It's what I care about
![bluetongue.gif](http://www.cspacezone.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/bluetongue.gif)
. Also "four" years of college for biology helps (at least with the more technical stuff, genetics and population bio and stuff). That and some things just get stuck in my head (scientific names and such, particularly if I know what the root words are/mean). Seven years of talking to people about all manner of animals and plants (both the public and other zoo people) hammers in a variety of details as well. Not to mention that many "details" are generalizable from one species I may know better to another that I can recognize (from training) as similar. And observation, lots and lots of observation drills things in too (this is why I can ID many butterflies while driving 60mph >_<). Basically it's just a whole lot of experience
![bluetongue.gif](http://www.cspacezone.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/bluetongue.gif)
, about 11 years total. If you think I'm impressive go talk to a bio professor
![bluetongue.gif](http://www.cspacezone.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/bluetongue.gif)
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I'm sure you're the same way with astrophysics
![bluetongue.gif](http://www.cspacezone.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/bluetongue.gif)
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We've been seeing a pair of these around the bird field at the zoo for a few weeks now. They like the old palm trees.