Early in the morning on August 4, a giant truck backed up towards the edge of the bridge over Lady Bird Lake. Almost 20,000 rubber ducks tumbled out of the back of the loader truck, falling into the lake below.
The duck dump was not an act of massive vandalism, but instead was part of an annual fundraiser for the Austin Boys and Girls Club Foundation. Hundreds of people gathered near the edge of the lake, some of them on paddleboards and kayaks, to watch the ducks fall into the water.
Once the ducks hit the water, it was a race to see which one would reach the finish line first. Members of the Austin Fire Department sprayed the ducks with water from hoses to help them move across the lake, to the finish line.
Organizers of fundraisers can use printing services to get the word out about their events and to encourage people to participate. The annual Austin Duck Derby asks people to "adopt" a rubber ducky or a group of duckies. It cost $5 to adopt one duck or $100 to adopt a fleet of 25 ducks.
Adopting a duck gives a person a chance to help a good cause and to win fun prizes. The first place prize, awarded to the person whose duck reached the finish line first, was a new Volkswagen Jetta, donated by a local dealer. Elaine Harwood took home the car after this year's race.
