Name/TitleBird Scarer

About this objectAn ash bird scarer (not a rattle) used from c.1890 up to the point of donation - firstly by the donor's father-in-law, then by the donor himself, at Wickham Skeith. This object was made by the donor's father, Mr John Mullinger, a market gardener (the business was carried on by the donor). It consists of a tapering stock with a slot along which a thread of (black) cotton passes, to emerge through an aperture at the end. The cotton reel revolves on a twig transversely through the stock, above the handle. The free end of the cotton, tied to a matchstick, was hooked onto a branch of a fruit tree or a bush and tied. The cotton was then unravelled all over the bush. The handle has been badly worn and broken short.

Chiara Brancato, Research Volunteer:
Ever since the advent of agriculture farmers have had issues with birds and other crop predators damaging the harvest. Throughout the ages, numerous methods have been invented to keep crop predation by birds and wild animals away. Bird scarers are one of these and are considered essential to protect crops. Designed to scare birds, these devices are used by farmers in the spring time to dissuade birds from eating fruit, field, seedling vegetables or emerging crop seeds.

A wide variety of bird scarers and other deterrents exist nowadays just like in the past. Clappers, for instance, were particularly common in the 19th century, consisting of two or three pieces of flat wood tied together with a string . Similar to the clapper type bird scarer were castanets used in medieval times not only for scaring animals but also as instruments of music . Another common device, also used in the British countryside throughout the 19th century, was the bird scarer of the rattle type consisting of a thin wooden strip which vibrated against a toothed cog and produced a noise when the tool was rotated . Among others is a very peculiar type of bird scarer called “klopotec”, a wooden mechanical device on a high wooden pole, similar to a windmill, used in the vineyards of the wine-growing landscapes of Slovenia, Austria, and Croatia from July to November. It is believed that this technology was developed around the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century.

In this array of methods and objects of fear, the scarecrow is still considered the most popular bird scarer of all times with a history of approximately 3,000 years , and the object of numerous film backgrounds and popular television programmes.

MakerHand-Made

Maker RoleMaker

Date Made1890

Medium and MaterialsAsh

MeasurementsTotal length: 3 feet and 1 1/2 inches
Handle (broken): 3 3/4 inches
Slot: 1 foot 10 inches

Object numberSTMEA:A.7499

Copyright LicenceAttribution - Non-commercial (cc)