Hello everyone! We’ve got some wild news coming out of Target stores nationwide, and it’s all about a quirky little item that’s taken the retail world by storm. We’re talking about $5 plastic-foam and polyester birds, known lovingly by fans as ‘birbs’. These collectible birds are flying off the shelves faster than you can say “Beanie Baby,” causing a frenzy that’s reminiscent of the ’90s craze.
So, what’s the deal with these birds? Well, they aren’t just your average store decoration. Fans have turned them into coveted collectibles, with people waking up at 3 a.m. Eastern Time just to snag the latest release as soon as it hits the shelves. That’s right, folks—there’s an entire community dedicated to hunting down these little creatures, and they’re not messing around.
Social media is buzzing with fans showing off their finds and swapping tips in Facebook and Reddit groups. It’s become a full-blown obsession!
Take Theresa Hoffman, for instance. She’s a 24-year-old assistant math professor from upstate New York who’s gone viral on TikTok for her bird-themed content. She ranks new collections and even shows off custom birds she’s created, like a Father’s Day bird and one inspired by crayons.
Hoffman isn’t alone in her love for these birds—she’s got 75 of them, and she’s even managed to get her coworkers hooked on the hobby. Talk about spreading the love!
Target first introduced these birds back in 2012, and since then, they’ve released new ones for every occasion you can think of. They’ve got bird-themed advent calendars, tiny bird tree ornaments, and more. The community of collectors has grown so large that people like Jackie Kaelble, a marketing communications manager from Minnesota, are creating elaborate ‘birdscapes’ in their homes.
Kaelble has over 150 birds, and her summer birds are currently enjoying a pool party in a Barbie pool, complete with a hot dog cart. She’s even got a tattoo of her favorite bird—a strawberry-themed one from Valentine’s Day 2021.
But it’s not all fun and games in the world of birb collecting. This year’s Halloween birds, which debuted in July, have stirred up a bit of controversy. Normally, these birds have beaks, but this collection has cartoonish mouths instead, leading to what fans are calling “mouthgate.” Some collectors are so upset that they’re performing ‘bird surgery’ to remove the mouths, while others, like DeAnna Allen from Florida, are simply expressing their disappointment.
Still, the excitement around these birds isn’t dying down anytime soon. Target’s executive vice president, Jill Sando, has acknowledged the craze, noting that more selections are on the way, including a reunion collection that’s sure to stir up even more buzz. Whether you’re a die-hard birb collector or just hearing about this for the first time, it’s clear that these little birds have captured the hearts (and wallets) of people across the country.
So, what’s next for the birb-obsessed? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—if you want to get your hands on one, you’d better set that alarm for 3 a.m.!
