One lucky duck from Somerset won a $5K prize at Mass Audubon’s Duck Derby
DARTMOUTH — It wasn’t a red tide, it was a yellow tide as thousands of yellow ducks descended upon Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary in Dartmouth. Don’t worry. They weren’t real ducks, they were rubber — all part of the Mass Audubon’s annual Duck Derby.
In its 21st year, the Duck Derby had 3,007 ducks racing on Buzzards Bay tides on Sept. 28 hoping to secure the top price. A donor sponsors each duck with the fastest winning the coveted $5,000 grand prize.
Five minutes after the giant net full of ducks was released into the channel the race was over, and “Ella Munroe” was the winning duck landing Christine Munroe of Somerset first place and a $5,000 payday.
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A family membership to Mass Audubon for one year was given to Betty Slade of Westport, whose duck “Kenan” took second place just missing the first place mark.
Earning a free Duck Derby entry for next year was David Clark of Taunton, as his duck “Large Marge,” was given the unfortunate title of Slacker Quacker—which goes to the slowest duck that comes in dead last.
Daniel Galli, principal at Daniel J. Galli & Associates, the lead sponsor of the Duck Derby, said yellow, toy ducks took on special meaning for him when friends called him a “lucky duck” after avoiding what doctors told him was a surefire lung cancer diagnosis in 2008.
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“Everyone at DJG&A is committed to their clients’ financial and personal health, which is why sponsoring Mass Audubon’s Duck Derby is the perfect way to spread our commitment to good health by enjoying the great outdoors and supporting local, ecological programs,” Galli said in a press release.
These color ducks helped raise more than $20,000 to support ecological and outreach projects at Allens Pond, including salt marsh restoration, coastal waterbird monitoring, the South Coast Osprey Project, and Monarch Watch Tagging.
For more information about the event, visit https://www.massaudubon.org.…Read more by , Taunton Daily Gazette