If you like birds and enjoy playing games, we’ve got great news for you! Several members of Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) have become obsessed with the game Wingspan. It is available both as a physical board game as well as an electronic game you can play on many devices, including iOS, Android, Nintendo, XBox, etc.
I’ve always said the creator of the game Wingspan must be a genius! It seems complicated to learn at first, but once you understand the basic concepts, it isn’t difficult at all and gives you a chance to learn more about ornithology and birds you know and don’t know! Wingspan is from designer Elizabeth Hargrave, illustrated by Natilia Rojas and Ana Maria Martinez Jaramillo, and published by Stonemaier Games.
The board has three habitats Forest, Grassland and Wetland. These habitats serve as a place for your birds to be played, as well as unique actions you take. The original version of the game has 170 bird cards, each with its common and scientific name, habitat(s) it lives, food it requires, number of eggs, type of nest, length of wingspan, point value, trivia about bird and, if any, special powers. The European Expansion includes an additional 81 bird cards. The Oceania Expansion has 95 bird cards. And finally, the Asia Expansion has 90 bird cards. Each expansion offers additional enhancements to the game. (note: The electronic version currently has only the European version available to add.)
On each turn, you will take 1 of 4 actions:
- Play a bird from your hand on one of the three habitats, paying the required food and egg fees
- Gain food via a birdfeeder dice tower and activate forest bird powers
- Lay eggs using marbled egg miniatures in several colors and activate grassland bird powers
- Draw bird cards from hundreds of unique bird cards and activate wetland bird powers
Each of the four rounds will have a bonus card. Each person will collect 1 or more end of game bonus cards. The more you play the more you can test your strategies, or just play and have fun!
The game can be played with 1-5 players, both in a fun easy manner or in a more competitive manner.
Joleen was the first to learn the game in early 2020. But it was in 2022 that a group of our SIB members began gathering monthly for a friendly game, with snacks and good conversation. Before I left for summer in Maine, I purchased the iOS version for my iPhone and iPad. While in Maine, I have played the board game a few times with my wife Flo, my sister and our nieces. As the summer got busy and family started return to homes, we began playing the on-line version. Like with the board game, you can play by yourself or up to five others. In fact, you can play against the AI Computer, people on-line or with friends and family. Each person must own the software and have a userid.
In the past couple weeks, I’ve been playing one or more games every day. Sometimes against two computers; with Flo; with Joleen & Melanie; and even now against other on-line competitors. We normally play the version that allows up to 72 hours to take a turn, that way you can play when you have free time.
I’ve really enjoyed playing Wingspan on-line as it keeps me connected with family and with my birding friends while I’m away for the summer! The physical board game can be bought at your favorite game retailers, both on-line or in stores. The full-AI version of Wingspan is available from MonsterCouch (Steam, Switch, Xbox, iOS, and Android).
Watch the trailer below for a preview about the game.
If you are interested to join us in either the in-person or virtual game playing of Wingspan, make a comment on this blog or send us an email.
Article submitted by Nancy Brown
Photos from Stonemaier Games (https://store.stonemaiergames.com/products/wingspan)
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