Earlier in the summer, a machine wielding mannequin head scarecrow made a solitary appearance. But now, with Tokyo grown rice almost ready to harvest, the main crew have moved in. A somewhat disheveled rabble it has to be said, but their realistic features and vacant stares are as striking as they are unsettling.
Martin says
They are unique. Any crow with good taste would surely stay away.
Lee says
They really are. Always enjoy seeing them at this time of year. And during the time I’ve been nearby, I’m happy to say the crows have stayed away.
Denton says
Gotta love how much effort the farmer made with the last one. He has my total respect!
Lee says
Yeah, they really do make an effort. Different every year too. Don’t know whether that’s for their benefit, people passing by, or simply a sign of how smart their enemy is!
cdilla says
A lovely collection. No exactly Wizard of Oz style. I wonder about their effectiveness. The field fed wood pigeons around here don’t even start to shuffle their lard arses into flight mode until you practically step on them, and some of the larger crows clump about with their farmer’s gait occasionally eyeing me as I walk past with a look that says “remember I’m descended from a velociraptor”. Maybe the mannequins are there to make the fields look lived in to other people. There is at least one rural village in Japan that has a population of mannequins to replace the lost real people. Even the closed down school has kids sat at the desks.
Lee says
Cheers! And no, not exactly your traditional scarecrows.
Can’t say I’ve seen a huge number of birds near there during other times of year, but when the scarecrows are out, I haven’t seen any at all. So presumably they must help. How much though is obviously very debatable.
Yeah, seen that place. But definitely no need for that here. Still Tokyo. Very close by there’s a convenience store, two love hotels and a busy road. So real people galore!
john says
Great series …in color!
Pop star lookalikes to chase off jazz loving crows – they might start up with a number off their latest album any moment? Number two looks quite ‘new romantic’.
I would have happily accepted them as a series depicting the embodiment of country kami or spirit weasels until I got to episode number eight.
Lee says
Cheers!
Yes, there is that aspect, isn’t there? Totally agree with number two as well. The slightly flamboyant scarf is a great touch.
Yeah, he’s definitely the odd one out. The manager perhaps?
LAObserver says
Scarecrow #4 appears to have beer can hands. Makes me wonder if the farmer first enjoyed the brew before recycling.
Lee says
There were a few others that utilised beer cans as well, so that could explain a lot!