How do I get animated birds to fly in sequencer without using the game play button?

I am making a 15 second cut scene in sequencer. The camera is on a rig and moves toward some birds, and the birds should fly away. The birds will not animate in sequencer without pressing the game play button. The birds fly away correctly when I hit the game play button and activate the sequence, but I can’t record the sequence since it puts me in first person view and not in the camera view I am using in the sequence. Is there a way to set it up so I don’t need to press the game play button to get the birds to animate and fly away?

Did you try simulate?

336355-screenshot-1.jpg

That worked. Thanks for the help.