He made up an outrageous theory that the government committed a bird bloodbath bordering on the level of the Red Wedding in “Game of Thrones” and with it replacing 12 billion birds as drones to spy on the American public. But this pretend conspiracy theory became a way for Generation Z (Gen Z) to push back on careless claims made in the media.

Peter McIndoe unknowingly began a satirical campaign, and he fed into the silliness. The Birds Aren’t Real movement held its biggest rally on Oct. 15, with around 2,000 attendees chanting in Washington Square Park and flocking instead of marching to be alongside McIndoe.

“While the group’s antics are sometimes bizarre and humorous, the underlying goal seems to combat a concerning rise in misinformation and conspiracy theories,” Alex Kent, a photographer at the Birds Aren’t Real rally said in an Instagram direct message

 “It’s interesting to see how this new generation views societal issues and is reshaping the tools of activism used to address them,” Kent continued.

Since starting the movement in 2017, McIndoe has turned himself into a representation of misinformation, spreading seeds of doubt around if birds are real or just government spies.

He never likes to break character, always wearing business attire — but accessorizes the suit and tie with a white cowboy hat and pear-shaped neon sunglasses. When asked about if McIndoe’s persona is part of the satire, he finds the question offensive.

To convert people into bird truthers, he drives a van across the United States that looks like the first time a person opens a Word document and uses multiple fonts. The standard white Chevy van, with its ransom note looking surface, has collaged onto it phrases like “birds charge on power lines.”

The group is known for holding rallies to protest organizations that support the existence of birds, which includes protesting in front of Twitter’s headquarters demanding it change its logo and burning the flag of the St. Louis Cardinals. At the latest rally, the group staged counterprotesters pushing “birds are real” propaganda. This comical messaging has resonated with Gen Z and allowed McIndoe to profit off selling merchandise.

“I think social media created an environment where these satirical conspiracy theories can also thrive,” Natalie Asorey, a lecturer in the department of public relations at the University of Florida, said.

“It’s almost like an outlet for the followers to engage and share their perspectives on what’s happening on the internet while being part of this movement,” Asorey explained.

The organization’s website means to look as legit as possible while still understating that this is all a joke. It includes a fake backstory detailing the history of the group, which according to its website dates all the way back to 1976. McIndoe even hired a fake C.I.A. agent at one point to pose as a whistleblower proving the conspiracy as truth on its YouTube channel. The only qualification that McIndoe had for casting was that the man looked old and wise, perhaps like an owl.

Birds Aren’t Real has expanded into chapters in South Carolina, Illinois, Georgia and Missouri, which the group refers to as the Bird Brigade.

“Sorry, I kind of stopped doing that,” Jack Wedge, one of the elders in the Bird Brigade, said in an emailed statement. Wedge did not reply when asked why he is no longer affiliated with the group.

The Edelman Trust Barometer found that concerns over false information being weaponized is at an all-time high of 76% with the government and media fueling the cycle of distrust. While the Birds Aren’t Real movement aims to make fun of conspiracy theorist groups like QAnon, it also gives a chance for Gen Z to chirp back at the misinformation that it grew up learning. McIndoe himself has stated that his upbringing in Arkansas and being home-schooled led him to rely on the internet to find fact from fiction.

With over a million followers across social media platforms, the Birds Aren’t Real movement continues its avian agenda and serves as a nesting place for those who feel the current social media landscape needs more bird truthers to avert the absurdity.