Birds Aren't Real
{{Short description|Satirical conspiracy theory}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
File:"Birds Aren't Real" billboard in Memphis.jpg, 2019{{cite news |last=Koch |first=Mitchell |date=July 18, 2019 |url=https://www.wreg.com/news/every-tweet-is-a-lie-birds-arent-real-campaign-spreads-message-with-new-memphis-billboard/ |title='Every tweet is a lie': Birds Aren't Real campaign spreads message with new Memphis billboard |publisher=WREG-TV |access-date=2021-12-15 |archive-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518054615/https://wreg.com/news/every-tweet-is-a-lie-birds-arent-real-campaign-spreads-message-with-new-memphis-billboard/ |url-status=live }}]]
Birds Aren't Real is a satirical conspiracy theory which posits that birds are actually drones operated by the United States government to spy on American citizens.{{cite news |last=Lorenz |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Lorenz |date=December 9, 2021 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/09/technology/birds-arent-real-gen-z-misinformation.html |title=Birds Aren't Real, or Are They? Inside A Gen Z Conspiracy Theory |work=The New York Times |access-date=2021-12-16 |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511040605/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/09/technology/birds-arent-real-gen-z-misinformation.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Palma |first=Bethania |date=November 22, 2021 |url=https://www.snopes.com/articles/381287/birds-arent-real-movement/ |title=What Is the 'Birds Aren't Real' Movement? |access-date=2021-12-16 |website=Snopes |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206132337/https://www.snopes.com/articles/381287/birds-arent-real-movement/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first1=Ivie |last1=Macy |first2=Frances |last2=Lin |agency=Nexstar Media Wire |date=June 25, 2021 |url=https://wgntv.com/news/birds-arent-real-rolling-rally-makes-first-stop-in-missouri/ |title='Birds Aren't Real' rolling rally makes first stop in Missouri |publisher=WGN-TV |access-date=2021-12-16 |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108202456/https://wgntv.com/news/birds-arent-real-rolling-rally-makes-first-stop-in-missouri/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Peake |first=Eleanor |date=October 12, 2021 |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/digital-distractions/2021/10/birds-arent-real-and-this-man-wants-the-world-to-know |title=Birds aren't real and this man wants the world to know |work=New Statesman |access-date=2021-12-16 |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201225743/https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/digital-distractions/2021/10/birds-arent-real-and-this-man-wants-the-world-to-know |url-status=live }} In 2018, journalist Rachel Roberts described Birds Aren't Real as "a joke that thousands of people are in on." {{As of|January 2025}}, the official X Account had slightly over 100,000 followers.{{cite web |title=Birds Aren't Real on X |url=https://x.com/birdsarentreal |website=X.com |access-date=29 January 2025}}
Background
File:Birds aren't real 35C3 (cropped).jpg conference in 2018]]
Peter McIndoe created the satirical conspiracy theory "on a whim" in January 2017. After seeing pro-Trump counter-protestors at the 2017 Women's March in Memphis, Tennessee, McIndoe wrote "Birds Aren't Real" on a poster and improvised a conspiracy theory amongst the counter-protestors as a "spontaneous joke". A video of McIndoe at the march went viral, which started the satirical movement.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Zoe |title='The lunacy is getting more intense': how Birds Aren't Real took on the conspiracy theorists |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/14/the-lunacy-is-getting-more-intense-how-birds-arent-real-took-on-the-conspiracy-theorists |website=The Guardian |access-date=6 May 2022 |date=14 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526034434/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/14/the-lunacy-is-getting-more-intense-how-birds-arent-real-took-on-the-conspiracy-theorists |archive-date=26 May 2024 |url-status=live}} In 2017, he posted on Facebook: "I made a satirical movement a few months ago, and people on Instagram seem to like it a lot." He later disclaimed the post, saying it was written by a staffer who was fired, and did not admit until 2021 that he did not truly believe the conspiracy.{{cite news |last=Omar |first=Elliott |date=January 10, 2019 |url=https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2019/jan/10/birds-aren-t-real-20190110/ |title='Birds Aren't Real': Satirical movement captures social media |work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |access-date=2021-12-16 |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212114418/https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2019/jan/10/birds-aren-t-real-20190110/ |url-status=live }}
