The area around the ponds in front of Morton and Leutze Halls is one of many beautiful parts of our campus. It has several benches, tables and grassy lawns to sit on, in the shade, and enjoy nature. There are a variety of blooming plants, squirrels that scurry up pine trees, turtles that peek their head above water, and there are, on occasion, real ducks and geese that like to bathe, play or find food in the ponds.
However, last semester there was a new addition to this peaceful, natural habitat of creatures. Fake, plastic ducks were set afloat in the ponds.
There are different theories behind why these ducks were put there. One reason could be that UNCW wants to stop real ducks from flocking to these ponds. Real ducks living in the ponds could cause more work for the people maintaining the area, such as cleaning feces and feathers. The fake ducks could cause the real ducks to want to move on to somewhere else.
Another theory is that the fake ducks are supposed to attract more ducks to the area. If the real ducks see the fake ducks (that do actually float around in the pond, not just stay in a fixed location) they may think they are real and also take up residence. This theory would include that UNCW wants the area to have more live animals to observe, like the current turtles and squirrels, and appear to be more natural.
More questions arise from this situation, like who put them there and who made the decision to do so? Was it the landscaping or maintenance department? Was it the environmental studies department? Was it some random student? Over the next few weeks, I hope to answer these questions and put an end to UNCW's fake ducks quirk.
However, last semester there was a new addition to this peaceful, natural habitat of creatures. Fake, plastic ducks were set afloat in the ponds.
There are different theories behind why these ducks were put there. One reason could be that UNCW wants to stop real ducks from flocking to these ponds. Real ducks living in the ponds could cause more work for the people maintaining the area, such as cleaning feces and feathers. The fake ducks could cause the real ducks to want to move on to somewhere else.
Another theory is that the fake ducks are supposed to attract more ducks to the area. If the real ducks see the fake ducks (that do actually float around in the pond, not just stay in a fixed location) they may think they are real and also take up residence. This theory would include that UNCW wants the area to have more live animals to observe, like the current turtles and squirrels, and appear to be more natural.
More questions arise from this situation, like who put them there and who made the decision to do so? Was it the landscaping or maintenance department? Was it the environmental studies department? Was it some random student? Over the next few weeks, I hope to answer these questions and put an end to UNCW's fake ducks quirk.
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