Duck parade

A slideshow of the hen duck and her twelve ducklings and how they made it to the river with the help of bank employees, kids, the media and many bystanders. This duck has nested on the Sherwood Building in Spokane for the last two years.

Section:Gallery

Mon., May 18, 2009

A duck hen sits on a nest on an awning attached to the Sherwood Building in downtown Spokane, Wash. Friday, May 1, 2009.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
A hen sits on her hatched ducklings on the Sherwood Building Saturday, May 16, 2009. It was the second year that the duck had nested there and she had to get the ducklings down from a 14-foot overhang to the sidewalk.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The now-famous mallard duck on the building awning along Riverside sits atop an estimated 12 ducklings Saturday, May 16, 2009.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Surrounded by media and bystanders, Joel Armstrong waits for more ducklings to jump from the ledge on the Sherwood Building Saturday, May 16, 2009.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
A duckling totters to the edge of a concrete overhang preparing to jump to the ground Saturday, May 16, 2009.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Joel Armstrong catches a falling duckling Saturday, May 16, 2009, which was the day that the duck nesting on the Sherwood building began her trek to water.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
A hen and her ducklings huddle on the sidewalk, hemmed in by human helpers while waiting for the last of the ducklings to join them Saturday, May 16, 2009, the day that the duck nesting on the Sherwood building began her trek to water. It was the second year that the duck had nested there and she had to get the ducklings down from a 14-foot overhang to the sidewalk. Last year, banker Joel Armstrong was on hand to help the ducklings down safely and get to the water. This year, Armstrong and a whole retinue of bank employees and their families helped make it happen.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Saturday, May 16, 2009 was the day that the duck nesting on the Sherwood building began her trek to water. It was the second year that the duck had nested there and she had to get the ducklings down from a 14-foot overhang to the sidewalk. Last year, banker Joel Armstrong was on hand to help the ducklings down safely and get to the water. This year, Armstrong and a whole retinue of bank employees and their families helped make it happen.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
A dozen ducklings huddle in a cardboard box as Joel Armstrong a banker with Sterling Savings prepares to use the box to safely lead the hen and ducklings to the Spokane River Saturday, May 16, 2009.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
After retrieving the ducklings and placing them in a box, banker Joel Armstrong attempts to lead a hen duck to the Spokane River Saturday, May 16, 2009. Seconds later, the hen flew off, spooked by the crowds. Later, she returned and Armstrong let the ducks walk behind the hen to the water.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Joel Armstrong, right, who watched the hen lay and hatch her eggs outside an office in the Sherwood Building this summer, experiences a moment of panic Saturday, May 16, 2009 when the mama duck he was trying to help disappeared, leaving him with a box with a dozen tiny ducklings. In the center is Armstrong's daughter, Emily, 9. The duck eventually came back, but not before Armstrong and his crew searched all around the downtown area.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Joel Armstrong tries to encourage a wandering duckling to keep up with the group (right) Saturday, May 16, 2009.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Joel Armstrong gently moves a family of ducks along a downtown street Saturday, May 16, 2009.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
A hen duck and her 12 ducklings create a parade-like atmosphere as they cross the Lilac Parade route while trying to march to the Spokane River Saturday, May 16, 2009 in downtown Spokane.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Joel Armstrong, right, who watched the hen lay and hatch her her eggs outside an office in the Sherwood Building this summer, watches as a hen duck and 12 ducklings head to the water through Riverfront Park Saturday, May 16, 2009.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Joel Armstrong, center, who watched the hen lay and hatcher her eggs outside an office in the Sherwood Building this summer, cheers as a hen duck and 12 ducklings head to the water through Riverfront Park Saturday, May 16, 2009. Armstrong is famous for doing the same thing last year, on the spur of the moment, and the story of the duck rescuer has travelled the globe via the internet.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
It took a troop of bank employees and a phalanx of bystanders and media but eventually a hen duck and 12 ducklings finally slid into the water in Riverfront Park Saturday, May 16, 2009.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Joel Armstrong, right, and Cara Coon, center, fall into a group hug Saturday, May 16, 2009 when the mama duck and her dozen tiny ducklings finally made it to the water.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review