The folks at the school had a Western-styled Mallard round-up this
afternoon.  They opened one set of doors to the courtyard and slowly
showed the mother Mallard and her seven chicks the way in to and out
of the school.  There first day of school was a success and they
graduated to much-more-challenging world of the great outdoors.

They settled under some bushes next a storm water retention area
(currently bone dry) just a few yards from B&A Blvd (648) located just
over a small hill.  The school is concerned about the ducks trying to
cross this busy road, so they put out some water for the chicks in the
shade of these shrubs.  Immediately, the chicks went straight for the
pie pans and the last I'd heard... Mother and chicks were enjoying
their new digs.

Should anyone care to offer additional wisdom,  I would happily pass
it along to the folks at the school.

And, in bird sighting news:   I observed one AMERICAN KESTREL from
Dairy Farm Road in Gambrills this afternoon.  The bird was on a fence
post on the grounds of the Naval Academy Dairy Farm.

Best,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD