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Even among dinos as fearsome as the 9-ton Tyrannosaurus or the sickle-clawed Utahraptor, the birds we know today were the strongest — they survived an asteroid hitting Earth 66 million years, killing most species and setting off environmental disasters. We humans live among superheroes — the everyday bird, perched on your balcony, singing its sweet song, is in fact a mighty warrior who has overcome all manner of hardships to reach its nest. Birds, like all superheroes, aren’t who they seem. We think they’re cute, chirpy little beings — but they are the descendants of dinosaurs, those mighty prehistoric reptiles who once dominated Earth.
Birds first appeared on Earth 165 million years ago — we showed up just 6 million years ago. Homo sapiens can feel smug, thinking of our brain power, but a bird has 4 times more neuron value per unit volume than mammal brains, giving it extraordinary processing and expressive abilities. Many others face habitat loss, poachers and climate now. Will we finally drive off Earth what even an asteroid could not? A terrifying thought but there are solutions — as Times Evoke’s global experts point out, learning the incredible lineage and abilities of birds will help us see them as far more than our next dish. Join TE in exploring the world of birds — and in respecting the presence of superheroes.
Today, several species, from dodos to Great Auks, have been eliminated into extinction by humans chasing their flesh and feathers.