Wistinghausen Florist’s scarecrow is having a wild hair day in downtown Oak Harbor. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge created a scarecrow that wasn’t very scary to the birds. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

For the past few weeks, downtown Oak Harbor has become a lot scarier – at least for the birds. The Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the second annual Scarecrow Contest as a fun way to connect local businesses and organizations with the community.

“We started this last year to get the businesses in the community engaged,” said Chamber Executive Secretary Tabitha Davis. “We wanted to bring businesses and the community together for something fun.”

The event drew 26 business and organization entries from across the county, including Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR), which put an ironic but completely fitting twist on their scarecrow. Their scarecrow was designed to attract birds. It was, you could say, a come-crow.

“We have one staff member, our Nature Store clerk Sharon Pesci, who is a really good idea person,” said Friends of ONWR Executive Director Aimee Arent. “She said we should make a scarecrow that attracts birds instead of scares them.”

Refuge volunteer Greg Sanderson built a frame, and staff and volunteers created a scarecrow and added unfilled birdfeeders to ensure the scarecrow wouldn’t really attract birds – and their mess – to downtown. Instead, artificial birds flutter around the display.

“When Valerie (Winterfield, chamber executive director) did this last year, we thought it was so cool, but we didn’t have time to participate. So, it was on our radar this year,” Arent said.

Davis said participation grew this year, with entries coming from across the county.

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge created a scarecrow that wasn’t very scary to the birds. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“Shores & Islands Ohio participated. That’s pretty neat because they are based in Port Clinton,” Davis said. “Wistinghausen Florist has a really cute one, and the police department always does a great job.”

Four youth organizations created scarecrows: the sixth grade football club, Oak Harbor High School art club, Oak Harbor High School royalty and the St. Paul UCC youth group.

“We have four kids’ groups, so that is great,” Davis said.

The contest ended on Oct. 14, but the scarecrows will be on display in downtown Oak Harbor until November.