Gotta Catch ‘Em All

In what has the potential to be an exciting new carnival game, a bank worker in Spokane, WA earned the nickname “Duck Man” for his ability to catch ducklings as they leap off the front of the building where he works, a drop of 15 feet. In this 2010 article from The Telegraph, bank official Joel Armstrong says he waits until he sees the mama duck peeking over the ledge, the sign she is ready to leap down to the pavement and wait for her ducklings to take the plunge. Can Joel catch ’em all?

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18 thoughts on “Gotta Catch ‘Em All

  1. debg September 13, 2017 / 12:57 pm

    That actually looks like fun. Except that I’d probably drop one by accident–not a good catcher.

  2. dubravkamcvmd September 13, 2017 / 1:12 pm

    Yay!

  3. Murray C September 13, 2017 / 1:49 pm

    I hope Momma doesn’t make a nest there again! What was she thinking!?

    • Mal September 13, 2017 / 5:34 pm

      Ducks are not known for their cognitive agility. Cf. Puddleduck, Jemima.

      • Duckie ? September 13, 2017 / 11:53 pm

        Gee, thanks.
        ?

  4. EdmundH September 13, 2017 / 2:47 pm

    And this is not a one-off event, the man caught 26 ducklings over a span of 3 years with a perfect 26/26 record!

    And mama duck & co. gets an escort through downtown:




    • Murray C September 13, 2017 / 6:04 pm

      Oh, no, he’s an enabler!!!!? No wonder mama duck goes back there every year!

  5. Kar September 13, 2017 / 3:17 pm

    Think this was on the old Cuteoverload site.

    My question is, why doesn’t the bank discourage ducks from nesting there with anti-pigeon spikes or something?

    • Blue Footed Booby September 14, 2017 / 8:43 am

      Maybe because then they’d nest somewhere else, where there might not be someone to catch them.

  6. Dana September 13, 2017 / 4:03 pm

    Mr. Armstrong: “Excuse me, Mr. Thompson, can I put you on hold for a few minutes? I have to run outside to catch some ducks.”

    Mr. Thompson: “Uh, can you repeat that?”

  7. Gigi the cat lady September 13, 2017 / 5:47 pm

    I wonder if catching baby ducks will be part of the job description when the bank need to replace Mr Armstrong when he retires. ?????

    • AB September 13, 2017 / 5:57 pm

      They should toss beanie baby ducks to potential job candidates as part of the interview process.

      • Murray C September 13, 2017 / 6:01 pm

        Now that’s funny.

  8. tara September 13, 2017 / 6:10 pm

    ooh, I like the idea of a Right-time-right-place Award!

  9. Flowerfanatic September 13, 2017 / 6:17 pm

    Most ducks build their nests high over water to avoid predators. The babies just take a flying leap off the side of the nest and go SPLAT into the water without even thinking it might be dangerous. I’ve seen this video before and followed them for several years doing the same ‘catching’ thing and ushering the family into the water. Was fun to watch it again.

  10. Amyliz September 13, 2017 / 7:24 pm

    This kind of thing restores my faith in humanity. And there is nothing on this planet cuter than ducklings!

  11. sugitomo September 13, 2017 / 8:42 pm

    This was one of my favorite stories (whatever iterations ago). That mama better hope that this guy doesn’t schedule any vacations come breeding season next spring.

  12. D B September 14, 2017 / 10:21 am

    I thought I remembered this adorableness… Good to see it again. The duckling plunginess is reminding me of wood ducks, though the training of the human reminds me of pretty much every bird ever, lol.

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