Webbed feet take long trek from school to river

 

Wednesday, June 16, 2010  11:20 AM

 

By CANDY BROOKS
 

 

ThisWeek Staff Writer

Worthington Estates Elementary art teacher Libbie Trott and twins Adam and Ian Hohlbein escort ducklings along Whitney Avenue as they make their way from the school down to the river on June 10. Every year, a mother duck raises her ducklings in the courtyard of the school and science teacher Sue Flory works them into her science class. At the end of the year the ducklings are escorted to the river. This year, the mother flew off before the march, making the task more difficult.
By Tim Norman/ThisWeek
Worthington Estates Elementary art teacher Libbie Trott and twins Adam and Ian Hohlbein escort ducklings along Whitney Avenue as they make their way from the school down to the river on June 10. Every year, a mother duck raises her ducklings in the courtyard of the school and science teacher Sue Flory works them into her science class. At the end of the year the ducklings are escorted to the river. This year, the mother flew off before the march, making the task more difficult.
The day after school closed last week, one last class waddled down the hallway and out into the world.

The annual march of the ducklings took place on June 10 at Worthington Estates Elementary School, when 11 ducklings that had been living in the school's courtyard walked along the corridor, out the door, and down the street to make a new life along the river.

Each year, the same mother duck returns to the school in May to lay her eggs and hatch her family. This year, 13 were hatched, and 11 survived.

The school adopts the ducks, providing a wading pool and food.

In return, the young duck family provides a learning lab and plenty of entertainment for the Worthington Estates family.

The first morning that students are not in the building, all of the doors are closed along the hallway leading from the courtyard to the sidewalk.

The ducklings are led by a few volunteers, who make sure the family makes it all the way to the Olentangy River.

Last week, they waddled down Whitney Avenue. They tried to wander away twice, and once decided to sit down and rest. With some gentle stomping and words of encouragement, they completed their journey into the world.

When last seen, the ducklings were resting comfortably under some bushes next to the river.