The movement claims that all birds in the United States were exterminated by the federal government between 1959 and 1971 and replaced by lookalike drones used by the government to spy on citizens; the specifics of these theories are not always consistent, not unlike actual conspiracy theories. The movement is characterized by using catchy slogans like "If it flies, it spies" which can be found on various merchandise articles.{{cite web |title=Birds Aren't Real Webshop |url=https://birdsarentreal.com/products/if-it-flies-blue-hoodie |website=birdsarentreal.com |access-date=29 January 2025}} They claim that birds sit on power lines to recharge themselves, that birds defecate on cars as a tracking method, and that U.S. president John F. Kennedy was assassinated by the government due to his reluctance to kill all the birds.{{cite web |last=Alfonso III |first=Fernando |date=November 16, 2018 |url=https://www.audubon.org/news/are-birds-actually-government-issued-drones-so-says-new-conspiracy-theory-making |title=Are Birds Actually Government-Issued Drones? So Says a New Conspiracy Theory Making Waves (and Money) |publisher=Audubon |access-date=2021-12-16 |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503062052/https://www.audubon.org/news/are-birds-actually-government-issued-drones-so-says-new-conspiracy-theory-making |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Hauser |first=Alisa |date=November 2, 2018 |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2018/11/02/whats-up-with-those-birds-arent-real-posters-they-highlight-the-post-truth-era-we-live-in-creator-says/ |title=What's Up With Those 'Birds Aren't Real' Posters? They Highlight The Post-Truth Era We Live In, Creator Says |work=Block Club Chicago |access-date=2021-12-16 |archive-date=December 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209220843/https://blockclubchicago.org/2018/11/02/whats-up-with-those-birds-arent-real-posters-they-highlight-the-post-truth-era-we-live-in-creator-says/ |url-status=live }}
In 2018, news about the development of actual high-tech surveillance bird drones in China came to surface, claiming that multiple military and government agencies used these drones for surveillance purposes in multiple provinces of China.{{cite web |last1=Bisset |first1=Jennifer |title=China launches high-tech bird drones to watch over its citizens. |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/china-launches-high-tech-bird-drones-to-watch-over-its-citizens/ |website=cnet.com |publisher=CNET |access-date=29 January 2025}}
The game “Play Birds Aren't Real: The Game " was published on Steam in 2023. It allows players to complete surveillance tasks from a government surveillance bird’s perspective.{{Cite web |title=Birds Aren't Real: The Game on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2553710/Birds_Arent_Real_The_Game/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}
Supporters
Some supporters have demonstrated with signs stating "Birds Aren't Real" and related slogans. In 2019, a billboard was erected stating "Birds Aren't Real" in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2021, some supporters demonstrated in front of Twitter's San Francisco headquarters demanding that the company change its bird logo. In 2021, MSNBC said that the movement had hundreds of thousands of members.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.msnbc.com/american-voices/watch/how-the-birds-aren-t-real-conspiracy-became-a-mass-coping-mechanism-for-gen-z-128501829725 |title=How the Birds Aren't Real conspiracy became a 'mass coping mechanism' for Gen Z |type=video |last=Lorenz |first=Taylor |publisher=MSNBC |date=12 December 2021 |access-date=2024-04-19 |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219100721/https://www.msnbc.com/american-voices/watch/how-the-birds-aren-t-real-conspiracy-became-a-mass-coping-mechanism-for-gen-z-128501829725 |url-status=live }}
Supporters mainly consist of a cross-generational community whose interest stemmed from a satirical view on internet conspiratorial theories.{{Cite web |last=Rentz |first=Aleyna |date=2024-02-07 |title=Birds aren't real* |url=https://hub.jhu.edu/2024/02/07/birds-arent-real/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=The Hub |language=en}}
Media appearances
McIndoe has made multiple media appearances and done multiple interviews promoting the Birds Aren't Real movement. In 2021, he stated that he works full-time as a spokesperson for the movement, making money from sales of merchandise.
