Klopotec from Slovenske Gorice has four wings

A klopotec is a wooden mechanical device on a high wooden pole, similar to a windmill. It is used as a scarecrow and is an indispensable part of the idyllic wine-growing landscapes of Slovenia, Austria and Croatia. It is one of the symbols of Slovenia. Image File history File links I am assuming this picture is in the public domain because I found it through google images on several different sites. ... Image File history File links I am assuming this picture is in the public domain because I found it through google images on several different sites. ... A tree trunk as found at the Veluwe, The Netherlands Wood is an organic material found as the primary content of the stems of woody plants, especially trees, but also shrubs. ... Pitstone Windmill, believed to be the oldest windmill in the British Isles A windmill is an engine powered by the energy of wind to mill grain, often contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills. ... Scarecrows in a rice paddy in Japan A scarecrow is a device (traditionally a mannequin) that is used to discourage birds like crows from disturbing crops. ... A glass of red wine Wine display at the Mt Markey Winery This article is about the beverage. ...

The device has many names. In Slovenian it is called klopotec and in some dialetcs klapoc. Both words derive from klopotati, that is to produce cut off, rhythmic sounds. In English it could be called a bird-scaring rattle or a wind-rattle. In German it is called Windradl or Windmühle, ever increasing is the use of the word Klapotetz and also Klapotez. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

The rattle has an axis with a sail that turns in the wind, therefore the axis rotates. Special little wooden hammers turn with the axis. As they knock on a wooden board, they produce rhythmic sounds. While the quality of the sound is dependent on the wood that the rattle is made of, the speed of production of these sounds is dependent on the number of hammers, but changes due to the wind that turns the sail. The device is constructed in such a way that it is always positioned perpendicular to the wind with its long axis. A sail is a surface intended to generate thrust by being placed in a wind; basically it is a vertically oriented wing. ... Wind is the quasi-horizontal movement of air (as opposed to an air current) caused by a horizontal pressure gradient force. ... A claw hammer A hammer is a tool meant to deliver blows to a target, causing it to move or deform. ...

The device is used primarily to scare starlings and other birds off the vineyards so that they do not peck grapes, but also as a folk instrument. A folk belief also states that the klopotec drives snakes from the vineyard and softens the grapes. Genera Aplonis Poeoptera Grafisia Onychognathus Lamprotornis Cinnyricinclus Speculipastor Neochicla Spreo Cosmoparus Sarroglossa Creatophora Fregilupus (extinct) Necropsar (extinct) Sturnus Leucopsar Basilornis Streptocitta Sarcops Scissirostrum See also Myna, Oxpecker Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. ... A vineyard Vineyard with bird netting Wine grapes with netting as protection against birds A vineyard (vignoble in French, vigna or vigneto in Italian, vinha in Portuguese, viña or viñedo in Spanish, Weinberg in German) is a place where grapes are grown for making wine, raisins, or table... Species Vitis acerifolia Vitis aestivalis Vitis amurensis Vitis arizonica Vitis x bourquina Vitis californica Vitis x champinii Vitis cinerea Vitis x doaniana Vitis girdiana Vitis labrusca Vitis x labruscana Vitis monticola Vitis mustangensis Vitis x novae-angliae Vitis palmata Vitis riparia Vitis rotundifolia Vitis rupestris Vitis shuttleworthii Vitis tiliifolia Vitis... A folk instrument is an instrument that developed among common people and usually doesnt have a known inventor. ... A superstition is an incorrect belief about the relation between certain actions (often behaviors) and other actions. ... Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Typhlopoidea Anomalepididae Leptotyphlopidae Typhlopidae Xenophidia Acrochordidae Atractaspididae Colubridae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Viperidae Snakes are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. ...

History

Although a local historian from Maribor claims that the device appeared in Haloze and in Zagorje already in the 16th century, nothing particular is known about its origin. An educated guess has been made that it developed during the period of the Enlightenment. According to the most plausible theory held by the majority of ethnologists, including the German ethnologist Leopold Kretzenbacher, bird-scaring rattle is of Slovenian origin. Another theory claims that it was first used in the 18th century in the fields by the French. The first written mention of the device can be found in the Kretzenbacher's book Windradl und Klapotetz, published in 1797. The oldest representations are dated in the first half of the 19th century. The Austrian Archduke John (1782-1859), the youngest brother of the Habsburg Emperor Francis I of Austria had it in his vineyard in 1836. Area: 147. ... Categories: Geography stubs | Counties of Croatia ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... The Age of Enlightenment refers to the 18th century in European philosophy, and is often thought of as part of a larger period which includes the Age of Reason. ... Ethnologyis a genre of cultural anthropology and| anthropological study, involving the systematic comparison of the beliefs and practices of different societies. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... 1797 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Archduke Johann (or John) of Austria (born January 20, 1782 in Florenz; died May 11, 1859 in Graz) war the 13th child of Grand Duke Leopold of Tuscany, who later became Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. ... 1782 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1859 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Habsburg (sometimes spelled Hapsburg, but never so in official use) was one of the major ruling houses of Europe. ... Francis II Francis I Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, who may also be referred to as Francis von Habsburg or Emperor Franz I of Austria (February 12, 1768 - March 2, 1835) was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until August 6, 1806, when the Empire was disbanded. ... 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Tradition

