LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A Central Lubbock business owner says thousands of birds are creating a messy problem right at her front door.<\/p>\n
Hairdresser Holli Baker owns The Socialite Salon on Glenna Goodacre off University. She says grackles have been leaving droppings on the sidewalks outside her business, creating health concerns and embarrassing situations for clients.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast winter, it was horrible. Nothing was ever done. Bird poop all on the ground,\u201d Baker said. \u201cOur clients constantly would talk about it, kind of complain, honestly. And it was kind of embarrassing, too, for all of us, because we can\u2019t really do much about the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Baker has been posting about the issue on social media for several days. She says the problem occurs regularly from October to April each year.<\/p>\n
Baker is not the only one dealing with the droppings. Texas Tech students walking near the area also expressed frustration with the situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith all the birds around, that wouldn\u2019t be great to get pooped on while walking or something like that,\u201d said Junior Cole Cross.<\/p>\n
Another student, Christian Winiewicz, said \u201cIt sucks. Nobody likes it. It just sucks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Student Daniela Amuebie described the smell as particularly problematic. \u201cI hate it. It stinks. It smells really bad,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Baker says city crews have been trying to help alleviate the problem, but cannot clean the sidewalks fast enough, with areas clean one day and covered the next.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know more about birds now than I ever thought I would know about birds. But from what I\u2019ve read, they like going back to the same place to roost,\u201d Baker said.<\/p>\n
Baker\u2019s main concern involves potential health risks from the bird droppings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, I decided I\u2019ve got to do something about it because it\u2019s gross. It\u2019s not good for our health. And after I made one TikTok about it, I realized how unhealthy it is and how many diseases you can get from these birds,\u201d Baker said.<\/p>\n