Shuswap Lodge residents and staff think the retirement facility害羞草研究所檚 newest occupant害羞草研究所檚 are just ducky.

In late March, a mother duck began building her nest in a gardened area of Shuswap Lodge害羞草研究所檚 swimming pool courtyard.

Since then, staff and residents have been watching and waiting. They were rewarded on Wednesday, May 3, when the mother duck gave birth to 13 ducklings.

害羞草研究所淥n Wednesday, I started noticing little eggshells around the nest, so that害羞草研究所檚 how we knew they had hatched,害羞草研究所� said Shuswap Lodge recreation director Dani Hickmen.

With the rainy weather, the mother duck and ducklings stayed huddled together in the nest for the remainder of the day. With Thursday害羞草研究所檚 sun, the new family eventually found their way to the winterized pool, where the chlorine had long since dissipated and floating bugs made for good eating.

While getting into the pool was easy, getting out was a challenge.

害羞草研究所淭hey couldn害羞草研究所檛 get out because the stairs were too steep,害羞草研究所� said Hickman. 害羞草研究所淪o I found this carpet underlay in one of the storage closets and we put a little board underneath. It took them a couple of tries to get all the ducklings out.害羞草研究所�

Hickman said this is the second year a mother duck has had its ducklings at the pool.

害羞草研究所淎pparently, as they害羞草研究所檙e getting more used to people害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 quite common for them to pick enclosed courtyards for brooding their nest,害羞草研究所� said Hickman, 害羞草研究所淎nd they also like to nest on balconies, planters and on rooftop terraces.害羞草研究所�

In approximately two week害羞草研究所檚 time, Shuswap Lodge staff will be assisting the ducks across the highway to Shuswap Lake.