no actual english name, I'm less intimidated and learning more all the time and suprisingly happy to get to even the 'sp' level. Finding people to enjoy this passion with - yet without the deep seated petty politics that so often infuses local groups of enthusiasts, is frankly worth it's weight in gold | and they are just from Dan Salter  |
07-08-2006, 04:54 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,925
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
Funny. |
07-08-2006, 05:05 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Gloucester
Posts: 1,382
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
I've actually learnt how to identify a few birds, the occasional butterfly and even a moth from time to time. However the best thing I've learnt is that I can rely on this place and its members to give me the information I need .... and rely on them to keep my feet firmly on the ground
I also learnt that pink frocks on Boddie is a real fashion disaster but thats another thread  |
07-08-2006, 05:13 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
Kev,
You keep banging on about my cross dressing. Have you been on my website or something? Did you not like my Laura Ashley number. I thought I carried it off quite well.
Either that or you have seen me in my scrubs?
How was your day out in Dudley by the way?
Most importantly by the way I have learnt that we are all quasi chivalric imperialists |
07-08-2006, 05:34 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Gloucester
Posts: 1,382
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
I thought the guys that carried you off in the strait jacket had more fashion sense Boddie .
Dudley was a disaster !. Daphe pool on the Saltwells NR is reknowned for its dragonflies however it was dry! so dry that the mud was cracked and I walked across it! So I bought a book in Merry Hills sat down in Starbucks and people watched for a couple of hours Quote: |
Originally Posted by Boddie Kev,
You keep banging on about my cross dressing. Have you been on my website or something? Did you not like my Laura Ashley number. I thought I carried it off quite well.
Either that or you have seen me in my scrubs?
How was your day out in Dudley by the way?
Most importantly by the way I have learnt that we are all quasi chivalric imperialists | |
07-08-2006, 05:39 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Kev Lewis I thought the guys that carried you off in the strait jacket had more fashion sense Boddie .
Dudley was a disaster !. Daphe pool on the Saltwells NR is reknowned for its dragonflies however it was dry! so dry that the mud was cracked and I walked across it! So I bought a book in Merry Hills sat down in Starbucks and people watched for a couple of hours | Kev,
That wasn't a strait jacket. It was essential bondage wear. You need to get with the program
People watching in Dudley. How did yam get on? |
07-08-2006, 05:48 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Gloucester
Posts: 1,382
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
they sure do talk funny but some nice females in breeding condition were visible as well as some competing males |
07-08-2006, 05:53 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
Competing for females in Dudley? You can pull if you wear the same shoes on both feet |
07-08-2006, 06:15 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 3,562
| | | Re: What have you learnt?
Hmm, I honestly learn something new from WAB every day.
The cross section of wildlife experience on this site is second to none in my opinion, my own particular weakness is Botany, thanks to WAB I'm slowly getting better.
I have made many good friends via this site, some I have met and some not yet. It's just a fabulous place for anyone who has an interest in British wildlife and its nice to be able to share your knowledge with others, on that note I would personally like to appologise to anyone that I have infected with my passion/addiction/compulsion etc... for Dragonflies!!
Oh, and finally one other thing that WAB has taught me - How to type faster | |
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