A farmer put a scarecrow in the field. By the next morning, crows were sitting on its hat.
His daughter suggested a brighter coat. He tried one. The crows moved to its shoulders.
He added a bell and a plastic owl. On Friday the field was full of birds, all gathered around the scarecrow.
“It’s making things worse,” he said.
His daughter watched a crow carry a worm to the scarecrow’s feet.
“They think he’s in charge,” she said.
The farmer removed the hat. The crows flew away.
“Well,” he said, “that’s the first manager I’ve seen who worked better after being demoted.”