A cooperative card game of resistance, resilience, and really knowing your birds.
Storms are coming. The birds of America — 52 state and territory emblems — are the only defense. Every storm can be beaten three ways: by one bird acting alone, by a same-species flock, or by a mixed flock that qualifies on geographic or habitat grounds. That third option is where the game lives. Nobody memorizes the cards, but everyone reads them — and figures it out together. A child plays a bird game. Everyone else reads something else entirely.
The game uses two separate decks. Bird cards are your weapons and your resources — once spent, they go to the shared discard pile and never return. Storm cards are drawn from a deck of 20+; shuffle and draw 12 at random at the start of each game. Set the rest aside. Every session is a different combination of threats.
The mixed flock condition uses only what's printed on each card — Region, Habitat, Migration, or Designated year. Solo and same-species conditions are specific: either you have the card or you don't. The mixed flock is where the table talks it through, because the answers are right in front of everyone.
Shuffle both decks separately. Draw 12 storm cards at random from the storm deck — set the rest aside. These are the only storms you'll face this game. Place both active decks face down. Each player draws 5 bird cards. Assign the Lead Player token to a starting player — it passes clockwise after every storm, win or lose.
2-Player Rule: Any flock requirement of 3 birds is reduced to 2. This applies to both same-species and mixed flock conditions.
Flip the top storm card and read it aloud. Every storm has three possible resolutions. Play proceeds in up to two rounds — Round 2 only triggers if Round 1 fails to resolve the storm.
Starting with the Lead Player and going clockwise, each player may play cards from their hand — but only if those cards alone constitute a complete win. No partial plays. Players may also pass. The first to beat the storm claims that storm card for their personal solo win pile. Round ends immediately. If all players pass, Round 2 is triggered.
Everyone must contribute one card. No passing. Play order stays fixed. Before laying their card, any player may ask the table openly — "Who has a Wetland bird?" "Anyone holding a Southeast card?". Players use what they learn to decide which card to commit. Played cards go to the shared discard pile regardless of outcome. If the combined flock meets the Mixed Flock condition, that storm card goes to the team win pile. If not, it goes to the storm loss pile.
One player takes on the storm alone. They may play a card, immediately draw back to 5, play another, draw again — repeating until the storm is beaten or they choose to stop. Powerful but costly: every card played pulls another from the shrinking deck.
Bird cards spent in any round go to the shared discard pile and never return. Only storm cards go to win piles. After every storm resolves — win, lose, or draw — all players draw back up to 5 bird cards from the draw pile.
One player solos the storm with a single play. Only their played cards go to discard. That storm card goes to their personal solo win pile.
Round 2 fires and the flock completes the condition. One card per player goes to discard. That storm card goes to the shared team win pile.
Round 2 fires but the flock falls short. One card per player still goes to discard. That storm card goes to the storm loss pile.
One player grinds cards one at a time, drawing after each play. Cost scales with how many attempts it takes. High draw-pile risk.
All 12 storms are played through regardless of outcome. Tally at the end.
Individual Champion: Within a bird victory, the player with the most storm cards in their personal solo win pile wins the title. Ties broken by fewest bird cards remaining in hand.
Players may communicate openly at all times. Solo and same-species resolutions don't need discussion — you either have the card or you don't. Round 2 is where the table activates. Players ask questions about the stats visible on their cards: "Anyone got a Migratory bird?" "Who's holding a Forest card?" "Do you have a West region state?" The answers are right there on the card. The skill is in coordinating what you have — and deciding whether to reveal your hand — before it's your turn to play.
Silent Mode (Advanced): No talking or gesturing. All rules apply — but the flock operates on instinct alone.
Shuffle both decks. Draw 12 storms, set rest aside. Each player draws 5 bird cards. Assign Lead token.
Flip storm → Round 1: solo attempts in order, or pass → If unresolved: Round 2, ask questions, everyone plays one card → Lead token shifts clockwise.
Spent bird cards → shared discard (never return). Storm cards only → win piles. All players draw back to 5 after every storm.
7+ beaten = birds win. 6–6 = draw. 5 or fewer = storms win. Most solo storm cards = individual champion.