NORWICH – City officials are warning downtown residents to be prepared for some loud sonic booms and simulated gunshots over the next two weeks as they attempt to prevent the annual crow migration from venturing into the city.

Code Enforcement Officer Jason Lawrence reported that growing numbers of the birds have been gathering on the west side of the city and officials are hoping to drive them away prior to their yearly invasion of downtown. A pyrotechnics technician has been hired by the city to set off fireworks-like explosions and city police officers will be utilizing “screamers” over the next two weeks. Fired from a shotgun, the “screamers” are not live rounds and Lawrence said no crows will be injured in the process.

“This is just harass the crows and scare them away,” he said. “The west side of the city is where they typically begin to enter the city before moving into the center of downtown.”