Scarecrow Fashions

One coyote prevention tactic is scarecrows.  Ideally the scarecrow should be dressed in unlaundered clothes that smell of humans.  This is not always possible since we are not all the same size and our clothes won't necessarily fit the scarecrow.  As well this requires a lot of costume changes.

Other coyote interventions include:

• Putting bells on the sheep since coyotes do not like this seemingly unpredictable noise.  I have put bells on a few sheep choosing the ones that are often last in the flock and some vulnerable lambs such as the orphans.  

• Shiny things disturb coyotes so I have hung aluminum foil pie plates of various sizes and non-functional CDs and DVDs, some of which have been donated by friends.  I have hung them around the edges of fields and on fences.

• The radio is on all day in the barn tuned to a talk station to suggest the presence of humans in the barn all day.

• Outdoor lights are left on at night.  Coyotes hunt primarily at night - although all of our attacks have been in daylight at varying hours.

But this post is about scarecrows.  Although a coyote intervention / prevention, it has become an amusing and fun farm feature.  So, this year the focus has been on scarecrow fashions.

Hubby purchased some human like targets that are providing the basis of this fun.  It's like dressing a grown up doll. Unlike when I had Barbie dolls as a child, I do not have a box of ready made clothes for my dolls.  I'm making it up as I go along.

Hubby also had some out of fashion, de-commissioned, uniform jackets and they fit very well!  Recently, while sister was visiting and cousin came for lunch, we set out to walk the property with the task of checking on the scarecrows.  So, let the fun begin!


Rebel Rosie

The name was inspired by the head-wear.  The balaclava provides distinctive human like features that might perturb a coyote.  Here, Cousin is fixing Rosie's arm-holder-upper, a branch, which again provides a more human look.  The skirt is an excellent feature as it blows in the wind.  This was the first "new" scarecrow made from the newly purchased targets.  The target is affixed upon a stand.

Betsy

 This scarecrow was featured last year but has an update for this year.  Once again she sits on the chair in the middle of the Middle Field.  We moved the chair from one knoll to another giving Betsy a good view of the entire field - for all coyotes to see.

Legless, the chair allows Betsy to function fully as an active scarecrow.  Note the newly discontinued uniform jacket, adorned with coloured bits of scrap fabric to brighten Betsy's day.  On her head is a sparkly scrap of fabric with shiny bits of which a coyote might be wary.  The midriff feature is not a belt but twine affixing Betsy to the chair.  There's one around her neck too.

Princess Cone Head

New this year is Princess Cone Head.  Last year she just remained headless but this year I have employed an orange cone for a head.  You can see in this first photo the effect of Princess Cone Head as she and her admirers look out over the field of sheep.  Princess Cone Head is even keeping an eye on Henrietta the llama.

The observation point is a good one as Princess Cone Head can see across the road and onto the neighbour's hay field where a coyote might be lurking.  Up in the bush there is rock where coyotes are known to live.

 

Princess Cone Head is a bit tipsy in this photo.  We managed to remedy that as Cousin discovered the support pole had fallen down into the base.  Now, hopefully, Princess Cone Head will no longer do any nose dives when the wind comes up.

Note a further use of the decommissioned jacket.  This blends reasonably well with the purple fabric employed as a skirt - of sorts.  The cone head is pressed down onto the neck base of the manikin form and is adorned with several lengths of scrap fabric.  These lengths were selected because they contain shiny bits and they are long.  They are wound around a few times, with some holding on to the cone head and others through the epaulets to stabilise the entire creation.

There is a strong regal image portrayed here with lots of waving in the wind of long lengths of material.  This scarecrow is most visible to passers by and neighbours who likely question the presence of this creature amongst the other livestock.

All in all the purpose of scarecrows is to perturb coyotes, however it's been lots of fun too!