Re: [dinosaur] Archaeopteryx had active flapping flight ability based on wing bone geometry (free pdf)

[Haoyang Wang <hywang@pobox.com>]

On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 10:11 AM, Ruben Safir <ruben@mrbrklyn.com> wrote:
> Your saying, I assume with reason, that the water borne method is later
> an adaptation.  I'd like to see the proof of that and how you know it is
> not actually an ancestral trait.  Regardless.  It is impossible to image
> that the birds would develop the leaping launch that is so prevalent
> without the strong upward flight stroke and the two can not be separated.

Running start requires a runway, pointing at the wind direction. Such
an open space is easier to find on water.

The strong upward flight stroke provides steep climb.
The aerodynamically efficient wings and feathers reduce the launch velocity.
The launch velocity can be attend by running, leaping, or falling down
from height (e.g., bats).

These are independent things, not necessarily linked together.

Haoyang