Ducks on the move as Mirror Lake renovated

So what about the ducks? Be it the famed Afroduck or just a minor mallard, the ducks at Mirror Lake are part of the charm.

But with a major renovation underway to make the Mirror Lake district safer and more sustainable, questions about the fate of the ducks are coming up.

“Are the ducks going to still be there? That’s the most important thing,” said David Chen, a senior majoring in electrical engineering. “I like seeing the ducks when I walk by.”

Aluminum fences now surround the pond and the water has been drained. It’s expected to take 18 months for the Mirror Lake project to be completed.

In the meantime, the ducks that have called Mirror Lake home will have to find a new place to live.

But experts say that’s not a challenge. When the food dries up, they move on.

If there are stragglers, the Ohio State University has a plan for them as well.

“Any ducks that do not relocate will be moved to an appropriate environment for their own well-being,” said Lynn Readey, associate vice president, Facilities Operations and Development. “The university contracts with a specialized wildlife management firm to handle the relocation.”

The restoration is supposed to return Mirror Lake to a more natural state – closer to its historical form. That means cutting out the chemical treatment of the water and boosting the biodiversity.

When the renovations are finished and the water to the lake is flowing again, it’s expected the ducks will return home.

As for the new Afroduck, it appears he has moved on.