Muffleheads

Has mufflehead season already started?

Saw this video on FB... yuck!

https://www.facebook.com/randy.u.veazey/posts/1881417691904004

Yes it has, but not too bad yet. Shady areas of Varavn & MF had some coverage but I didn't notice the swarms as of yet. When they are at their peak and mating the swarms look like plumes of smoke they are so thick. Another Lake Erie natural resource.

You mean mayfly season.

Not a local video anyway.

https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/local/northshore/videos-show-nig...-559474313

Mayflies are totally harmless,but messy for the establishment. then there's also the muffleheads,look like a furry mosquito but again totally harmless.

Actually muffleheads where swarming at CoasterMania.

https://www.news5cleveland.com/weather/weather-news/midges-northeast-ohio-bugs

Do the mayflies & muffleheads stick around all summer or is it a short term thing? I’ve only been in May, CoasterMania, or HalloWeekends

The big swarms are generally short term thing.

Muffleheads seem to all but disappear eventually as the season progresses. Seems there are remnants of mayflies all summer long after the swarm in my experience.

Hopefully they'll be gone by the middle of next week. I know they're harmless and a sign of a healthy lake ecosystem, but it kind of debeautifies the park having them clinging to everything, and it sure ain't fun walking through clouds of them in your swimsuit. :/

They weren't bad when I got there Friday but they were awful when I was trying to pack up the campsite Sunday morning. But they are harmless.

What are not harmless, however, are the ridiculous amounts of those red wing blackbirds. They are all nesting now and I was constantly getting attacked while in the campground. I've seen these before and had this issue but never like it is this year. They can be very aggressive and like to sneak-attack from behind.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170626/lincoln-park/red-winged-bl...-institute

The blackbirds are used to protecting against employees. Do not wear red clothing around them and if you have sun glasses put them on backwards, as they attack from behind.

You think you got attacked from those little bastards, think about what ride-ops and maintenance have to deal with. On a side note: If you hear really light gunshots in the early morning, the park hires too have the birds exterminated and they do that in the really early AM.

Cut all the trees down!

I got attacked in the parking lot in front of the Blue Streak a few years back. Squawking and smacking the top of my head.

I got attacked at Put in Bay one morning. Not the best way to cure a hangover that's for sure. The A-hole watching and laughing as this bird attacked was just icing on the cake.

I got attacked twice by them a couple years back. One guy who witnessed it said it looked like a Hitchcock movie. We had a good laugh about that.

XS NightClub said:

On a side note: If you hear really light gunshots in the early morning, the park hires too have the birds exterminated and they do that in the really early AM.

That's awful! D: There's gotta be another way to get rid of them without slaughtering them.

Maybe politely ask them to stop?

I understand they tried shaking their finger at them but without much success.

Offer them some fries? The gulls love them.