[tomzz]

There is no possible way for flying birds to have evolved, period. A flying bird needs a baker's dozen highly specialized systems including a light bone structure, flowthrough lungs, high-capacity heart, flight feathers, specialized balance parameters, tail, a beak, and every bit of that would be anti-conducive to survival until the day the whole thing came together. The chance of all that evolving is zero.

[Tokra]

There is no possible way for flying birds to have evolved, period.

"since it had both feathers and a bird-like wishbone, along with classic reptilian features of a long bony tail, claws and teeth."

So, I guess the scientists secretly built fake fossils with feathers, wishbone, claws and teeth just to trick everybody?

If you believe that I can steer you to a site that will supply you with a nice foil hat.

[js1138]

There is no possible way for flying birds to have evolved, period. A flying bird needs a baker's dozen highly specialized systems including a light bone structure, flowthrough lungs, high-capacity heart, flight feathers, specialized balance parameters, tail, a beak, and every bit of that would be anti-conducive to survival until the day the whole thing came together. The chance of all that evolving is zero.

But some people think that felt gravity was less during the time the earth orbited Uranus. :)

[pabianice]

There is no possible way for flying birds to have evolved, period. A flying bird needs a baker's dozen highly specialized systems including a light bone structure, flowthrough lungs, high-capacity heart, flight feathers, specialized balance parameters, tail, a beak, and every bit of that would be anti-conducive to survival until the day the whole thing came together. The chance of all that evolving is zero.

Clearly, birds were planted here by aliens from the planet Koosbane.

[trashcanbred]

Actually... no it isn't. All of those qualities you mention can happen over a relatively short period of time. Bird groups that have been geographically separated from their natural environment have had noticeable physical changes take place. The Nene from Hawaii (which is my favorite example). It looks very similar to a Canadian goose but it has feet better suited for walking on rocks and it doesn't fly anymore. All of this happened in a relatively short period of time (thousands of years). Plus... the Nene doesn't fly.

Given enough generations a number of these traits you mention could and would take place.

Of course if you do not believe me, go outside and take a look around. Their existence is the proof.

[Dimensio]

Do you have any evidence to support your claims?

[Quark2005]

There is no possible way for flying birds to have evolved, period. A flying bird needs a baker's dozen highly specialized systems including a light bone structure, flowthrough lungs, high-capacity heart, flight feathers, specialized balance parameters, tail, a beak, and every bit of that would be anti-conducive to survival until the day the whole thing came together. The chance of all that evolving is zero.

Come on, now, you believe the force of gravity was smaller in prehistoric times than now, right? Doesn't this mean that birds wouldn't need these adaptations to fly? You should incorporate bird evolution as corroborating evidence for your neo-Velikovskian hypothesis!

[stormer]

"There is no possible way for flying birds to have evolved, period."

Thanks for clearing that up. I'll be looking forward to the next issue of Nature so I can read the paper in which you defend your position.

[bert]

....The chance of all that evolving is zero....

Except of course that it did.

[b_sharp]

"There is no possible way for flying birds to have evolved, period. A flying bird needs a baker's dozen highly specialized systems including a light bone structure, flowthrough lungs, high-capacity heart, flight feathers, specialized balance parameters, tail, a beak, and every bit of that would be anti-conducive to survival until the day the whole thing came together. The chance of all that evolving is zero."

Why is it necessary for all sytems to have evolved simultaneously? Why is it not possible for multiple features to have evolved simultaneously? Why is it not possible for some features, or groups of features, to be of some benefit without the ability to fly?

Making wild assertions isn't convincing.

[SauronOfMordor]

There is no possible way for flying birds to have evolved, period. A flying bird needs a baker's dozen highly specialized systems including a light bone structure, flowthrough lungs, high-capacity heart, flight feathers, specialized balance parameters, tail, a beak, and every bit of that would be anti-conducive to survival until the day the whole thing came together. The chance of all that evolving is zero.

A flying squirrel does not have those features. It can still glide from branch to branch

What the article is positing, is that birds started off as tree climbing dinosaurs. A tree-dweller what is good at getting from branch to branch will be more likely to survive. A tree-dwelling predator that gets prey by landing on them from above will survive better if it is able to glide onto prey a little distance from the tree, rather than waiting for prey to pass directly underneath

Over time, in gradual increments, features will evolve