Just like any Internet community, the one problem you have is the sheer number of stupid looking birds that could end up in a scene. In practice however, it’s not as bad as it sounds. As you come upon nice birds with great descriptions, it’s like finding a unique gem. If you prepare yourself for some comedy in the custom birds section, you won’t be disappointed. You’re bound to find at least one bird in each scene that will crack you up. This community component does need one additional feature to make it perfect. The developers should expand this so you can put in a friend’s ID to increase your chances of seeing their creations. The final coup de grace? You can e-mail your specialized photos to unsuspecting friends and family, straight from your journal. It could not be simpler. So if you have a compulsion for forwarding e-mail chain letters… send one of your bird photos instead!

You wouldn’t think a casual game company would draw upon the services of a major university, but that’s exactly what Large Animal Games did. The developers worked with the University of Cornell’s Ornithology Department to get the colors, markings, and even the bird calls correct. Each of the birds is located in the geographical regions you’d except to find them in real life. Your knowledge and ability to identify these real-life birds is sure to skyrocket after playing the game.

As with all casual games, the standard cost is $19.99, but you can get it as low as $6.99 with a Big Fish Games Club account. In closing, if you have the even an ounce of interest in birds, photography, or “creating your own freaks of nature”, you should definitely check out this game. It’s not only fun, but is a fantastic learning tool to boot.

You can grab a demo or purchase the game at the Large Animal Games website