Duck Graduation

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Eleven very special students at Washington Elementary School received their duck diplomas on Friday, and proudly walked — or perhaps they waddled — down the school hallways and out the back door.

A mallard hen nested in the courtyard of the school this spring, the third consecutive year she has done so, and her ducklings hatched on Wednesday morning last week. The only way out of the courtyard, if you can’t fly yet, is through the school.

So at exactly 2:30 p.m. Friday, the mama duck walked the ducklings right down the hallway, out the back door, and right past a gathering of delighted Washington elementary students, seated along the projected duck path outside.

She then led her brood through a grassy field behind the school and into a wooded area, where there is a creek bed.

Witnesses said the mother hen started to pace around the courtyard 24-36 hours after the baby ducklings had hatched. Washington school faculty is instructed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on how to best let the ducks in, and out again.

Students, faculty, administration, both the incoming and outgoing Charles City superintendents and various local wildlife press were there to see the ducks.

(Press photos by James Grob)