Scientific Consensus: Birds As Dinosaurs

[mjmurphy <4mjmu@rogers.com>]

Interesting that an argument concerning Global Warming should break out here 
of all places.

When I argue about AGW and the "scientific consensus" etc. with climate 
change skeptics, I often make reference to the "Birds are Dinos" debate and 
how that progressed historically.

So can anyone tell me:

1) When did workers in the field settle behind the "Birds are Dinos" 
position in its most generic sense (where BCF might be considered a variety 
of Birds are Dinos)?

2) Can anyone provide a for vs. against count of scientists pro versus 
against OVER THE YEARS?  Pre Liaoning fossils, for example, was it about 
50/50? And at what percentage (80% pr vs 20% against, for example), was the 
"debate" considered pretty much over?

3) Has there been any history of science/sociology of science done on this 
issue?

This, by the way, is one of the short pieces I wrote on the topic:

http://bigcitylib.blogspot.com/2007/04/scientific-concensus-tastes-like.html#links