An appreciative writeup of the recent Dead Duck Day celebration in Rotterdam, which turned out to be the biggest and most festive of the 31 Dead Duck Day celebrations, appears in the news publication De Stadsruit. Bjorn de Leeuw wrote it. Here is a machine translation from the original Dutch into English:
Dead Duck Day 31 : Royal swan song for the ‘duck man’
The garden of the Natural History Museum turned blacker than ever with people on Friday, June 5, for the 31st and final Dead Duck Day. Biologist Kees Moeliker, who started the event in 1996 with no more than a colleague and two bottles of beer, ceremonially announced his retirement. This also marks the end of the annual gatherings of bird enthusiasts and Kees Moeliker fans.
For this final occasion, the outgoing director of the Natural History Museum climbed onto an improvised stage and, using wireless amplification, briefed the massive audience on the latest state of affairs regarding birds. The need for this arose on June 5, 1995—at exactly 5:55 PM—when Moeliker witnessed the remarkable death of a mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). A chased drake crashed headlong into the museum’s glass facade, only to be raped for 75 minutes by his assailant—also a drake.
Moeliker saw it happen and recorded it. The affair went down in history as the first documented case of homosexual necrophilia in the mallard and brought Moeliker fame and recognition in the field of lighthearted but no less relevant science communication. The curious scientific report grew into an event that draws attention to the billions of birds that perish annually from collisions with glass buildings.
The most recent and final edition was a mix of scientific weight and anecdotal lightness, articulated by a number of invited speakers. For instance, Marc Abrahams – founder of the Ig Nobel Prize for bizarre, funny, or unorthodox scientific research – shared his vision on the importance of social interaction in and around the animal world, dead or alive. Biologist and litter activist Auke-Florian Hiemstra from Leiden highlighted the gravity of the plastic problem with an entertaining demonstration and species description of the rubber duck (Anas plasticus). Architect Jacob van Rijs – of the Rotterdam architectural firm MVRDV – discussed solutions to make glassware more bird-friendly, ranging from pricey UV coatings to practical do-it-yourself stickers that were distributed to the audience for free. The danger is the reflection, according to Van Rijs.
Finally, Deputy Mayor Tim Versnel was flown in to give a speech. He praised Moeliker for his unique ability to make biological science accessible and appealing to the general public. That it pleased the King as well was evident from the insignia pinned on the surprised, freshly minted Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau by the Deputy Mayor.
With that crown on his work, Moeliker leaves the nest, but he was quick to say that Dead Duck Day will continue. The event will lead a nomadic existence. Where the next ‘flying’ edition will land is not yet known, but interested parties can contact the Natural History Museum.
After 45 minutes, the ceremony concluded with the announcement that the customary duck meal, despite recent menu changes at restaurant Tai Wu, would take place there as always. It would conclude in style with informal drinks and a dinner where the duck – in the various preparations V17, V201, H604, S307, S38, and 239 – took center stage one last time.
