At 11am sharp, the “duckmaster” appeared, and an announcement came over the loudspeaker. The elevator door opened, and out walked the ducks!
They made a beeline for the fountain, jumped in, and started swimming in circles. A little anticlimactic but still quite adorable.
Apparently these water fowl live in a $200,000 marble and glass structure called the Royal Duck Palace, located on the rooftop of the hotel. Despite the luxury quarters, the hotel is very clear that it does not treat the ducks like pets. They are raised at a local farm and only live at the hotel for a three-month term, after which they are returned to the farm.
Immediately following the march, everyone hustled over to the tiny fountain to snap pictures of the ducks. Again, mallard ducks are plentiful in the wild, but I guess there’s just something intriguing about seeing them indoors. I stepped back to take a photo of the eager crowed.
And then I decided to get in on the fun and snap some duck pictures.
The duckmaster asked a little girl (no more than two years old) to help him dump food into the water. From the back, she looks just like my niece!
And that’s the end of my duck gallery. Have you heard of the Peabody ducks or visited the hotel?
Crystal
I have always wanted to see the duck march! Never made it out to memphis before.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I definitely recommend visiting Memphis if you have a chance. It's a small city, but there is a lot to see. I have more pictures to post of a couple other attractions we stopped at.
Ellie
Anonymous
This is so cool! Just commenting to enter the contest ๐
Love your blogs so much!
-Eve
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thank you, Eve! ๐
Ellie
Leah
Cool!
Stacey
I have been to the hotel and had the chance to see the ducks swimming in the fountain it was cool to see and to take pictures.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
That's neat, Shela. Did you see the march? I'm curious if it was the same when you were there.
Ellie
Stacey
I got there after the march.It is the same now has it was two years ago when I was there.
Shela G
Seems like a fun experience! I have heard of the Duck March but never seen it myself. Growing up my mom and I often fed the Ducks at a near by lake. We even had pet ducks for a short time Gertrude and George. We ended up letting join Their friends at the lake.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
What cute names! Were they mallard ducks?
Ellie
Shela G
I was about 7 at the time so I may not remember correctly but I do believe they were mallard ducks ๐
Anonymous
Thank you for sharing this post and for the giveaway.God Bless.
Marilyn
nashvillewife@gmail.com
It's my pleasure, Marilyn. God bless!
Ellie
Anonymous
The way you write and word things makes me laugh. You are a good writer and you are funny. The ducks waddling in so fast made me laugh again. I never seen this but I heard of it. Thanks so much Ellie.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I'm thrilled to hear that! Glad my blog is entertaining. ๐ I know, those ducks were extremely eager to get into that pond. Loved how they were quacking the whole way.
Ellie
Anita
There is probably such hype because people are so removed from the natural world. I must say, this is a relatively wholesome and innocent thing for a hotel to be known for! I've never seen it, but my husband has.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I agree, Anita. I love that the march has been going on for so many years. Hope it continues for many more.
Ellie
Anonymous
I've never hear of a Duck March before. But it was cute to watch thanks for the pictures Ellie.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
My pleasure!
Ellie
Anonymous
I had 2 ducks sitting on my front lawn 14 years ago. I took a picture of them
Anonymous
Ellie this has not her to do with the Duck March.
I just saw on my news that they are closing all Family Christen bookstores in every state. I through I would let you know and your readers too.
Regina
Thanks Anon. We did hear about the stores closing. We have one here a few miles away. It's too bad because there aren't too many Christian bookstores or any bookstores for that matter anymore.
Anonymous
Aww! We were on vacation this weekend and saw 2 closing but I thought it was just in that town! ;-( Do you know why there closing?
Anonymous
I think it filed Bankruptcy.They even closed the online store too.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I just heard about that, too. Very sad. Yes, I think they filed bankruptcy. Apparently a big part of the reason is that so many people are ordering things online these days (from other distributors).
Ellie
Justine Kessner
I think ducks are foul animals!!!!!!!!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Nice pun, Justine. ๐
Ellie
Justine Kessner
THANKS!!!!!!!!!
Regina
The ducks are so cute!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Aren't they? Ducks are definitely one of my favorite animals.
Ellie
Bayley
I would love to go there someday.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I definitely recommend it. More pictures of Memphis coming soon. ๐
Ellie
Anonymous
hey Ellie i am supposed too come by and say hi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and again thanks so Much for giving me the chance to enter!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thanks for saying hi! For those who are interested, I am running a stationery giveaway on one of my other blogs: http://www.duggarfamilyblog.com/2017/03/stationery-giveaway.html
Ellie
Anonymous
Awwwwwww! super cute!
