Now in Stock at the Library: Ducks! [Video]

The library now has a half dozen furry yellow visitors chirping in the courtyard opposite the reference desk.

“She comes in when we’re not aware of it, and then all of sudden she’s there and [has] laid her eggs,” said Kathy Leeds, Director of the . 

Leeds said the ducklings hatched on Saturday, May 7. The staff thinks that the mother is the same one who has flown into the North East Courtyard around spring time since 2009. The mother hatches her eggs in one of the courtyard bushes and then nurtures them to flight status within the courtyard.

Last year, the library celebrated the ducks with an inflatable kiddy pool. However, visiting children were getting a little too twitterpated with the tiny yellow creatures and would harass them throughout the day.

The staff is also concerned with the activity of a predatory hawk. Last spring, the ducklings had to be transported to a pond in Ridgefield after the ducks were deemed to be in danger.

“We’re going to see how it goes, see if they’re old enough to fly,” said Leeds when asked if the staff planned on keeping the ducklings for an extended duration.

 Leeds said twelve ducklings hatched initially. At the time the accompanying video to this article was taken, only six ducklings were observed. 

Leeds encouraged children excited by the furry visitors to pick up a copy of “Make Way for Ducklings,” which is also available as an audio book at the library.