Straw Sculpture on Top of a Thatched Roof

I've already blipped a couple of these ridgeline decorations which thatchers like to include when they are re-thatching a house: and there will be another one in due course when I get over to the nearby village where I've seen it This one is in an area of our village called The Pound Note the covering of chicken wire which I guess might be there to discourage birds from helping themselves to an easy supply of nest-building material?