Fun Fact Friday: History of Scarecrows and our Jane

First recorded scarecrow was by the Egyptians to protect their wheat fields from flocks of quail.

During medieval times, the scare tactic did not involve an inanimate object, but rather children ran the fields making loud noises to scare off the birds. After the plague, which killed half the population in 1348, scarecrows were made out of stuffed sacks and gourds carved into faces due to lack of people in the fields.

In ancient Greece, scarecrows were fashioned to look like the Greek god, Priapus. In the myth Priapus lived near vineyards and was quite unattractive. Whenever he played in the vineyards it scared the birds, and they flew away.

The effect of stationary scarecrows are almost temporary. Eventually birds get used to the scarecrow and resume their habits. However, moving your scarecrow to different places every couple of days will remedy this.

An effective scarecrow should wear previously worn or old clothes with the lingering scent of a human.

Japanese farmers would hang old rags, rancid meat, and fish bones on their creations. Not only birds, but also all creatures would stay away from the fields.

Scarecrows should not be the only means of keeping birds from your crop fields; however, they can be a temporary measure and are very festive for the fall!