Birds. Where did they come from? How did they get here? How long have they evolved on Earth? On Feb. 11, former Linn-Benton student Jon Perry presented the evolution of flight in Forum 104 from noon to 2 p.m.
Evolution describes the accumulative change in the gene pool of a population or species over the course of many thousands of generations. The process contains mutation, natural selection and genetic drift.
The Chintimini Wildlife Center’s Raptor Conservation Program was at the event along with the birds they care for. Volunteers Kathleen Dodge, Sarah Dilley, and Zach Heesch brought along a bird species each. Dodge presented the turkey vulture, Dilley presented the merlin falcon and Heesch presented the sparred owl.
According to National History Museum, birds evolved from Archaeopteryx who lived 150 million years ago in today’s southern Germany. This means birds evolved from dinosaurs.
The turkey vulture, also called buzzard, gets its name because it resembles a wild turkey when on the ground. They can find decaying mammals by smell as well as by sight. When threatened the turkey vulture will hiss.
“They aren’t known as a glamour bird, but they certainly make up for it with their boisterous personality,” said Dodge.
The black merlin falcon are small, fierce falcons that use surprise attacks to bring down small songbirds and shorebirds. Medieval falconers called them lady hawks.
The sparred owl is a cross between the barred owl and the spotted owl. With this “hybrid” bird, the existence of the spotted owl has decreased significantly.
During the discussion Perry showed a video that he created about evolution called, “What is the Evidence for Evolution?.” It unveiled the evolution of cetaceans, which include whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Cetaceans are closely related to the present day hippopotamus, and all evolved from an ancient four legged land mammal. From the time of conception a whale will carry the offspring in a placenta, then deliver with a live birth and nurse the baby whale.
Not only do cetaceans have similar birthing to land mammals but they’re warm blooded. Unlike the average fish with gills, whales have fully developed lungs like humans. Many whales also have hair similar to land mammals. Simply put, they’re mammals.
The present-day land mammal that resembles a whale is the hippopotamus. There are differences and similarities between the two. One distinct difference is that whales are carnivores and hippopotamus’ are omnivores, eating both plants and animals.
For more about evolution check out www.statedclearly.com.
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