I like the idea that if whales die out, whether through
natural or human causes, that birds might evolve to fill that environmental
niche. Huge whale-birds, swimming about
the ocean, beaching themselves in order to lay eggs. I predict that a possible (nay, probable!)
path for these whale-birds is that eventually some will begin giving birth to
live young. Alternatively, they may
begin to lay floating eggs, or egg clusters, which could be towed or attached
by adhesives to the whale-birds. The egg
membranes would need to be efficient oxygen transporters so that the chicks
would not suffocate in their submerged or partially-submerged temporary
homes.
Although I don’t think it is yet found in seabirds, there
are species of birds capable of echolocation, so I don’t think it is
unreasonable for a similar instance of convergent evolution to occur as the
whale-birds hunt for food in the deep water.
It seems less likely (and of questionable utility) for them to develop
infrared sensing capabilities. However,
many birds, seabirds included, are sensitive to the earth’s magnetic field, and
if this ability is sharpened and magnified perhaps some species of whale-birds
might develop a shark-like ability to sense their prey’s electromagnetic
field.
I think that what fascinates me most about this idea is that
I’m simply tickled by the idea of the descendants of dinosaurs eventually
filling a niche as giant ocean-going predators.
It seems so weird and unlikely, but with the right selection pressures,
opportunities, and a big ol’ helping of time it is perfectly possible and we
can describe the mechanisms necessary for it to happen. So it’s like magic, but a lot slower, fully explained, and far
more interesting.
