For these hotel guests, life is just ducky

I long have been intrigued by the Peabody ducks: the ones in residence in the lobbies of Peabody hotels.

Last month, when we were on one of our semi-annual visits to Sea World, we decided to satisfy our curiosity about them.

It was a decision we would not regret. After parking and finding our way into one of the Peabody's multiple entrances, we wandered about a bit before finally asking a hotel employee about the ducks.

There we saw a group of probably 30 or 40 people -- children and adults of all ages near the lobby fountain.

The Peabody ducks make their grand entrance each morning at 11, so our timing -- unknown to us -- had been near perfect. We joined the group in anticipation.

We had only a few minutes to wait. We kept our eyes on a strip of red carpet that led from an elevator to the lobby fountain. The elevator door opened and the ducks emerged, waddling smartly on the carpet, headed for their home for the day accompanied by the duck master, Mark Allen Hirchert. He was dressed as a duckmeister should dress -- crimson jacket, gold braid -- and carrying a gold duck-head cane, with which he presumably could, if necessary, coax his charges back into line.

Before the ducks' arrival, he had rolled out the red carpet and placed steps at the side of the fountain. He had his ducks in a row and, as they reached their destination, each jumped confidently onto the steps leading to the fountain's ledge and into the water. Except for their counterparts in Memphis and Little Rock, they probably are the world's only ducks that are given a round of applause.

Once the ceremony was over, Hirchert rolled up the carpet and collected the steps that he will put away until 5 p.m. when the ducks reverse their parade route.

Once the ducks were in the fountain, most of the spectators dispersed quickly, but we stuck around to admire them and then to talk with Hirchert.

He seemed somewhat like a proud father as he talked about his charges. In fact, he refers to them as his kids. He has held the duck master position since 1997, and he knows his kids well. Actually, he said, there are three teams of ducks at the hotel. As one team begins to get possessive of its territory, it is sent down to the farm -- much as a baseball player -- and another team of five is called up.

As a child, Hirchert, a Florida native, spent summers on a North Dakota farm and became acquainted with a variety of animals. It wasn't until after his graduation from Florida State University and a job in the tourist industry that he found his calling at the Peabody. He was conversant in four languages and was employed as a concierge before donning the duck master's costume.

He does not name the ducks, because they are not pets. He sometimes addresses them as "Ma'am," "Madame" or "Sir." His equal treatment for all appears to pay off.

And why not? How many ducks are treated so royally that their natural life span is extended by several years? The average duck, living on its own, lives two to three years, Hirchert says, while the Peabody ducks live 12 to 13.

But the Peabody ducks have a menu that the ordinary duck doesn't get -- fresh water and fresh food. And every three months team members are sent to the Peabody Duck Farm for R&R (rest and reproduction), and another team takes over the hotel duties.

Retirement comes for them between the ages of 3 and 4, at which time they take up residence at the duck farm. All the retired ducks taken to the farm are free to stay there unless they choose to leave. And most of them stay, living out their lives free of the hazards they might face living on their own.

The Peabody's upscale restaurant is not far from the fountain where the ducks swim. And duck is not on the menu.

- Write to Jay Horning c/o Seniority, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. Or send e-mail to jayhorning@aol.com.

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