PORTALES, N.M. (AP) — Residents and businesses say they hadn’t been able to get rid of those pesky, great-tailed grackle birds and their annoying bird droppings.

Then, they started set off a barrage of fireworks to frighten them away.

The Portales News-Tribune reports that businesses and residents joined forces this month to light fireworks around the 1,500 or so birds in trees surrounding the square. Business owners and residents had complained that the large number of birds left behind dirty sidewalks and bad smells from constant bird droppings.

But after five days of fireworks, Portales Public Works Director John DeSha said the birds seem to have moved on.

DeSha said if the birds return next fall, his crews will be ready with a bag full of ammunition.