Make Way For Ducklings On The Avenue At White Marsh

PERRY HALL, MD — Outside a deli on The Avenue at White Marsh, a duck was perched on her eggs for weeks.

Over her shoulder, a sign read: "Do not disturb. Baby ducklings in progress.”

The eggs hatched Tuesday, and the ducklings emerged from the nest, according to The Avenue at White Marsh.

The Avenue shared a video of the birds Wednesday coming out from under their mother with the message: "Something beautiful happened last night. Many thanks to everyone that has watched and waited with us. Welcome to the neighborhood, little ones!"

"Each year we have numerous nests on the property," Lisa Geiger, a spokesperson for The Avenue, told Perry Hall Patch. In fact, they have been around for decades, she said.

When the shopping center was built in 1997, a retention pond was created to control stormwater runoff, according to Geiger, who noted this year The Avenue marks its 25th anniversary.

Different birds prefer different types of nesting materials in the vicinity.

"The ducks are more obvious because they like the high planters," Geiger said. "The geese like the hedges so we are often surprised when the mother and goslings are making their way across the parking lot to Town Center Drive!"

Ducks and geese alike flock to the retention pond off Town Center Drive.

The ducklings and their mother made their way to the pond Wednesday morning, The Avenue reported.

A sign along Town Center Drive alerts drivers to make way for ducklings, and pamphlets are available next to the pond with information about the birds.

"We do not manage the property," Geiger said of the pond, "but we love our feathered neighbors and work to educate the community about them."

To that end, The Avenue at White Marsh has a section on its website dedicated to the "411 on ducks and geese."