Scarecrow Explained

A scarecrow is a decoy or mannequin that is often in the shape of a human. Humanoid scarecrows are usually dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops.[1] Scarecrows are used around the world by farmers, and are a notable symbol of farms and the countryside in popular culture.

Design

The common form of a scarecrow is a humanoid figure dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds such as crows or sparrows from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops. Machinery such as windmills have been employed as scarecrows, but the effectiveness lessens as animals become familiar with the structures.

Since the invention of the humanoid scarecrow, more effective methods have been developed. On California farmland, highly-reflective aluminized PET film ribbons are tied to the plants to produce shimmers from the sun. Another approach is using automatic noise guns powered by propane gas. One winery in New York has even used inflatable tube men or airdancers to scare away birds.[2]

Cultural impact

NameLocale
Hodmedod.[8] Berkshire
Murmet.[9] Devon
Hay-man.[10] England
Gallybagger.[11] Isle of Wight
Tattie Bogal.[12] [13] [14] Isle of Skye
Tattie bogle.[15] >Bodach-rocais (lit. "old man of the rooks").Scotland
Mommet.Somerset
Mawkin.Sussex
Bwbach.[16] Wales

Festivals

See also

Further reading

Scarecrow Fact and Fable, Peter Haining, 1986

External links


Notes and References

  1. Lesley Brown (ed.). (2007). "Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles". 6th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. .
  2. News: New Scarecrows for Vineyards: Car Dealers' Inflatable 'Dancing' Tube Men. Kamp. Jon. 29 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131129073509/http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304337404579210132891841764. 2013-11-29. Wall Street Journal.
  3. Web site: Joe's Scarecrow Village . atlasobscura.com . Atlas Obscura . 30 November 2023 . 24 August 2010 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070040/https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/joe-s-scarecrow-village . live .
  4. News: Levius . Travis . Valley of the dolls: Inside Japan's 'Scarecrow Village' . 30 November 2023 . CNN . 23 July 2019 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070040/https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/nagoro-japan-scarecrow-village/index.html . live .
  5. Web site: Starkey . Ryan . Map of British English dialects . starkeycomics.com . Starkey Comics . 30 November 2023 . 7 November 2023 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121034804/https://starkeycomics.com/2023/11/07/map-of-british-english-dialects/ . live .
  6. Web site: Kinsley . Austin . Bisterne Scarecrow Festival . silentearth.org . Silent Earth . 30 November 2023 . 29 August 2015 . 6 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231206001517/https://www.silentearth.org/bisterne-scarecrow-festival/#:~:text=In%20Britain%2C%20scarecrows%20have%20been,'%2C%20and%20'bwbach'. . live .
  7. Web site: Scarecrow words . relatedwords.io . Related words . 30 November 2023 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070040/https://relatedwords.io/scarecrow . live .
  8. News: Scottish word of the week: Tattie-bogle . 1 December 2023 . The Scotsman . 14 May 2014 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070041/https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/scottish-word-of-the-week-tattie-bogle-1537006 . live .
  9. Web site: Devon: local history . bbc.co.uk . British Broadcasting Company (BBC) . 1 December 2023 . 13 May 2009 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070040/https://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2009/04/01/scarecrow_feature.shtml . live .
  10. Web site: Rotenberk . Lori . Hay, Man: The Curious Life and Times of Scarecrows . modernfarmer.com . Modern Farmer . 1 December 2023 . 28 May 2014 . 1 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101032125/https://modernfarmer.com/2014/05/scarecrow-history-effigy/ . live .
  11. Web site: Phillips . Nigel . Gatcombe and Chillerton Scarecrow Festival 2024 . gallybagger.org.uk . Gallybagger . 1 December 2023 . 2023 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070042/https://www.gallybagger.org.uk/ . live .
  12. Web site: Tattie Bogal . alzscot.org . Alzheimer Scotland . 1 December 2023 . 2023 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070040/https://www.alzscot.org/news/tattie-bogal . live .
  13. Web site: Hellon . Lesley . Tattie Bogal . spanglefish.com . Spanglefish . 1 December 2023 . 2014 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070040/http://www.spanglefish.com/tattiebogal/ . live .
  14. Web site: Tattie Bogal Festival . skyeguides.co.uk . Skye Guides . 1 December 2023 . 12 July 2011 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070040/https://skyeguides.co.uk/tattie-bogal-festival-2/ . live .
  15. Warrack, Alexander (1982). "Chambers Scots Dictionary". Chambers. .
  16. Web site: Bwbach . oxfordreference.com . Oxford Reference . 1 December 2023 . 2023 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070040/https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095539451 . live .
