Midwest City officials are making preparations now, including forking out almost $23,000, for an inevitable fight they have ahead of them this spring.

From March to May, the city expects 25,000 to 30,000 Egret birds to invade Midwest City, wreaking havoc on neighborhoods and forcing city workers to clean up the mess.

Last year, some 3,000 to 4,000 of the lanky birds hatched in Midwest City, and because Egrets like to return to where they were born, the city says they must take a proactive stance with the birds.

But this comes at a cost.

On Tuesday, Jan. 22, the city’s Neighborhood Services Department will ask the City Council to approve a budget amendment to supplement the department’s overtime up to $21,000 for the time period of March 18 to May 18 and an additional $1,625 for supplies to use to rid the area of the birds.

Animal Welfare Manager Charles Abney said the additional overtime is necessary to pay city workers to work seven days a week, up to 18 hours per day, to prevent the estimated 25,000 to 30,000 birds that may invade the community this spring.

"Since the birds are federally protected, we have a limited amount of time to scare the birds out of the area prior to them roosting in trees and wooded areas around the community," Abney said. "Once they have roosted or built their rookery, we cannot disturb them."

A rookery is defined as a breeding place or colony of birds or animals.

Abney explained why the birds are so undesirable. He said that so many of the Egrets flock together in trees and wooded areas, creating a very loud noise for the people living near them, as the birds fly in and out of their rookery.

The birds also leave behind lots of filth, which has a bad odor, making being outside near them impossible.

"This has become a quality of life issue for our residents who live near or on the same property as the rookeries," City Manager, J. Guy Henson said. "We are striving to do all we can prior to the birds roosting in our neighborhoods so that our residents do not have to endure the inconvenience of having them close."

This year, the city’s plan to scare the Egrets from roosting in Midwest City by using bird cannons and guns that shoot blanks. All of the city’s efforts will have to be carefully orchestrated because once the birds start laying their eggs, they are protected under the Migratory Bird Act.

City officials would like to ask that any residents who notice the birds in their area to call the Animal Welfare Department at 427-6640.

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