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I see a lot of games in the lobby with these birds removed from the game. I do not understand why. Can anyone help clarify this for me please?

FrankJones wrote: ↑26 June 2025, 14:29 I see a lot of games in the lobby with these birds removed from the game. I do not understand why. Can anyone help clarify this for me please?

In recent editions of the basic game, a set of 10 cards has been added to help beginners grasp the rules and mechanics of the game more easily.
I found online a picture of the 10 cards :
https://cf.geekdo-images.com/HQuFg-OuAm ... 023262.jpg

They weren't in the BGA version some time ago and were added later, hence the option.

Personally, I really like these cards because most of them help at the start of the game!

FrankJones wrote: ↑26 June 2025, 14:29 I see a lot of games in the lobby with these birds removed from the game. I do not understand why. Can anyone help clarify this for me please?

They weren't originally there. Some people like to stick with what they're familiar with, so they may have never added them in after release.

Just for clarification - they weren't originally there, meaning, in the physical game, or here on BGA? Or both?

Both

kostinen wrote: ↑26 June 2025, 18:09Both

How odd. I obtained my physical in 2019, the year of the game's release, and it had the swift start birds.

When people play the "base game", aren't these birds considered part of the base game?

Depends when you mean ‘originally’. I bought the physical game three or four years ago and those 10 cards have always been there. And they are here too in BGA.

FrankJones wrote: ↑26 June 2025, 19:56

kostinen wrote: ↑26 June 2025, 18:09Both

How odd. I obtained my physical in 2019, the year of the game's release, and it had the swift start birds.

When people play the "base game", aren't these birds considered part of the base game?

I just did a quick search online, I don’t have a personal proof. The game I have at home from 2024 also includes those cards.
Several sources tend to be agreed on the fact it was not in the original version. It seems it has been included in the same year of the first release. If you had your own version in the late 2019, it could explain the mystery
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/290 ... promo-pack

kostinen wrote: ↑26 June 2025, 20:20

FrankJones wrote: ↑26 June 2025, 19:56

kostinen wrote: ↑26 June 2025, 18:09Both

How odd. I obtained my physical in 2019, the year of the game's release, and it had the swift start birds.

When people play the "base game", aren't these birds considered part of the base game?

I just did a quick search online, I don’t have a personal proof. The game I have at home from 2024 also includes those cards.
Several sources tend to be agreed on the fact it was not in the original version. It seems it has been included in the same year of the first release. If you had your own version in the late 2019, it could explain the mystery
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/290 ... promo-pack

Aha. Good detective work

Here is what that link says: "This pack is included in the current version of Wingspan (STM910, see note on the back of the box) but not the original version available from January-August 2019 (STM900)."

My box says STM910, and at the top right corner it says, "Now includes a swift start pack (4 guides and 10 cards) to aid new players".

Which is consistent with my purchase date of 2020 (I was incorrectly recalling having bought the game in 2019).

In France, we are still waiting to get our Swift Start Pack in our expensive game boxs. Just for that, i don’t like them. Furthermore, American Redstart is much too strong in base game, it only get kinda balanced with Europe Expansion.