FORT MYERS, Fla. - Officers from the Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission will monitor the mother Mallard duck and her 10 ducklings as they swim around the newly opened basin. The $5 million project opened to much fanfare back in December of 2012. While it surpasses the benchmark for beauty, this is likely the first test of how ecologically friendly the project is.

Around 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, the mother duck lead her ducklings into the basin just off of Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers. She quickly realized that while she could get out (fly away), her babies could not. An official with the city of Fort Myers entered the basin in a small boat and tried to corral the tiny birds to no avail. A board was placed at the western end of the basin in an attempt to encourage the birds to use it as a ramp to walk out, with no luck.

FWC officials say they will continue to look out for the tiny birds and if they are still stuck by Friday morning, a rescue attempt will be made.