Capitol Hill is making way for ducklings
At least one spot on Capitol Hill seems to have its ducks in a row.
Literally speaking, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) and the non-profit City Wildlife collaborated to build two ramps helping lead ducklings into The Capitol Reflecting Pool at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The pool is surrounded by a limestone edge that is easy for adult mallards to clear, but too high for flightless hatchlings to hop over in order to reach the water or get out.
"The ducks have an uncanny ability to locate a way out of the water, if one is provided," said Anne Lewis, President of City Wildlife. "We can never truly predict their behavior, but our goal is to provide them the means to get in and out of the water, which is what they need to do in the wild to protect their duckling from becoming waterlogged or cold."
At least four families of ducks, formally known as broods, call the Capitol's water feature home. Now their ducklings can make a splash as the ramp safely guides them in and out of the water.