The bird-scaring rattle is most frequently heard in Eastern Slovenia: Slovenske gorice, Haloze and Prlekija (of which it is a symbol), less frequently in Lower Carniola and White Carniola. It can also be found in Southwestern Slovenia, in the Littoral Region, but it's much rarer there. In Austria it can be found in Styria, while in Croatia in Zagorje. These areas traditionally produce white wines. Two famous Slovenian white blends that are produced here are called Ljutomerčan (in German: Luttenberger) named after the city of Ljutomer and Jeruzalemčan, named after the Slovenian town of Jeruzalem. The Ranfol white grape is most common here. In Lower Carniola, the main grapes are Rumeni plavec, Rdeca kraljevina and Žametna črnina (Plava kavčina) (as a curiosity: the oldest vine in the world - four hundred years old - is the žametna črnina vine growing in Lent, Maribor). White Carniola (Bela krajina) is on the south-east part of Slovenia. ... Styria (die Steiermark in German, Å tajerska in Slovenian) is a federal state or Bundesland, located in the south east of Austria. ... Krapina-Zagorje county - Krapinsko-zagorska županija is a county in northern Croatia. ... Area: 107. ... Jerusalem (31°46′ N 35°14′ E; Hebrew: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם Yerushalayim; Arabic: القدس al-Quds; see also names of Jerusalem) is an ancient Middle Eastern city of key importance to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. ... Area: 147. ...

Traditionally such rattles have been set up on 25 July (Feast of Saint James) or on 15 August (Assumption Day), but also on any day inbetween. They have usually been taken down after the vintage till 1st November (All Saints Day), but no later than on 11 November (The Feast of Saint Martin). If a husbandman forgets to take it down, the youth from the village can steal it and leave a message about the ransom that he must pay to get it back. July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... For people and places called Saint James, see the diambiguation page. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... According to Catholic theology and the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, the body of Mary, the mother of Jesus, venerated by these denominations as the Blessed Virgin Mary or Theotokos, respectively, was taken into Heaven along with her soul after her death. ... (Redirected from 1st November) November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... This article is about the Christian holiday. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... Statue of Saint Martin cutting his cloak in two. ...

Construction

The Bird-scaring rattle consists of different parts, each of which should optimally be made of a specific wood to produce a fine melody. The wood of hammers and of the board is especially important, as only the right combination enables that the device produces the ultrasound that scaries the birds away. The parts are: Ultrasound is sound with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing, approximately 20 kilohertz. ...

• stolček (block) - holds the axle; made from a hardwood (e.g. chestnut, oak or ash).
• kvaka (axle) - holes are drilled into it and hammers or macleki are attached onto it. The best wood is blackwood.
• macleki (hammers) - should be set up in such a way that only one of them at a time strikes. The best wood is beechwood, but also some other types of wood can be used.
• deska (board) - macleki strike against it; made from chestnut or cherry.
• viličice (pl.;little forks) - hold macleki; made from oak or beech.
• verižica (chainlet) - the board is hanged on it.
• rep (tail) - enables the rattle to turn with the wind; made from the sprigs of the oak, pine or other tree, as by these species the leaves remain attached for the longest time. Also an old broom can be used as a tail.
• vetrnica (sail) - rotates in the wind and transfers the rotation onto the axle; made from poplar or fir wood. Sail from Slovenske gorice has four wings, while the one from Haloze has six wings and the one from the Austrian Styria has eight wings.
• zavora (brake) - part of especially large rattles; prevents them from stopping in a forceful wind.

