Wild Ducklings Receive Head Start at Green Chimneys

Students Develop Their Voice

March 12, 2025

May 4, 2018

Green Chimneys Students Care for and Release Ducks Back to the Wild

At long last, there are signs of spring blossoming throughout both Green Chimneys campuses, from budding trees to baby wildlife. Yes, that’s right, babies! Recently a wild (and perhaps wise) Mallard duck chose to nest at the Wildlife Center. Once the eggs hatched, staff hosted the mama Mallard and her eight ducklings in an enclosure so that the babies could grow safely with minimal human interaction and without risk of predators.

Two weeks later, and with the help of Green Chimneys School students, the Mallard mama and her ducklings were escorted to the Great Swamp, one of New York’s major wetlands situated adjacent to our Brewster campus. The duck and her babies were successfully released back into the wild.

Click the image above for more pictures and a video of the release.

Just before the ducks were released, one student called out, “Bye little ducklings, have a nice life!”

Experiences like these help children with special needs not only create great memories and learn from hands-on activities; experiences like these provide children, some of whom have difficulty connecting with peers, the chance to witness nurturing, assist in caregiving and even develop empathy.

Gyrfalcon

Crowned the best for falconry in medieval times, gyrfalcons were once reserved for kings. As the largest falcon in the world, with exquisite plumage ranging from bright white to deep charcoal, gyrs are revered for their powerful skill of flight. Their long wings make hunting waterfowl from 3,000-feet-high a feasible and fantastical feat. This falcon was flown in the sport of falconry for several years.