The birds live in another galaxy that developed a little diffrently from earth.
They live on a planet called Jerx, and they live in a country called Cucaminus.
The birds' planet is a lot like earth. The tecnology on Jerx devloped more quickly , though in thier
story it's only 1995-2002 they already have space travel,(wormholes) not too fast but fast enough.
Cucaminus has 78 states and 5 territories. In their gov't(DemacraticRepublic) representation is based on the max
population of all the states. The birds world Jerx has 3 moons. One they left alone, another
is a colony, the third they dump various wastes on. They have two very small suns,
the Jerx is the 2nd planet from their suns, they only have 3 in their solar system.
The birds live on Aswais a small town outside a genetic engeneering lab,
Aswais has 3 schools  1 Mc Donalds 3 Chinese restrants 3 Mexican restrants (food simular to)
they have 1 libary a camp,and 5 stores. The birds state is Pearson it is about the size of
California. The birds live in a desert/agricultural area. In the story all summer is dreadfully
hot and the winter is very cold. They have energy problems, more efficent solar travel is 
coming. Aswais'  nearest lage city is Bery which manufactures silicon. After the house fire
the birds live in the 'ghetto' section of the town. Car thieft, gang fights, drugs are the situations there.
When the kids go to school, imagine this , graffi everywhere, gunshots (heard)
sirens, and Hope's screeching. The cultures there are very diverse. Most of the poplation in the
are are either, White(European),African, Mexican, Asian, Native peoples,
(simular cultures)this is all over the town. Pearson's capitol is Nep.