File:Peter McIndoe.pngIn a 2019 interview with WREG-TV, McIndoe said that he was offended by a question about whether the movement was satirical, as such a question would not be asked of the opposite opinion (that birds are real). On January 6, 2022, McIndoe threw up during a live TV interview with the Chicago-based WGN9.{{Cite web |last=Fish |first=Tom |date=2022-01-07 |title=Man vomits live on-air during TV interview: 'I'm so nervous' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/man-vomits-tv-interview-birds-arent-real-1666822 |access-date=2022-01-09 |website=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=January 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109001752/https://www.newsweek.com/man-vomits-tv-interview-birds-arent-real-1666822 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=Watch: 'Birds Aren't Real' founder 'pukes' during live TV interview |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/lifestyle/birds-arent-real-founder-pukes-live-tv-interview-v69191e9a |work=The Independent |date=2022-01-07 |language=en |access-date=2022-01-09 |last=Fasano |first=Stefano |archive-date=January 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109001921/https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/lifestyle/birds-arent-real-founder-pukes-live-tv-interview-v69191e9a |url-status=live }} Adweek called it an "apparent prank"{{Cite web |last=Eck |first=Kevin |title=Birds Aren't Real Conspiracy Guy Pulls Apparent Prank on WGN Morning Show |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/birds-arent-real-conspiracy-guy-pulls-apparent-prank-on-wgn-morning-show/237692/ |date=2022-01-07 |access-date=2022-01-09 |website=Adweek |language=en-US |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526031359/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/birds-arent-real-conspiracy-guy-pulls-apparent-prank-on-wgn-morning-show/ |url-status=live }} and McIndoe labeled it a "hit job".{{Cite web |date=2022-01-07 |last=Berlin |first=Samantha |title='Birds Aren't Real' leader says chaotic morning news interview was 'hit job' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/birds-arent-real-leader-says-chaotic-morning-news-interview-was-hit-job-1666808 |access-date=2022-01-09 |website=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516205742/https://www.newsweek.com/birds-arent-real-leader-says-chaotic-morning-news-interview-was-hit-job-1666808 |url-status=live }}
In January 2022, McIndoe featured in a profile of the movement for Vice, giving his first media interview while not in character.{{cite web |title=The Truth Behind 'Birds Aren't Real' |url=https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/the-truth-behind-birds-arent-real/618d509f2b5e414b16210b73 |website=Vice |access-date=2022-05-09 |date=2022-01-10 |archive-date=May 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526231435/https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/the-truth-behind-birds-arent-real/618d509f2b5e414b16210b73 |url-status=live }} In May 2022, he was interviewed by 60 Minutes. He started off the interview in character, but later broke character and described the purpose behind creating the satirical movement: "So it's taking this concept of misinformation and almost building a little safe space to come together within it and laugh at it, rather than be scared by it. And accept the lunacy of it all and be a bird truther for a moment in time when everything's so crazy."{{cite web |title=The origins of "Birds Aren't Real" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/birds-arent-real-origin-60-minutes-2022-05-01/ |website=CBS News |access-date=2022-05-09 |date=2022-05-01 |archive-date=May 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509044016/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/birds-arent-real-origin-60-minutes-2022-05-01/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Alfonsi |first1=Sharyn |title=Parodying conspiracy theories with the Birds Aren't Real movement |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/birds-arent-real-peter-mcindoe-60-minutes-2022-05-01/ |website=CBS News |access-date=2022-05-09 |date=2022-05-01 |archive-date=May 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509044015/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/birds-arent-real-peter-mcindoe-60-minutes-2022-05-01/ |url-status=live }} In April 2023 McIndoe held a TED Talk about the movement.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VEkzweBJPM |title=Birds Aren't Real? How a Conspiracy Takes Flight - Peter McIndoe - TED |work=TED |date=September 13, 2023 |access-date=2023-09-14 |archive-date=September 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914084446/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VEkzweBJPM&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }} He later claimed working on a Birds Aren't Real movie in an interview with the Hub at Johns Hopkins University.
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://birdsarentreal.com/}}
- [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/14/the-lunacy-is-getting-more-intense-how-birds-arent-real-took-on-the-conspiracy-theorists Interview with Peter McIndoe in The Guardian]
{{Authority control}}
{{Conspiracy theories}}
Category:2017 establishments in the United States
Category:Conspiracy theories in the United States
Category:Hoaxes in the United States
Category:Birds in popular culture
Category:American political satire