Unlucky Ducks

What does a baby panda born in a Chinese zoo have to do with Torontonians? Absolutely nothing aside from a case of the awww's, and one of the things they tell you in J-school is that animal stories are money. This time, instead of looking across the Pacific pond for feel-good fuzzies, Torontoist only had to go as far as the man-made pond adjacent to St. Andrew station.

In the shadow of all that Bay Street concrete, right by Roy Thompson Hall, a family of three mallards set up roost and were a constant pleasure for bleary-eyed commuters rolling in and out of the TTC system. As Torontoist reader Jay pointed out, the two fuzzy ducklings would spend mornings swimming after Mom to the amusement of workers who would gather around to watch. In the evenings, the whole family would take in the fading sun on a plank set in place by a helpful caretaker to lead them to their nest.

Two days ago Jay and other duck-watching workers were greeted with a disappointing notice posted near the pond stating the feathered trio had been removed by rescue staff from the Toronto Wildlife Centre and relocated successfully to Lake Ontario. The TWC's stated aim is to help wildlife in need, whether a baby bird in need of rehabilitation after falling out of a nest or chipmunks stuck in a chimney. We're all for animals (especially the cute ones) being out of harm's way, but given the fact that the mother was raising her young there, it seems these ducks were doing fine in their King Street digs. Who says animals can't be urbanites?

Photos by Jay V.