Our Duck Sign

DUCK HEROES

Our Duck Sign

Brake For Ducks...or...Duck Xing?

Sign Image Copyright 2008

Designing Our Sign

There are several different types of duck signs available and we considered the pros and cons of each design. We knew we wanted a sign with a mother and ducklings and we did find a few, but eventually we decided to incorporate a combination of concepts from various signs to convey the following key elements:

1) A mother duck followed by ducklings.

The Woodlands is a very family oriented community and we felt the image of a "duck family" would strike a chord...(even tug at the heart strings!)...of most of our residents, especially the children. Kids have a lot of influence on their parents (...who are driving the cars) and an urgent, "Mommy! Stop for the ducks!" from the back of a mini-van is sure to have the desired effect.

2) A "sense of motion" in the ducks.

It's precisely because ducks are moving across the road that creates a traffic hazard and we wanted our sign to convey that motion. Our last little duck, struggling to catch up, also conveys a sense of urgency on their part to get across the road safely.

3) The words: "Brake For Ducks".

Duck signs that say, "Duck Xing", identify a place in the road where ducks are likely to be found, which is helpful as a warning. The expression "Duck Xing", however, doesn't give instruction on what to do...or what is expected of a motorist; it is merely a "label".

In contrast, the expression "Brake For Ducks" is much more compelling. It is an imperative: a command to act responsibly when encountering a duck in the road. We felt motorists would be more responsive to a "command" on the sign and so, we chose this expression.

Your Community/Your Sign

Every community has its own individual needs as far as duck signs are concerned. Some are urban park environments, while others may be rural and somewhat remote. Your community setting should dictate what kind of sign you need.

For example, some communities that experience duck-traffic issues only on a seasonal basis (i.e. fall migration or spring mating season) have used portable duck signs mounted on posts with a "tire-base" (like the posts for supporting a volleyball net). At the duck-traffic road site, they wheel the sign out every morning and then, wheel it back inside for the night. This requires some sort of facility near the duck crossing, like a gas station or bait & tackle shop to be able to roll the signs in and out on a daily basis.

If your "duck-traffic" site is an urban park setting, you might design a duck sign with images of ducks and silhouettes of office buildings. Your sign should fit your community image and pond setting. Be creative and...have fun designing it!