Paleontologist Steve Brusatte, a professor at Edinburgh University, has recently released a new book exploring the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and modern birds. Titled *The Story of Birds*, the book traces the development of birds from their dinosaur ancestors, highlighting fossil evidence and behavioral similarities that support the connection.

Brusatte, who has worked extensively on dinosaur research and served as a consultant on the *Jurassic World* film series, draws on both scientific findings and personal experiences in his latest work. A memorable encounter on Inchcolm Island, off the coast of Fife, involving an aggressive seagull defending its nest, reinforced for him the ongoing presence of dinosaur traits in today’s avian species. He has described seagulls as "ferocious and feisty" and noted that velociraptors, among the closest dinosaur relatives of birds, share behavioral characteristics with these modern birds.

The book, which debuted as a New York Times bestseller in the United States last week, aims to bridge the gap between the prehistoric creatures familiar to many and the birds observed in the natural world today. Brusatte illustrates how features such as feathers and skeletal structures link birds closely to theropod dinosaurs. Footprints discovered on the Isle of Skye, for example, bear close resemblance to those of modern birds like swans, further reinforcing this evolutionary lineage.

In addition to highlighting familiar birds, Brusatte discusses remarkable prehistoric birds such as terror birds—large predators that dominated South America for millions of years—and the enormous elephant birds of Madagascar, some weighing nearly a ton. His interest in birds is also informed by his young son, whose fascination with birds, including penguins, helped shape the accessible approach Brusatte takes in his writing.

Brusatte’s contributions to popular media include consulting on recent *Jurassic World* films, where he helped incorporate feathers into dinosaur designs to reflect current scientific understanding. He recalled that director Colin Trevorrow reached out to him after reading his previous book, *The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs*, seeking his expertise to portray feathered dinosaurs accurately.

The concept of birds evolving from dinosaurs dates back over a century and a half, but Brusatte notes that popularizing this idea through films like *Jurassic Park* in the early 1990s helped bring it into the public consciousness. Today, the consensus among paleontologists is clear, and fossil discoveries worldwide continue to illuminate how prehistoric species transformed into the bird species seen today.

*The Story of Birds* is published by Picador and is available in the United Kingdom for £25.