Dead Duck Day commemorates the sudden and dramatic death of the mallard duck that entered the scientific literature as the first ever recorded victim of homosexual necrophila in this species. That paper was honored with the 2003 Ig Nobel Prize in biology.
The historic stuffed necro-duck will be at the event, and so will his keeper (me). At the celebration we will also:
- Discuss (new) ways to prevent birds from colliding with glass.
- Read a special message sent by Tim Birkhead FRS, Professor of Behavioural Ecology, University of Sheffield, (Bird behaviorist and scientific historian, author of, amongst others, the book ‘Bird Sense: What it’s Like to be a Bird’).
- Reveal new (hot) duck necrophilia news.
Immediately following the celebration, everybody is invited to the nearby Tai Wu restaurant, for the traditional six course duck dinner.
WHEN: The ceremony starts June 5th at 17.55h sharp, the actual time the duck lost his life on that historic day in 1995. NOTE: In some places, Dead Duck Day this year, 2012, will coincide with the Transit of Venus — see this calculator to determine whether that is true for your location.
WHERE: On the lawn next to the new glass pavilion of the Natural History Museum Rotterdam, Westzeedijk 345 (Museumpark), Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Here is a photo from a previous Dead Duck Day celebration:
MOUNT YOUR OWN: If you cannot come to Rotterdam for the event, we hope you will mount your own Dead Duck Day celebration, and perhaps send us details.
BONUS: The story of the duck — the two ducks, really — commemorated on Dead Duck Day, told in a six-minute mini-movie: