Ducklings Die in Pool Drain At American Indian Museum

Wildlife experts said spring is duckling season in the Washington area as mallard eggs hatch and mother ducks lead ducklings to the nearest body of water. Even in the wild, life for young ducks can be dangerous. Nicholas Throckmorton, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said that 25 to 30 percent of ducklings survive.

For ducks nesting in downtown Washington, there might be fewer predators, like hawks and foxes, but the city has its own threats. The route to water can involve crossing busy roads, and the water itself can be a barren fountain instead of a pond full of food.

Duck experts said that, given these options, they are not surprised that waterfowl would be attracted to the American Indian museum, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution. Museum planners built a small pond and wetland in front, creating the kind of fowl mecca that was mainly erased from downtown Washington decades ago.

Perrie Lee Prouty, a wildlife rehabilitator in Gaithersburg, said she saw the potential for duck infestation when the museum opened in 2004.

"I went, 'Oh, jeez, we're going to have a problem,' " she said. "I mean, it's duck nirvana."

Staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.