Pranksters, get ready to be validated.

Whether your cup of tea is the just plain nasty — placing your child’s dirty diaper in the ceiling tiles above a co-worker’s desk — or the harmless, but funny — decorating a vacationing neighbor’s house in Christmas lights in July — your time has come.

Beginning this week the staff of The Democrat will begin taking orders for a prank with a purpose.

And this time, no one should get angry with you.

For the second year, our Relay for Life team will be Flocking for a Cure in a yard near you.

For a donation to the cause, you can order a flock of those hot-pink flamingos for the yards of your friends or foes.

Our birds on a stick will visit private residences and businesses, just not public property or apartment complexes.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to the Miss-Lou Relay for Life, which then donates the money to the American Cancer Society to fund cancer research and local programs that assist those battling cancer.

Perhaps no greater reason to embarrass your friends exists.

Birds will overnight for at least one night and not more than two at whatever location you’d like. We can leave a note from the culprit, or you can remain cloaked in secrecy.

And, if you just can’t stand the idea of your azaleas sharing green space with tacky birds, well, you can participate as well.

Anti-flocking insurance is available for $15.

Birds migrate in groups, so we’ll need you to tell us just how big of a flock you’d like.

The size of the group depends on how much money you can donate to the cause.

A $25 donation will buy your unsuspecting friend a flock of 15 birds.

A $40 donation means 25 birds are coming, and a $50 donation will bring 35 birds.

If you’d like to really make a mark — and wear the T-shirt to prove it — donate $100 for a bird order of 75 and a “Flocking for a Cure” T-shirt.

Begin thinking of who you plan to flock today, and remember we’ll happily take the birds anywhere in the Miss-Lou for you.

Our staff will begin accepting orders for the roving birds Thursday. Flocking will continue until May 6. Get your orders in early, as the birds’ social calendar tends to get busy.

We hope to raise $2,500 before Relay night, May 7, and we need help from all you pranksters.

We will also be selling T-shirts for $15 at our North Canal Street office beginning soon.

To place your bird order, call 601-445-3617.

Starting April 1, orders can be placed online at www.natchezdemocrat.com.

The Miss-Lou Relay for Life has gained national honors in recent years. It is easily one of the most fun, best-planned, most anticipated fundraisers of the year.

If our birds don’t find your yard before May 7, please find our booth on Relay night and stop by to say hello.

We will, once again, be producing the newspaper from the Relay site and we’d love to see our faithful readers.

Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.