Cicada Alert Level:

two cicadas

Like a team skilled bird-dogs, our people at the Southwest Observer have their eyes trained to the skies - but not for our clumsy little winged visitors; rather for the unmistakable glide-and-swoop pattern of gulls gorging on unsuspecting cicadas.

And in recent days a steady stream of warm temperatures and cloudless skies has been the result of last week's cold front that swept through the region wreaking havoc across the Midwest.

As a result, the gulls have seemingly dispersed from the skies above the border between Beverly and Morgan Park, giving area residents a false sense of security that the cicada revolution has ended.

It has not. The epicenter has simply moved across Western Avenue to West Beverly, where the gulls and cicadas perform the delicate dance of life and death above the otherwise quiet streets that border Ridge Country Club.

While the decibel level remains moderately high, our team of cicadacasters is confident that the peak is still several days away at the least.

So stand firm, residents of Mount Greenwood, Beverly and Morgan Park. Be patient, remain calm, and - above all - stay safe.

Cicada Watch 2007 continues...