This is Bird Note.

For years, scientists debated whether the first flying dinosaurs, the ancestors of modern birds,

began by running and making little hops off the ground, or leapt off a tree branch to glide.

It's called the ground up versus trees down debate for short.

But there's a newer perspective on this mystery. Maybe the old debate misses the point.

Maybe flying dinosaurs tried jumping from more than one place. Whether leaping off a branch or

off the forest floor, it probably began with the same motion,

a firm push off the surface. After all, that's how birds do it today.

Recent findings suggest that many dinosaur species had feathers, and some also had limbs that could flap like wings.

One analysis suggested that the ability to fly could have evolved not just once, but three

separate times among dinosaurs. So instead of the old picture of one lone dinosaur with

prototype wings deciding how to use them, imagine many feathered creatures jumping and

gliding all over.

That fertile time of experimentation eventually led to the ancestors of all our familiar birds.

For bird note, I'm Ariana Rimmel.

Support comes from Wild Delight Bird Food,

offering a variety of blends

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wild birds crave.

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