Results: Rubber Ducky, You're the One

On a dark and stormy night in 1992, a cargo ship in the Pacific lost a container of bath toys heading to the US from the Far East. Some 29,000 yellow rubber ducks, blue turtles and green frogs went overboard. The BBC One series, Blue Planet, reported that toys lost in the incident were still floating ashore as late as 2017. Had you heard of this event prior to this survey?

According to the World Shipping Council, an average of 779 containers were lost annually during the three year period 2017 to 2019- which is pretty typical. Obviously, the environmental impact is concerning. But, a number of scientists used that little flotilla of bath buddies to chart ocean currents. Why? Because the ducks are watertight and more likely than the floats normally used by scientists to be reported when spotted. And in related news, did you know that 109 containers of Yeti coolers went overboard back in September and are coming ashore in Alaska still?

In the early 2000s, rubber duck races became- for some unknown reason- a popular fundraiser for charity. My father was so taken with the absurdity of The Dayton Rubber Duck Regatta, he purchased tickets- including one for me. And while part of me was tickled by the idea, most of me was concerned about unclaimed ducks littering the riverbanks. These days, the race is virtual - a much better choice from an environmental standpoint. Have you ever had entry in a Rubber Duck Race?

Perhaps the best know rubber duck is the beloved Rubber Duckie belonging to Ernie on Sesame Street. This lucky little guy has had several songs written about him. Have you ever heard...

Honestly can't say I ever had any bath toys, much less a rubber duck. My daughter's bath tended to be populated by mermaids and Barbies pretending to be mermaids. My son was more into things like bath crayons and squirt guns. Did you have a rubber duck to make your bath time "lot's of fun?"