Farmer Len put a new scarecrow in the field just before planting. On Monday, two crows sat on its hat. On Tuesday, three more perched on its shoulders. By Wednesday, they were pulling straw out to build nests.
His wife told him to take it down. “It isn’t frightening a single bird.”
“Give it a week,” Len said.
A week later the crows were still there, but Len had spent most afternoons on the porch drinking tea. A neighbor stopped and asked why he kept a scarecrow that obviously wasn’t doing its job.
Len pointed toward the road. “Every driver who passes thinks that’s me working in the field. The crows are the only ones I can’t fool.”