Photos: Duckling rescue attempt at Ellicott and Main streets, Batavia

Laurie Waite and daughter Ellie, 12, spotted a mama duck and her ducklings trying to cross Main Street near the post office and decided to try and do their best to ensure their safe passage. Traffic was snarled because of road work.

As the feathered family neared Ellicott Street, mama got scared and flew off. The ducklings tried to hide in the bushes. A county employee brought over a cardboard box. Dale Lewter and Butch Yasses joined the rescue effort.

After about six of the 10 had been gathered up and placed in the box, one ran into the storm drain. Two more darted out into traffic on Ellicott Street. Lewter captured one, but the second ran across the street. With Lewter and Yasses in the road motioning for southbound traffic to stop, a black hatchback, possibly a Kia or similar make, just kept on going and struck the duckling.

Lt. Eugene Jankowski said the storm drain grate was welded in place because of truck traffic on Ellicott Street, so the best that could be done was hope the duckling could find its way to the creek through the drain.

With eight of the ducklings now in the box and mother circling the area, Lewter carried the ducklings to the Tonawanda Creek and placed them in the water. Mama duck landed at the top of the falls, and after her eight babies were in the water, she flew down to join them, honking after she landed and the little guys quickly swam to be by her side.