ROCKLAND — The crows may not be interested, but the people are. Businesses along Main Street in Rockland have noted an increase in foot traffic by families in the past few weeks due to a variety of characters strapped to stands, poles, and trees in the area. 

Not all of the 43 scarecrows, constructed by at least 38 entities during the month of October, are stuffed with straw. All of them, however, provide a unique source of autumn community engagement. 

Gordon Page, Sr., executive director of Main Street Rockland, Inc, said, Thursday, that he’s heard of positive responses from tourists. His Facebook postings have prompted more than 1,000 likes and shares, and scarecrows are sprouting up beyond the downtown Main Street stretch.

A couple of the decorations have popped up in front of the Good Tern and Hole in the Wall Bagel Shop. Four more can be found on Tillson Avenue. Two stand at the intersection of Limerock and Union streets. Two more at the clock at South Main and Water streets, and one each at Ocean Street’s YMCA and Park Street’s J. Edward Knight Insurance.

Local residents Dru and Tom Woodman built all of the scarecrow frames for Rockland Main Street’s #RocklandScarecrowDays event. Organizations interested in decorating a scarecrow only have to request a frame, and them decorate it as they choose.

“It's been a lot of fun and I'm very pleased with the level of participation by businesses and groups throughout the downtown district,” Page said.

The scarecrows will be on display through the first week in November.