Bird-scaring rattle (Klopotec) - photo wallpapers; Photowallpapers.org 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. 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 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.
