Target stores are struggling to keep their $5 plastic-foam and polyester birds on the shelves as fans spark huge hunts for the limited-edition item. Known to fans as “birbs,” the birds have take on a cult status similar to that of the Beanie Baby craze of the 1990s, with collectors scrambling to buy them as soon as they go on sale. They then take to social media to show off their findings. Target began selling the birds in 2012 and now releases new birds for different occasions. It also sells tiny bird tree ornaments, bird-themed advent calendars, and accessories. The sport of finding the birds has become so popular that groups actually go “bird watching” to see if they can find the tiny decorations. This year’s Halloween birds, which debuted in July, have left some collectors disappointed. The birds normally wear clothes, but still have beaks. This year’s collection all have cartoon-looking mouths, leading to what one fan has dubbed “mouthgate.” Some fans have resorted to “bird surgery” to remove the mouths, which just goes to show how into their birds people really are.
