NORWICH – Last fall, crows flocked to Norwich, invading the trees, parks and streets of the city. This year, the city is taking a proactive approach to solve the problem, before the crows return.

On Friday, Lorrie Schumacher, a Master Class Falconer from Madison County, traveled around Norwich with one of her birds in order to keep the crows from roosting in Norwich.

“The crows are here because of the garbage,” Schumacher said. “If there wasn’t garbage here, they wouldn’t be here.”

According to Schumacher, who performs programs for schools, organizations and conservation centers, crows send out scouts in the early fall. Those birds travel and check out different locations for the flock of crows. On Friday, Schumacher and her Gyr Falcon began their trip through Norwich by climbing to the roof of Frontier. The falcon, Mocha Latte, flew around the building and over others to the east of Broad Street, to scare the scouting crows away from the area.

The falconer explained that in order to keep the crows from the area, she would have to come at different times of day and vary her routine, since coming at the same time every week, wouldn’t be effective. “You can’t do the same thing. Crows can count. That’s how they can beat the garbage man to the garbage by an hour each week,” Schumacher said.