Interesting discussion on drawing talent and ability.
I seem to have a bit of talent, but I think it's more a talent for seeing rather than a talent for drawing... or perhaps they're the same thing. I find that practice is all important. There may be individuals out there who can produce realistic drawings the first time they try, but not me!
Here's an example. This is our budgerigar Joey. I've included my practice sketches of Joey's head, which is what I found hardest to "see", and hence draw. I think that the bad practice sketches show what my brain sees, and it's by seeing what is wrong with those that I discover what my eye sees.