Reconstructing the flight capabilities of fossil birds

Key to unravelling the origins of bird flight is the ability to bring fossil birds, such as Archaeopteryx, and their feathered ancestors (proto-birds) to life. Although several different approaches have attempted to do this, none so far have provided definitive estimates of the flight capabilities of feathered fossil taxa. This project will use a new approach that integrates the biomechanical properties of flight feathers with the distribution of aerodynamic forces upon a feathered wing to determine maximum flight performance. Wind tunnel experiments will be conducted to measure the aerodynamic force distribution upon the flight feathers of different shaped bird wings and model proto-bird forelimbs. These experiments will be conducted for three broad modes of flight: gliding, using isolated fixed bird wings; simple flapping, using isolated bird wings attached to a mechanical flapper & natural flapping using live birds. Simultaneously the maximum buckling strength of flight feathers in relation to feather morphology will be determined using universal testing machines. The feather strength data will then be used to estimate the maximum sustainable force of the feathers of early birds and proto-birds. The more manoeuvrable and agile the flight is, the higher the forces that are generated upon the wing and its feathers. Hence, coupling the aerodynamic force data to the
feather strength data will allow the flight capabilities of feathered fossil birds and their ancestors (proto-birds). Once the flight capabilities of these fossils are known the likely origin of flight in birds may be identified.