Washington – Break out the cigars. The Treasury ducklings are hatching.
A brown mallard duck that became Washington’s newest tourist attraction a block away from the White House began hatching her ducklings Saturday afternoon.
The nest is in a mulch pile around a tree at the main entrance to the Treasury Department.
For the curious tourists gathered around, there wasn’t a lot of activity to see because the hatching was occurring underneath the duck.
“The hen is sitting on the baby ducklings to incubate them because they are born wet and cold,” Treasury Department spokesman Taylor Griffin said.
The Secret Service uniformed division, which normally guards the president and other dignitaries, has been protecting the duck and her nest since she laid her eggs in early April, keeping the mother duck safe from throngs of tourists who stopped to snap pictures.
The duck was given various nicknames by Treasury employees, from “Quacks Reform” to “T-Bill” and “Duck Cheney.”
Treasury officials said the duck and ducklings will be transported to a park today.