Some rattles can be ornamented with small figurines carved out. The traditional bird-scarring rattles made solely from wood are becoming more and more rare, as they are getting replaced by metal devices. An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. ... Beech is a typical temperate zone hardwood The term hardwood designates wood from angiosperm trees. ... Species - Bush Chinkapin* - Japanese Chestnut - American Chestnut - Henrys Chestnut - Chinese Chestnut - Ozark Chinkapin - Alleghany Chinkapin - Sweet Chestnut - Seguins Chestnut * treated as a synonym of by many authors Chestnuts (Castanea), including the chinkapins, are a genus of eight or nine species of trees and shrubs in the beech family... Species See List of Quercus species The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus, and some related genera, notably Lithocarpus. ... Species Many, see text. ... An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. ... Blackwood can refer to: Acacia melanoxylon and its wood As a place: Blackwood, New Jersey in the United States Blackwood (traditionally in Monmouthshire) in Wales Blackwood, Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland Blackwood, South Lanarkshire in Scotland As a surname: Captain Henry Blackwood of the Royal Navy. ... A claw hammer A hammer is a tool meant to deliver blows to a target, causing it to move or deform. ... Species Fagus crenata - Japanese Beech Fagus engleriana - Chinese Beech Fagus grandifolia - American Beech Fagus hayatae - Taiwan Beech Fagus japonica - Japanese Blue Beech Fagus longipetiolata - South Chinese Beech Fagus lucida - Shining Beech Fagus mexicana - Mexican Beech or Haya Fagus orientalis - Oriental Beech Fagus sylvatica - European Beech Beech (Fagus) is a genus... Species - Bush Chinkapin* - Japanese Chestnut - American Chestnut - Henrys Chestnut - Chinese Chestnut - Ozark Chinkapin - Alleghany Chinkapin - Sweet Chestnut - Seguins Chestnut * treated as a synonym of by many authors Chestnuts (Castanea), including the chinkapins, are a genus of eight or nine species of trees and shrubs in the beech family... Species Several, including: Prunus apetala Prunus avium Prunus campanulata Prunus canescens Prunus cerasus Prunus concinna Prunus conradinae Prunus dielsiana Prunus emarginata Prunus fruticosa Prunus incisa Prunus litigiosa Prunus mahaleb Prunus maximowiczii Prunus nipponica Prunus pensylvanica Prunus pilosiuscula Prunus rufa Prunus sargentii Prunus serrula Prunus serrulata Prunus speciosa Prunus subhirtella Prunus... A fork on a saucer A fork is an implement with a handle on one end and tines on the other; it is used for pricking, to hold or transfer objects, predominantly food in cooking and eating. ... Species See List of Quercus species The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus, and some related genera, notably Lithocarpus. ... Species Fagus crenata - Japanese Beech Fagus engleriana - Chinese Beech Fagus grandifolia - American Beech Fagus hayatae - Taiwan Beech Fagus japonica - Japanese Blue Beech Fagus longipetiolata - South Chinese Beech Fagus lucida - Shining Beech Fagus mexicana - Mexican Beech or Haya Fagus orientalis - Oriental Beech Fagus sylvatica - European Beech Beech (Fagus) is a genus... Species About 115. ... This article is about woody plants of the genus Populus. ... FIR may stand for: finite impulse response (a property of some digital filters) far infrared, i. ... A rare Dresden porcelain figurine Figurine is a diminutive form of the word figure, and generally refers to a small, human-made object that represents some sort of being. ...

Trivia

The Post of Slovenia issued a stamp worth 13 Slovenian tolars in 1997 featuring the bird-scaring rattle. The stamp was a part of the collection Slovenija - Evropa v malem (in English: Slovenia - Europe in miniature). Also one of the meetings of Slovenian folk musicians that happens annualy is called Veseli klopotec (Happy bird-scaring rattle). The society of composers, authors and publishers for the protection of copyrights of Slovenia (SAZAS) awards a prize called Zlati klopotec for the best popular song in the standard Slovenian language. The tolar has been the currency of Slovenia since October 1991. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Drone zither - authentic type of Slovenian zither

Drone zither, Slovenia. ... A Musima Guitar Zither 45 strings with 21 melody, 24 chords The zither is a musical string instrument, mainly used in folk music. ...

External links

• The general description of the bird-scaring rattle in German and a Google translation in English . Includes also the description of the biggest bird-scaring rattle in the world.
• The description in English and German
• A web page of the Post of Slovenia - general information about the stamp and a description of the device in English.
• Klopotec - Slovenian vineyards can be heard - by the Ormož secondary school. The page includes an image and is a rich source but only in Slovenian.

Area: 212. ...

Images

• Image of bird-scaring rattle - Oil on canvas.
• A photograph