If you have scrolled through TikTok, Instagram or just walked past a sticker on a stop sign, you might have seen the phrase “birds aren’t real.” What started as a joke has evolved into one of the strangest conspiracy theories people discuss today.
The idea is pretty wild but according to the theory, birds are not actually animals at all. Instead, they are government-made drones designed to spy on people. Supporters claim that real birds were wiped out years ago and replaced with robot copies that look and act just like the real thing.
“I think some think it’s a joke, I think they aren’t real because I actually think that birds are government spy drones disguised as animals, built to watch people and make sure everyone’s doing what they’re supposed to,” FHS freshman Matan Kovacs said.
People who believe in the theory often bring up the rise of surveillance technology and drones as reasons to think it is possible. After all, the government does use drones for certain purposes, and we know technology is advancing fast. They argue that birds standing on power lines could be charging stations, or that pigeons following people in the park are really collecting data.
Of course, most scientists, and bird watchers say this theory does not hold up. Birds are studied in biology labs, observed migrating across continents and even dissected in classrooms. Scientists have studied bird anatomy, reproduction and evolution for centuries. Experts also point out that it would be almost impossible to replace every bird in the world with machines secretly.
“ I heard about it on TikTok, [people on the app are] saying that birds are like robots, made by the government so they can spy on us, but I personally don’t think so,” said FHS junior Amina Ranjit.
Some people believe the whole movement is meant as a joke, not a real belief. The slogans, memes and rallies can feel more like performance art than an actual conspiracy. But that is why it spread so quickly online — it is half a joke and half a “what if?”
Even if people do not actually believe it, the “birds aren’t real” idea says a lot about how conspiracy theories spread in our generation. With the internet, ideas that sound funny or outlandish can blow up overnight. And once they spread, it can be hard to tell who is joking and who is serious.
At the end of the day, the debate is not really about whether birds exist; it is about how people deal with information. Some people see it as a silly meme, others treat it as a lesson about misinformation, and a small group might actually believe it.
