Biologists rescue mallard duck family at Riia Street in Tallinn

A mallard duck found a nesting spot in a flower basket on the balcony of the Omicum office building's molecular biology and biochemistry laboratory on Riia Street in Tallinn. Biologists had to seek help from another biologist to safely rescue the bird family.

A small wildlife drama unfolded in May on the second-floor balcony of the Omicum office building on Riia Street in Tallinn: behind the windows of the molecular biology and biochemistry laboratory, staff discovered an unexpected visitor. A mallard duck had chosen a flower basket on the balcony as its nest, nestled in the shade of pansies.

In the final week of May, the duck was brooding her eggs while laboratory workers unexpectedly took on the role of nature observers. Because the occupants were biologists, they knew that birds must not be disturbed, yet the nesting spot on the balcony presented a problem: how would the ducklings manage to reach the ground after hatching, and from there find the nearest body of water?

To find a solution, they turned to another biologist so that the bird family could undertake their first major adventure-down from the balcony and to the nearest water-as safely as possible.