Park Ave. duck family rescued

Post Staff Report

featured

Apr 30, 2010

1 of 15

A duck family waddles on Park Avenue between the medians yesterday before the mother got spooked and flew away. Rangers and citizens, including one wielding a net, finally herded them all to safety in Central Park. Chiara Catella

2 of 15

A mother mallard, who built her nest on a traffic island in the middle of the busy thoroughfare, panicked and abandoned her 11 ducklings when well-meaning New Yorkers tried to help her web-footed little legion reach safety. Robert Miller

3 of 15

The recovered ducklings wait under Ranger care. Robert Miller

4 of 15

The mother mallard flew frantically between East 68th and 69th streets, loudly squawking as her babies, unable to follow her, quacked in near unison below. Robert Miller

5 of 15

Sgt. Sunny Corrao holds one of 11 ducks found on a traffic island on Park Ave. The ducks with their mother were seen crossing the street. The sergeant is waiting patiently for the mother duck to return to the scene. Robert Miller

6 of 15

This cage contains two baby ducks, they are left here so that the mother hearing their chirps may return to the scene. Robert Miller

7 of 15

City Park Rangers Sheridan Roberts and Sgt. Sunny Corrao came up with a plan to lure back the mama duck after she flew off. Robert Miller

8 of 15

They put some of the babies in a basket in the hopes they would call their mother. Robert Miller

9 of 15

Sheridan Roberts, Urban Ranger holds a cardboard box containing ten of the ducklings. Robert Miller

10 of 15

The mother is reunited with her babies in Central Park. Robert Miller

11 of 15

The rangers slowly guided the family through the park, and they all jumped into The Lake near The Boathouse. Robert Miller

12 of 15

“I have done this every year for three years now,” Corrao said. “Park Avenue is pretty, but it’s not the best place to have baby ducks.” Robert Miller

13 of 15

Momma mallard and her ducklings make their way through Central Park. Robert Miller

14 of 15

People in the park stop to watch and take photos. Robert Miller

15 of 15

The avian family sets sail in The Lake near The Boathouse. Robert Miller

Metro

Comments

Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy