Duckling Drama

Every year in late-June to early-July one or two mother Mallards that have nested in Green-Wood Cemetery do something that tries our patience.

There is likely some survival instinct connected to their behavior or maybe great-grandma Mallard did it, then grandma Mallard followed, then her mom... The issue, in a nutshell, is that the Mallard hatches a brood at the edge of one of Green-Wood Cemetery's ponds, but doesn't raise them in that safe location. Instead she leads her ducklings on a dangerous road trip across the cemetery, into the adjacent neighborhood of Windsor Terrace, across busy roads into Prospect Park, then finally, Prospect Lake. It is akin to humans deciding to run with the bulls in Pamplona. There are safer alternatives, for goodness sakes! As one might expect, during this challenging marathon run she often loses some ducklings into the sewer afterwhich the fire department is called to rescue them.

On Sunday, after my dawn birding tour, I decided to exit via the 20th Street cemetery gate. While walking north along the Hill of Graves ridge I glanced to my left and noticed a female Mallard leading a line of 8 tiny ducklings through the grass in the general direction of 20th Street.

Heading towards the street

You need to understand that this is not anywhere near a body of water. She and her brood were about 1/2 mile north of the closest pond. I texted Angela and Mary Beth the waterfowl wrangler. While I waited for them I did my best to run interference and prevent her from endangering her offspring.

I wasn't sure what we were going to do next, but I at least wanted to wait until Mary Beth arrived. Eventually Evan and Javi showed up and we were able to keep the family corralled in the grass near Border Avenue. Evan's wife Evie arrived and helped us keep the ducks together while Mary Beth came up with a plan.

Keeping the family calm and out of danger

Mary Beth had a carrier, a net, a bowl of water and some food. The food distracted mother Mallard and Mary Beth saw her opportunity and grabbed her. Javi put the net over the ducklings, but one escaped. Thankfully Evan and his wife managed to scoop it up a few feet away. Once the mom was safely in the carrier, I took the ducklings one by one out from under the net and placed them in the carrier with their mother.

Evan drove Mary Beth and her fluffy charges over to Prospect Park where they successfully released them into the lake. Mission accomplished!