quote:
a flight feather would be totally useless for anything other than flight
Incorrect. It could help aerodyanimcs and also assist in gliding.
quote:
Flying birds likewise require highly specialized bone structures, tails, hearts, lungs, and general balance parameters, all of which are totally different from those other creatures
All of these would assist in high-speed running.
quote:
any of which would be antifunctional prior to flight.
Incorrect. They could assist in running or gliding.
quote:
We DO have several kinds of birds such as ostriches with vestigian wings, but again these are descended from birds which flew and are not in some process evolving INTO flying birds.
We do, however, have several types of small animals that are gliders and could gradually evolve powered flight.
™ Version 4.2