cicadas are out

I started seeing large numbers of cicadas almost a week ago while walking to the train. That night, I didn't see any hint of those that had emerged. Later I got the answer: seagulls. Large flocks of seagulls started showing up in the neighborhood in the next 2 days, unusual here, since we're several miles inland. They swooped down on lawns and sidewalks, chowing down on the free critter buffet. At times it looks like a scene out of Hitchcock's "The Birds."

Here's a newly emerged cicada on the sidewalk.


Here are cicada shells left behind on a tree after they've molted.


The cicadas have been singing for the last few days, but they're a bit quieter than I expected, at least on our block. Seems like the gulls have made a bit of dent in the cicada population.