August 10, 2012 – Under the watchful eyes of the Chicago Park District, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Police Department, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, various tour boats, hundreds of onlookers, and Splash, a large duck mascot, 40,000 tiny rubber ducks were once again dumped into the Chicago River on Thursday.

The seventh annual Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby benefits Special Olympics Illinois. This year, sponsors of the ducks competed for prizes that included a new Chevy SUV.

The north end of the Columbus Drive Bridge was raised so that the ducks could dive into the river. A water cannon on a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District boat scooted the ducks west toward another boat, from which the winners were plucked. Some ducks were tossed up to a crowd lining the north bank of the river. A special boat then scooped up the remaining ducks.

(Click on image to view larger version.)