The dinosaurs in your backyard

It seems to be pretty well settled science these days that birds evolved from dinosaurs.  Hardly a week goes by that we don't hear of another paleological discovery of some ancient fossil of a dinosaur with feathers.  The relationship that was once hotly debated in the science world has found wide acceptance both among scientists and the general population.

To illustrate that fact LiveScience has put up a gallery of pictures of some of the ancient forerunners of birds.  There was a time during my memory when the only avian dinosaur ancestor that was widely known and acknowledged was Archaeopteryx.

Artist's rendering of Archaeopteryx.

Not any longer.  They are a dime a dozen these days.  Click on the link above and take a look at the gallery, and then compare what you've seen to those feathered creatures in your own backyard.  I'm betting you'll be able to see the relationship.