Ice road truckers. Pawn shop owners. Alligator hunters. Hoarding. It seems like there’s a reality show about everything these days.
So why not a reality show starring some of nature’s most social and dramatic creatures: birds.
Enter the Piip-show.
From the Norwegian television network that brought you hit TV shows like the seven-hour train ride and real-time knitting comes a 24/7 show that follows the lives of wild birds.
The show takes place inside a coffee bar, but it’s no ordinary coffee bar. Some of the regulars include “a short tempered nuthatch, a blue tit with the memory of a gold fish, a cheerful and carefree great tit and even a depressed bullfinch.”
In case you’re not clear, the reality show is basically a live birdcam that’s pointed at a set piece (which is currently a bar) that’s regularly stocked with bird food to attract the different “characters.”
While you might think this is a joke or waste of air time, it’s actually par for the course on the NRK network in Norway. The network has played around with the television format by broadcasting things you might not normally consider compelling television.
But if you’ve ever watched the birds at your feeder, you know just how interesting they can be. You’ll notice a lot of different personalities and interactions. For example, Blue Jays can be bullies and American Goldfinches can be extremely sociable.
Believe it or not, this show—which will air for a total of three months and will undergo three set changes—is actually pretty popular. Even Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit enjoys the show. Fans have even been making memes out of the show.
If you’re interested in watching the bird feeder disguised as a coffee shop, you can see some of the highlights here or catch the live show here.