  17. Web site: Urchfont Parish Council – Scarecrow Festival. Urchfont Parish. Council. 2013-04-15. 2013-03-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20130330080049/http://www.urchfont-pc.gov.uk/News_and_Events/Scarecrow_Festival.aspx. live.
  18. Web site: Urchfont 25th Scarecrow Festival . urchfontscarecrows.co.uk . Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity . 30 November 2023 . 2023 . 24 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240524091535/https://www.urchfontscarecrows.co.uk/history . live .
  19. Web site: The UK's Traditional Scarecrow Festival at Its Best . tv-english.club . TV English Club . 30 November 2023 . 1 July 2023 . 5 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205152326/https://tv-english.club/articles-en/discover-great-britain-en/the-ukvs-traditional-scarecrow-festival-at-its-best/ . live .
  20. Jo. Travis. CUTTING-EDGE OF HISTORY; DOWN YOUR WAY Jo Travis reports on a rural idyll that was once a world capital of industry. Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd. 2008. 2014-10-02. 2014-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006082142/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/CUTTING-EDGE+OF+HISTORY%3B+DOWN+YOUR+WAY+Jo+Travis+reports+on+a+rural...-a0176929739. live.
  21. Web site: Scarecrow Committee (a subcommittee of Belbroughton Parochial Church Council) . Belbroughton Scarecrow Festival . 2014-10-02 . 2018-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180810091403/http://belbroughtonscarecrow.co.uk/ . live .
  22. Web site: Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival draws in crowds . Bbc.co.uk . 2011-08-14 . 2012-07-12 . 2011-08-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110814171701/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-14521444 . live .
  23. News: Banks . Georgia . County Durham village invaded by scarecrows . 30 November 2023 . The Northern Echo . 23 July 2021 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070041/https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19465587.county-durham-village-invaded-scarecrows/ . live .
  24. Web site: Staindrop: best time to visit . travopo.com . Staindrop . 30 November 2023 . 2023 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126071542/https://travopo.com/travel-guides/england/staindrop/ . live .
  25. News: Carter . Nicky . Characters from kids' books brought to life . 30 November 2023 . Teesdale Mercury . 14 August 2022 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070041/https://www.teesdalemercury.co.uk/news/characters-from-kids-books-brought-to-life . live .
  26. Web site: Tattie Bogal – Home. 2013-10-18. 2013-10-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20131019173327/http://www.tattiebogal.co.uk/. live.
  27. Web site: Scarecrow Trail . 2008-12-09 . 2009-01-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090110000956/http://www.tmbc.gov.uk/cgi-bin/buildpage.pl?mysql=2922 . live .
  28. News: No shock that Mullion Scarecrow Festival was 'best ever' . 30 November 2023 . The Packet . 29 August 2014 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070041/https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/11435886.no-shock-that-mullion-scarecrow-festival-was-best-ever/ . live .
  29. Web site: Scarecrow Festival . 2008-10-22 . 2023-10-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231008143941/https://www.scarecrowfest.com/ . live .
  30. Web site: Andrew . Unknown . A History Of Scarecrows . sunandseedlings.com/ . Sun and Seedlings . 30 November 2023 . 8 February 2022 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070041/https://sunandseedlings.com/history-of-scarecrows/ . live .
  31. Web site: Celebrating 45 years of Scarecrows in the Village . peddlersvillage.com . Peddler's Village . 30 November 2023 . 2023 . 30 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030173349/https://peddlersvillage.com/event/scarecrows-in-the-village/ . live .
  32. Web site: Village hands over £13,500 – Local . Melton Times . 2010-02-09 . 2012-07-12 . 2010-02-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100217012148/http://www.meltontimes.co.uk/news/Village-hands-over-13500.6061185.jp . live .
  33. News: Vance . Stephen . No Scarecrow Invasion For 2023 . 30 November 2023 . Meaford Independent . 30 January 2023 . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129111329/https://themeafordindependent.ca/no-scarecrow-invasion-for-2023/ . live .
  34. Web site: Schedule of events 2023 . scarecrowinvasion.com . Meaford Scarecrow Invasion . 30 November 2023 . 2023 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126071543/https://scarecrowinvasion.com/schedule-of-events-2023/ . dead .
  35. News: Abad-Bergonia . Virginia . Bambanti Festival 2018 . 30 November 2023 . Manila Times . Province of Isabela . 8 February 2018 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126070041/https://provinceofisabela.ph/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/content-component/article-categories/334-reawakening-the-beauty-of-arts-and-culture . live .
  36. Web site: Guinness World Records. 7 August 2014. 29 November 2016. 30 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161130050816/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-display-of-scarecrows. live.