[AndrewC]

Referencing my post 17, the talk origins folks must not consider the differential use of flapping appendages to escape predators as selection pressure. They must consider the ground up theory of flight "blowhardism". Don't chickens tend to flap things when chased?

[RightWingNilla]

Referencing my post 17, the talk origins folks must not consider the differential use of flapping appendages to escape predators as selection pressure.

Hi Andrew. Here is a web site which shows some theories on how flight evolved in birds. It may have nothing to do with predators:

The selective pressure on the pre-birds to evolve the ability of flight in the sense of elevation, most likely was the reduction of the damaging impact of a jump or a fall from a level, supposely from the side of a tree-trunk.

(I surmise they use the term "Pre-bird", since "ProtoBird" TM has already been patented.)