21-Aug-16 – Sensitive viewers, look away.

Hundreds of toy ducks are huddled in a corner of the Chicago River east of Lake Shore Drive, their bright beaks in defiant contrast to their plight. Swimming with trash, dead fish, and other debris, they are survivors of the Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby on August 4.

More than 57,000 toy ducks raced this year, raising money for Special Olympics Illinois. Most of the ducks that do not win are scooped up in bulk – by hand and net or by a river skimmer.

Considering the Chicago River famously flows west away from Lake Michigan, these ducks, seen here on August 14 near the north breakwater access, have miraculously floated upstream and, if not for the Chicago Harbor Lock, arguably could have made it into the lake and ended up in a better place.

By August 20, the area had been cleaned and only a few ducks remained.