Park Ave. duck family rescued

A duck family waddles on Park Avenue between the medians yesterday before the mother got spooked and flew away. Rangers and citizens, including one wielding a net, finally herded them all to safety in Central Park. Chiara Catella

A mother mallard, who built her nest on a traffic island in the middle of the busy thoroughfare, panicked and abandoned her 11 ducklings when well-meaning New Yorkers tried to help her web-footed little legion reach safety. Robert Miller

The recovered ducklings wait under Ranger care. Robert Miller

The mother mallard flew frantically between East 68th and 69th streets, loudly squawking as her babies, unable to follow her, quacked in near unison below. Robert Miller

Sgt. Sunny Corrao holds one of 11 ducks found on a traffic island on Park Ave. The ducks with their mother were seen crossing the street. The sergeant is waiting patiently for the mother duck to return to the scene. Robert Miller

This cage contains two baby ducks, they are left here so that the mother hearing their chirps may return to the scene. Robert Miller

City Park Rangers Sheridan Roberts and Sgt. Sunny Corrao came up with a plan to lure back the mama duck after she flew off. Robert Miller

They put some of the babies in a basket in the hopes they would call their mother. Robert Miller

Sheridan Roberts, Urban Ranger holds a cardboard box containing ten of the ducklings. Robert Miller

The mother is reunited with her babies in Central Park. Robert Miller

The rangers slowly guided the family through the park, and they all jumped into The Lake near The Boathouse. Robert Miller

“I have done this every year for three years now,” Corrao said. “Park Avenue is pretty, but it’s not the best place to have baby ducks.” Robert Miller