Katrina
Awwww we really enjoyed this when we were in Memphis – we went to the evening "show" after spending the day at Memphis and Sun Studios.
Did you have a drink whilst you were there? We had some lovely cocktails.
We ate really well in Memphis too, did you go anywhere to eat?
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Hi Katrina,
How was Sun Studios? We didn't have any drinks, but we really enjoyed the BBQ. I believe it was Central BBQ that we went to. What were your favorite restaurants?
Ellie
Katrina
Hi Ellie
Doh! I meant to say we went to Graceland and then Sun Studios.
Graceland was an experience and I'm glad I went but I wouldn't go back.
Sun was really interesting one of the things I loved about it was that the tour guides were musicians – it really added to the atmosphere.
My favourite Memphis restaurants were:
The Arcade (breakfast)
Rendezvous (BBQ)
Central BBQ
Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
Blues City Cafe (has live music too)
The Trolley Stop Market (farm to table, lunch)
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Sounds like you got a lot in, Katrina! I'll have to keep those places in mind if we return to Memphis. ๐
Ellie
Anonymous
The ducks are cute, and I love long standing traditions, BUT, a $200,000 enclosure for them? I just can't get past that figure. I've spent the last 8 years volunteering at a shelter for homeless people, and the fact that so much money was spent on temporary duck housing makes me feel a bit ill.
I know the duck house has nothing to do with my homeless guys, but the contrast between their enclosure and the cardboard boxes that serve as beds for so many people around here breaks my heart.
I hope it doesn't sound like I resent the ducks or their circumstances, because I don't. It's just a contrast that makes me sad.
Anonymous
? Do you do that over everything in general? Then consider that there are many church buildings out there that sit empty much of the time. Our environment and it's animals should be cherished. It is home to humans as well as animals. I am considering this is a wonderful balance for the animals for once. Why try to detract from that good effort for some animals by juxtaposing it against your cause?
Anonymous
Do I do what over everything in general? I don't understand what you're asking.
I actually volunteer with several environmental organizations as well. Since ducks traditionally live outdoors, I think their interests are better served through efforts to keep toxics out of their water, to keep their habitats from being destroyed, and to repair and restore the damaged wetlands that are their native habitats.
The shelter system through which I volunteer operates out of churches, actually, so it's interesting that you mentioned that. We are not affiliated with any churches, and religion is not what we offer our guests, but we are entirely dependent upon those who are willing to share their spaces with us. Because of that, I am acutely aware of how many large church facilities there are in my town that have enough space for us, but have not been willing to share that space. We are never able to open as many shelter sites as we would like to, so the many empty churches stand out. We only open when our weather conditions become life threatening, and we came into being after a local homeless veteran froze to death, so our goal is to keep people alive.
I did say that I don't resent the ducks, and I don't. I actually feel kind of sorry for them. Commercially raised ducks eventually get eaten, and the Peabody Hotel only gives them a several month respite from that particular reality.
Sarah Trouwborst
How long did they stay in?
nashvillewife@gmail.com
We didn't stay long, but apparently they stay the entire day and leave at 5.
Ellie
Anonymous
Before I even read the other comments I knew my comment was going to be "Awe, how sweet is that"! This is just one of tnose places that makes many people say "awe"! This is just a precious post! Thanks Ellie!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Well I'm glad you enjoyed it! ๐
Ellie
Anonymous
Can some lucky ducks be blamed for the consequences that lead to homelessness? The prodigal son through his own personal choices for himself, ended up in dire straights. Another situation was a lack of compassion was the affect from the heart of the very rich man, who had the means to help but chose not to, that had a direct effect on Lazarus. But I wonder if there is sound evidence in the Bible that means people can't have a duck enclosure because some people are homeless? What i find in the Bible is a God who cares for animals too. The Bible talks about God seeing sparrows fall and caring about them. As far as I understand is that the care God has given to given to birds is an example that He ALSO so much more, cares for the people, not that we have to choose care for one or the other to please Him. But people are on the street homeless is therefore not God's choice. How people look at the contrast is in the Bible to make people happy and understand God loves them too, even more.
Anonymous
…He loves me too, I know He loves me too, for God so loves the little ones I know He lives me too!
Anonymous
…He LOVES me too!