Part of Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine closed, waiting for ducklings to hatch
WMTW
PORTLAND, Maine—The play structure at the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine is closed to make way for ducklings.
This past weekend, staff discovered a mallard duck had chosen to nest beneath the outdoor climbing structure. Federal law makes it illegal to disturb the nest until the eggs hatch, so they had no choice but to close the climbing area temporarily.
“Our visitors, children, and families have been so excited about this duck and her eggs and eventually her ducklings,” said Julie Butcher, the executive director of the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine.
“We have a mallard here that is nesting at the museum,” said Colin Marshall, the live exhibits coordinator there. “We don’t know quite how long she’s been here, but we know that mallards nesting usually takes a little bit under a month, so we’re hoping she’ll be here for a few more weeks.”
They expect the ducklings to hatch by the end of the month. In the meantime, the sandbox and Wabanaki exhibit are still open.