Residents of a city in Maine a celebrating a cheerful addition to their community in the form of an enormous rubber duck that mysteriously appeared in their harbor over the weekend. According to a local media report, the 25-foot-tall bird, which is emblazoned with the word 'joy,' was first noticed on Saturday morning in the shallow waters off the coast of Belfast. Although no one is certain as to how the whimsical duck wound up in the harbor, chatter in the community suggests that it may have floated to its current location from the nearby island town of Islesboro.
While they may not know where the duck came from, the city's residents have embraced the bird and are hoping that it doesn't leave anytime soon. "Everybody loves it," Belfast Harbor Master Katherine Given said, "I have no idea who owns it, but it kind of fits Belfast. A lot of people want to keep it here." She went on to say that since the duck is located in shallow waters and does not pose a navigational hazard, the city is perfectly fine with letting the bright yellow bird and its joyful message remains right where it is.
One presumes that the owners of the duck are now aware of its location since the strange story of its mysterious appearance in Belfast Harbor has spawned worldwide headlines. Should they or some other enterprising individuals attempt to claim the bird, however, it might not be that easy both because of its size and how quickly it has become a beloved part of the community. To that end, Given mused that "it'll be interesting to see if somebody tries to take it out of here how far they’ll get."