Birds are exceptionally diverse in appearance, ecology, and behavior today, but they have a rich and complex evolutionary history beyond that of their modern radiation. Appearing during the Jurassic, more than 160 million years ago, birds took to the skies and evolved into a plethora of forms during the Age of the Dinosaurs. In this talk, palaeontologist Juan Benito will discuss the origins of the group and their evolution from other feathered dinosaurs up to the origins of modern birds in the Late Cretaceous, as well as recent research insights into crucial aspects of early bird evolution, including how a single lineage of birds managed to make it through the Mass Extinction that ended the reign of the non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

We will walk along the River Thames footpath and around the flooded Meadow and return via Burgess Field. Meet up time 9am at car / bicycle parking near Godstow Lock SP487094 Large numbers of wildfowl gather on the meadow and the timing of this walk should hopefully coincide with some Spring migrants. Contact: outings@oos.org.uk