Feathered Dinosaurs?
May 16, 2005
For several years, paleontologists - mainly in China - have been unearthing
fossils of dinosaurs bearing alleged feather-like imprints. Macroevolution
theory states that modern birds are simply feathered dinosaurs. This means
the scales of reptiles slowly evolved into feathers.

A dated showcase for evolution - Archaeopteryx - was discovered soon after
the publication of Darwin's infamous book in 1859. Other fossil specimens of
Archaeopteryx were later discovered, but they all had feathers and wings,
with no indication of how the front legs gradually evolved into wings. More
importantly, the flight feathers of this creature are fully developed with
no indication as to how they allegedly evolved from scales. The reader is
urged to consult Dr. Duane Gish's book, Evolution: The Fossils Still Say NO
for a more detailed discussion.

After many decades of finding no fossils that would make the connection
between birds and dinosaurs (Archaeopteryx being a contentious exception),
secular scientists have now discovered fossils that provide a critical
connection. But the "feathered dinosaur" fossils could be viewed as
discoveries of convenience, much like the 1996 discovery of "microfossils"
on the famous Mars meteorite conveniently made at a time that NASA needed
government funding. (Today, the Martian "microfossils" are controversial at
best, with a majority of scientists dismissing them.)

How would the creationist view the feathered dinosaur discoveries?

Let's begin by looking at the big picture. There has never been a single
discovery, either in the laboratory or in the field of fossil hunting
(paleontology), that the secularist could triumphantly point to and claim as
positive evidence for macroevolution. This has held true right up to the eve
of school board battles presently raging in no less than 18 states in regard
to the teaching of origins. What better time to discover fossils that
finally validate Darwinism?

The reader should be very cautious of such claims, keeping in mind the
embarrassing Archeoraptor fiasco, and National Geographic's rush to
publication, disregarding calls for a more detailed investigation of this
strange fossil. (See Dr. Steve Austin's excellent article on Archeoraptor at
Impact No. 321 . See also " Open Letter to Dr. Peter Raven of National
Geographic Society"
http://members.aol.com/acoxon1274/Olson_archaeraptor.html )

Feathers, "Protofeathers" or Fibers?

Evolutionism posits that the scales of reptiles slowly evolved into the
beautiful and ornate feathers of birds today.

The first question the skeptic should ask is, "Do these 'feathered dinosaurs'
have real feathers, and if not - what are the markings?"

Creation scientist David Menton provides compelling scientific evidence why
such a transition could never take place. Even from their embryonic stages,
scales and feathers are completely different. Dr. Menton describes how
feathers are very complex, composed of a barb, barbules, and hooks, first
erupting from complex follicles. Scales come from folds in skin.

Zoologists would need to see fossil evidence showing scales in the process
of converting into feathers. So far, this has not been documented.

Dinosaur discoveries of the past, such as Sinosauropteryx (meaning 'first
Chinese dragon feather') and its "protofeathers" were seen by evolutionist
John Ostrom as nothing of the sort. Oregon State University's John Ruben is
a professor of zoology and says these structures are likely collagen
connective fibers.1 Sinosauropteryx was just a theropod and did not possess
any characteristics attributable to birds. Indeed, theropods had long, stiff
tails, hardly a requirement for flight! Other front-rank evolutionists are
divided on Sinosauropteryx , as well as more recent feathered dinosaur
discoveries.

The recently discovered Falcarius utahensis is described as having not true
feathers, but " a woolly feather-like plumage" according to BBC News.2 The
story also states the creature was found in a "mass graveyard;" this fact
fits the Flood model.
Many animals of the pre-Flood world were bizarre to be sure, with structures
and tissues not seen in animals today. Those holding to an evolutionary
worldview are sometimes quick to see such unique structures as possible
transitions. Creationists view dinosaurs having woolly plumages and collagen
fibers as -dinosaurs with woolly plumages and collagen fibers, nothing more.