Steve Brusatte The Story of Birds

Billions of birds share the planet with us.

With their flamboyant plumage and joyous dawn serenades, many of them are impossible to miss.

But how did they get here, how did they break the bounds of Earth and begin to fly, and how does their legacy shape our world?In 'The Story of Birds', in delightfully energetic prose, expert palaeontologist Steve Brusatte takes us through their 150-million-year history, from their origins among small carnivorous dinosaurs to the 10,000-plus species that thrive today.

Along the way, we meet fantastic birds from all around the world, some known only through fossils.

There are elephant birds that stand as high as a basketball hoop and lay eggs as big as watermelons; demon ducks that weigh more than cows; aeroplane-sized seabirds that soar the worlds thermals; and predatory penguins the size of gorillas.In June, the Sunday Times named The Story of Birds best nature book in its 40 best non-fiction summer reading feature.Steve Brusatte is making a return trip to Cuckfield with his wife Anne.

His day job is Professor of Palaeontology and Evolution at the University of Edinburgh.Steve will be talking to Matthew Stadlen, radio and television presenter, who has written 'How to See Birds', an enthusiasts guide to birdwatching.