Why has Facebook been invaded by flocks of purple pigeons?

We'll admit it. When this purple pigeon came flocking to our Facebook Page we began to get a little paranoid. Alright, I'll say it: a lot paranoid.

Why were our readers bombarding us with epileptic birds? We started a debate in our Facebook Group about what it might all mean. 

Was it sabotage committed by our competitors? Some strange new type of virus? And, above all, why did we find ourselves so mesmerised by the bird's frenzied headbanging? 

Finally – after suffering through a tense few days – we have some answers.

It turns out that the weird-looking creatures have a name: Trash Doves. They're the creation of Syd Weiler, a Florida designer who still can't quite believe how her freaky fowls have taken over the internet.

Trash Doves hit Facebook on 31 January.

YOU GUYS

TRASH DOVES ARE NOW ON FACEBOOK! THEY'RE FREE!!!

GO SPAM YOUR FRIENDS AND ENEMIEShttps://t.co/RcIVWvdMFg pic.twitter.com/28qgJqOczF

— syd weiler ? (@SydWeiler) January 31, 2017

The craze kicked off in Thailand, where this video of a Trash Dove having a headbanging contest with a cat became a sensation across the country.

From there, it spread worldwide. Other digital media sources began to notice the same phenomenon we did: Trash Doves were mysteriously inundating their comment threads. One man commented 92 times in a row with the same gif of the purple pigeon under a New York Times article.

Trash Doves has become so popular, so quickly, that their creator felt she should say thank you to everyone.

But especially to Thailand...

And she also made a Trash Doves Facebook Page so that people can share their passion for the purple pigeons with other fans from all over the world.

And of course, memes and fan art inspired by the Trash Doves are springing up all over the internet.

Basta chicos pic.twitter.com/VyzEGPNEfT

— Homero J. Simpson (@HomeroLodijo) February 13, 2017

✨ ｔｒａｓｈ ｄｏｖｅｓ ✨ pic.twitter.com/DnN5kP9iUx

— bea (@ssubconcious) February 11, 2017

All of Thailand currently. @SydWeiler #trashdoves pic.twitter.com/N5m8NT6BlN

— Shauna Lynn (@shaunaparmesan) February 11, 2017

I'm very proud of this iOS sticker composition. @SydWeiler #trashdoves pic.twitter.com/7xgMgvxfdt

— Second-Hand Lexus (@Retronautilus) October 19, 2016

Spotted this morning. Better ride the tube more often. #trashdoves #everywhere #subway #amazing

Una publicación compartida de Alex Dohotaru (@alexweno) el 13 de Feb de 2017 a la(s) 10:30 PST

Well, @SydWeiler's amazing #TrashDoves hit supermeme status in Thailand yesterday, so I had to make some felt pins to celebrate. ? pic.twitter.com/ZtEB5D44UX

— Becky Margraf (@beckymargraf) February 10, 2017

How long do you think it will be before the first Trash Dove devotees start getting them as tattoos?