The History and Significance of Scarecrows in Agriculture
Scarecrows have been a vital part of farming since ancient times, serving as a creative and effective method to protect crops from animals and birds. Originating from Ancient Egypt and continuing through various cultures, scarecrows have evolved from simple structures to human-like figures made from sticks and straw, with some even adorned in whimsical attire. Learn about the different uses of scarecrows throughout history and their role in safeguarding agricultural harvests.
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Presentation Transcript
Scarecrows Since farming began, farmers have had to come up with inventive and effective ways to protect their crops from animals and birds.
Scarecrows The scarecrow was an invention of farmers to protect their crops. Scarecrows were scary, human-looking figures. Farmers used them to scare birds and small animals away from their fields. They are called scarecrows because they were traditionally made to scare away crows.
Scarecrows Scarecrows are usually made from sticks and straw or some other kind of stuffing. They are dressed in old clothing or rags. They are usually about the size of a large man and are placed on top of a tall pole. Scarecrows can be very creepy and frightening.
Scarecrows However, sometimes they can be fun, and decorated in a cute, silly, country style. Scarecrows may come in different shapes and styles, but they have been around for a long time and have been used in many different countries.
Ancient scarecrows The first recorded use of scarecrows was in Ancient Egypt. They were used to protect wheat crops along the River Nile. They were made as wooden structures. The farmers of Ancient Egypt also covered their crops with nets and often slept near them to scare away birds such as quail.
Ancient scarecrows Around 2500 BC in Ancient Greece, wooden scarecrows were used to scare birds away from vineyards. The scarecrows were carved to look like Priapus, who was the Greek god of fruit.
Traditional scarecrows Traditionally in the UK, children had the job of protecting crops and scaring away birds and animals. They were called live scarers . Later on, farmers began using scarecrows. They stuffed clothes with hay and sticks to form a human-looking figure and put it up in their field to trick the birds!
Live scarers Live scarers were also used by some American tribes. In Carolina, men sat on platforms and shouted at birds or animals that came near the crops. Some tribes discovered that soaking corn seeds in a poisonous mixture deterred the birds.
Live scarers Other tribes used cedar poles strung with cords and animal skins to keep the birds away. Children held contests to see who could make the scariest scarecrow.
Kakashi In Japan, scarecrows were called kakashi. They were often made to look terrifying. Scarecrows are still used in Japan to protect crops in paddy fields, where rice is grown. These scarecrows often have a creepy doll s head!
German scarecrows In Germany, scarecrows were made to look like witches. They were very effective at scaring away birds. They were called bootzamon, which later became the English word bogeyman . The bogeyman became an object of fear for American children throughout the 20th century.
The Wizard of Oz One of the most famous scarecrows in our culture is from the film The Wizard of Oz. The movie was based on a famous novel by L. Frank Baum, about a girl who ends up lost in the magical land of Oz. She befriends the lovable Scarecrow, who accompanies her to Oz in the hope of getting a brain from the Wizard of Oz!
Augmented scarecrows Scarecrows can be augmented by adding additional clever features. This one has empty cans dangling on string from its arms. When the wind blows, the cans clang together and make a terrible racket that scares away the birds.
Modern scarecrows Nowadays, many farmers use a mechanical or robotic device. This could be a cannon that makes a loud noise or a robotic bird that mimics the call of a predator, such as a falcon. Some devices have a sensor and let out high- pitched sounds. These agitate the animals.
Modern scarecrows In 2006, four college students in the USA invented and built a modern type of scarecrow. It was part-robotic and had a canon and sensors. If something got close to it, it shot water at it. The water scared, but not hurt any animals. The invention came second in a competition held by Microsoft.
Pesticides Scarecrows were very popular in the USA in the past. However, in the mid 20th century, farmers realised that they could protect their crops by spraying them with pesticides. Later, it was discovered that pesticides are bad for our health.
Scarecrows today Nowadays, traditional scarecrows are popular as Halloween decorations in towns and cities. In rural areas, they are often still used to protect crops from pesky birds!
Illustrations Shutterstock Beehive
