Bucks for Ducks nets $5,000 for Turnbull refuge

A mama duck’s ill-advised roost on a Spokane window ledge led to her fowl brethren at the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge landing $5,000.
Sterling Savings Bank concluded a monthlong Bucks for Ducks fundraiser to celebrate the safe passage of the duck and her 12-duckling brood, who had roosted on the facade of the bank’s downtown office. Loan officer Joel Armstrong garnered headlines last month when he caught the ducks as they jumped from the ledge and escorted them to the Spokane River.
Spokane- and Coeur d’Alene-area Sterling branches offered rubber ducks in exchange for $1 donations …

A mama duck’s ill-advised roost on a Spokane window ledge led to her fowl brethren at the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge landing $5,000.

Sterling Savings Bank concluded a monthlong Bucks for Ducks fundraiser to celebrate the safe passage of the duck and her 12-duckling brood, who had roosted on the facade of the bank’s downtown office. Loan officer Joel Armstrong garnered headlines last month when he caught the ducks as they jumped from the ledge and escorted them to the Spokane River.

Spokane- and Coeur d’Alene-area Sterling branches offered rubber ducks in exchange for $1 donations to the refuge, a 16,000-acre tract outside of Cheney that is important habitat for breeding and migrating waterfowl.

Armstrong’s feathered wards likely would feel right at home at Turnbull: The mallard is one of more than 20 species of duck that use the refuge, and “one of our big nesters here,” said Nancy Curry, refuge manager for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

People who donated also could enter a drawing for a chance to name one of the hatchlings and win a share of a $2,500 prize. The ducklings’ names are: Charlie, Lulu, Herbie, Roxi, Quackers, Fly Away, Hughes, Lazy Dazee, Sweet Pea, Jimmy, Lucky and Gertrude.

Ducks for Bucks raised $2,203. Sterling will donate the remainder of the money.