If you've driven down Water Street you'll know of a certain dirt/rock hill right off of the corner of Knapp and Water, and across from Cherry, that seagulls are flocking to. I drive past it almost every day. Besides the wonderful smell of rotting fish -- if the wind is blowing in the right direction -- there have been more and more seagull smush pies littering Water Street.
Last summer, the seagulls were living at another hill right off of the 6th Street bridge. I see that area as a much better place for these birds for several reasons; although I'm not positive that anyone could do anything about where the birds decide to roost without getting rid of the current hill.
The 6th Street location doesn't have the bars or patron-frequented places like Water, which becomes a hotspot at night. I don't think bar-goers find the seagulls to be wonderful nightly companions either. Swig had recently unveiled outdoor seating, but I haven't seen the tables set up outside. I'm not sure if the birds are to blame or not, but personally, I'd rather eat inside to avoid them and their smell.
The seagulls also have mating season coming. Last year, one of those plastic orange fences had to be erected on 6th Street to keep the newborn baby seagulls (grey tufts of fluff that waddle to-and-fro) from running into traffic. If there are already seagull carcasses strewn on Water, what's going to happen when the babies come? The street already reminds me of that "Seinfeld" episode where the pigeons refused to fly out of George's way and he ended up driving over a bunch.
I'm not trying to start the "I Hate Seagulls Club" or a movement to eradicate the species. I just think there's a better place out of the way for the betterment of the area and for safety -- both for the birds and drivers. Plus I personally don't like the boosted odds of getting seagulls guts on my car ... that's just gross.
Seagull patrol update:
As of 11:30 on Friday, July 7, city workers were on the seagull scene, apparently constructing a wooden fence around the perimeter of the Water Street dirt mound.
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
