Scarecrow

Scarecrows on a rice field in Japan

The scarecrow is a usually human-like figure made of wooden poles and old clothing, which is supposed to keep birds, such as starlings and crows , away from fields or gardens through its silhouette and movements in the wind , in order to protect grown seeds, plants and their fruits.

Colloquially, the term is also used for people who are perceived as messy and ugly ("looks like a scarecrow").

The Klapotetz is a Styrian variant of a scarecrow that is supposed to scare off birds with its rattling.

Variants and effectiveness

Scarecrows probably arose soon after the introduction of horticulture and agriculture. They are still used to this day in Asian rice fields or in the USA, where they are called scarecrows . Popular customs are attached to them around the world. A scarecrow that imitates a person's appearance acts as a dummy .

Since scarecrows have remained unbroken, their usefulness can hardly be doubted. However, their success varies depending on the design and location. A fundamental problem is the habituation of the birds at this deterrent is, is so often recommended to replace the Scarecrow now and then to move or for a different model.

Traditionally, when "operating" scarecrows, wind and sun are the main focus, as their effectiveness is determined not only by their deterring shape, but also by movement, light and bang effects, whereby combinations are often recommended, for example glittering ribbon bands or chains Tin cans. The "classic" scarecrow should therefore have easily movable sleeves or ribbons and reflective parts.

Scarecrow in the vineyard

Manufacturers of bird dummies in the shape of kites want to have systematically found out that this defense measure is the most successful. According to other sources, at least crows are hardly or not at all impressed by dragons.

In any case, there are no limits to the inventive spirit and the technical effort in this matter either.

Scarecrows in art

literature

In Christian Morgenstern's poem “The Scarecrow”, the ravens mock the scarecrow, whose uselessness they have seen through: “The ravens are calling: Krah, krah, krah! You're just a stick, with boots, pants, hat and skirt. "

In his poem “At home in love Germany”, Heinrich Heine castigates the Germans' discouragement to defend themselves against their oppressors: “But no matter how much the cherry lures, the scarecrow frightens even more. We let ourselves be intimidated like sparrows by devil grimaces.

In William Shakespeare's drama “ Henry VI. "Complains General Talbot that during his captivity the French presented him to the markets like a scarecrow to the mockery of the crowd as a child fright:" This, they said, is the French horror, the fear of birds which the children dread. "

In the American fairy tale " The Wizard of Oz " by L. Frank Baum , the wizard of a scarecrow fulfills her heart's desire and gives her the long-awaited brain.

In the satirical novel “The Scarecrow. Fairy tale novella in five elevators ”by Ludwig Tieck , a“ leather scarecrow a. D. “as the figurehead of an association of literary philistines.

Movie

The Spanish short film "The Legend of the Scarecrow" by Marco Besas tells the sad and beautiful story of the friendship between a lonely scarecrow and a blind crow.

The Soviet feature film “ Scarecrow ” tells the story of a girl who is mocked and bullied by her classmates as a “scarecrow”. The script was based on the novel of the same name by Vladimir Zhelesnikov.

painting

Carl Offterdinger, My first fairy tale book, Puss in Boots, 1895.
WW Denslow, The Wizard of Oz, Dorothee and the Scarecrow, 1900.
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Witch and Scarecrow in the Snow, 1932.

literature

"Bettina" (photos); Golowin, Sergius / Weiss, Hans (texts); Steiner, Martin (poems): Magic of the scarecrows. Zurich: AS-Verlag 1997. 124 pages (illustrated book) - ISBN 3-905111-19-5 .