After Mama Duck led her charges to the brush along the train tracks adjacent to the lab, and with no sign of the local animal control folks, a squad of LCS/AI faculty, staff, and students, along with a member of Lab's security personnel decided it was time to help the ducks along their way.

After her babies were herded into a box - easier said than done - Mama Duck was more than willing to follow the box, voicing her opinion all the while. From Tech Square the Duck Squad headed across campus stopping traffic on both Main and Vassar Streets to let Mama cross.

The Duck Squad ran into a bit of trouble when Mama Duck, after being lured into building 16, was frightened by a passer by, and in her attempt to flee, flew into a plate glass window. Duck Squad member Prof. Gill Pratt promptly caught Mama. With Mama now being carried, the squad picked up speed and headed straight for the Charles River.

Upon arrival at the river, the squad realized the Charles has no bank on the MIT side. Undeterred, the Duck Squad walked to Mass. Avenue and over the Harvard Bridge - all 364.4 Smoots and one ear of it - to the other side of the river.

Mama Duck was released on the river bank, as were here babies. Mama promply flew into the river, and her ducklings waddled over and dove in after her. We are happy to report that all are well. The babies followed Mom out into the river. The group disappeared under the bridge and never looked back. The babies took to the river like ...