An Amusing Article

SECRET SERVICE GUARDS MOTHER DUCK, EGGS
By Martin Crutsinger
Associated Press
April 8, 2005



SECRET SERVICE GUARDS MOTHER DUCK, EGGS
By Martin Crutsinger
Associated Press
April 8, 2005


WASHINGTON - The Secret Service, which has the job of guarding the
president
and other dignitaries, now has a new temporary duty ‹ protecting a mother
duck and her nine eggs.

The duck, a brown mallard with white markings, has had several names
suggested by Treasury Department people, including "Quacks Reform,"
"T-Bill," and "Duck Cheney." It has built a nest in a mulch pile right at
the main entrance to the Treasury Department on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Secret Service's uniformed division, which provides protection for the
White House and Treasury building, has set up metal guard rails to protect
the nest, which has attracted the notice of tourists on their way to see
the
White House.

The duck has been provided with a water bowl and seems oblivious to all the
attention, sitting calmly on its nest on top of the mulch pile that
surrounds one of the new trees planted along Pennsylvania Avenue as part of
a renovation project.

Treasury Secretary John Snow stopped to pay his respects this week on the
way back from a congressional hearing, Treasury spokesman Rob Nichols said
Friday.

"He had been briefed on the duck and he stopped to pay a visit," said
Nichols.

The eggs are expected to hatch the last week of April at which time the
duck
will be relocated nearer water. But until then, the duck will occupy some
of
Washington's prime real estate.

"Foreign leaders, members of Congress, everybody who visits Treasury has to
pass by the duck," Nichols said.

WASHINGTON - The Secret Service, which has the job of guarding the
president
and other dignitaries, now has a new temporary duty ‹ protecting a mother
duck and her nine eggs.

The duck, a brown mallard with white markings, has had several names
suggested by Treasury Department people, including "Quacks Reform,"
"T-Bill," and "Duck Cheney." It has built a nest in a mulch pile right at
the main entrance to the Treasury Department on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Secret Service's uniformed division, which provides protection for the
White House and Treasury building, has set up metal guard rails to protect
the nest, which has attracted the notice of tourists on their way to see
the
White House.

The duck has been provided with a water bowl and seems oblivious to all the
attention, sitting calmly on its nest on top of the mulch pile that
surrounds one of the new trees planted along Pennsylvania Avenue as part of
a renovation project.

Treasury Secretary John Snow stopped to pay his respects this week on the
way back from a congressional hearing, Treasury spokesman Rob Nichols said
Friday.

"He had been briefed on the duck and he stopped to pay a visit," said
Nichols.

The eggs are expected to hatch the last week of April at which time the
duck
will be relocated nearer water. But until then, the duck will occupy some
of
Washington's prime real estate.

"Foreign leaders, members of Congress, everybody who visits Treasury has to
pass by the duck," Nichols said.