On my way out of the zoo, I encountered a number of interesting birds. There were fierce-looking birds and birds with big extravagant beaks. There were tiny colorful birds and aggressive peacocks with huge displays of exotic feathers. And there were birds that looked like they came off an animators drawing board and common everyday ducks. Scientists tell us that birds evolved from the dinosaurs that survived the last big extinction. As I gazed upon these flying forms, I tried hard to imagine the ancient beasts from which they must have come.