Steve Brusatte, the Scottish-based paleontologist who consulted on the Jurassic World films, has released a new book titled The Story of Birds that traces the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and modern birds. The book, a New York Times bestseller in the US, explores how creatures like velociraptors gave rise to today's avian species, with examples including a seagull attack off the coast of Fife that Brusatte recalls vividly.
From Velociraptor to Seagull
Brusatte, a professor at Edinburgh University, recounts a trip to Inchcolm Island years ago when a mother seagull repeatedly divebombed his group after a friend approached her nest. He says: 'Towards the end of a talk I give on dinosaurs, I show photos of dinosaur fossils with feathers to make the connection between dinosaurs and birds today, and then I show a picture of a seagull with a chip in its beak. And I say that if one of these things dive bombs you, it's that inner velociraptor.' He adds: 'Velociraptor is one of the closest ancestors of birds, so it's not just a turn of phrase.'
Key Fossil Evidence in Scotland
The book highlights how many crucial fossils linking dinosaurs to birds were found in Scotland. Brusatte notes: 'When you look at some of these footprints we find out on Skye, they look like a chicken's footprint or something bigger like a swan. I have a photo in the book of a theropod dinosaur footprint from the Isle of Skye next to the footprint of a modern swan. And they are basically identical.'
Giant Prehistoric Birds
Brusatte describes remarkable ancient birds, including 'terror birds' that stood taller than a human with heads bigger than a horse's head, which were top predators in South America for tens of millions of years. He also mentions elephant birds in Madagascar, some weighing close to a ton. His six-year-old son, who favours penguins over T-rex, inspired the book's accessible approach.
Consulting on Jurassic World Films
Brusatte was hired as a consultant on Jurassic World Dominion (2022) and Jurassic World Rebirth (2024) after director Colin Trevorrow read The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs. Trevorrow wanted feathers on some dinosaurs to reflect the dinosaur-bird connection. Brusatte says: 'This dinosaur-bird connection is something that maybe when you hear about it, it almost sounds like it must be a technicality... No, it's very literal. Birds evolved from dinosaurs.'
Scotland's Paleontological Significance
Brusatte praises Scotland for its geological heritage, noting: 'This university is where the whole science of geology started. We can do field trips during class time to Arthur's Seat and Wardie Bay, where you can find amazing fossils.' He continues to lead digs on the Isle of Skye, finding bones and footprints from theropod dinosaurs, the group that includes T-rex and velociraptors that gave rise to birds.
The Story of Birds by Steve Brusatte is published by Picador, priced £25.
