Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Things are getting ducky at Hoyt Lake along Delaware Park, as the flamingo boats are joined by a duck named Salem. The Buffalo Maritime Center says there is special meaning to the duck and its name.
Joe Kessler says flamingos were introduced to the lake about four years ago. As the center looked to expand, Kessler says the idea came to pay tribute to a former attendant. "His nickname was Duck, so we decided, in his memory, we would name a duck. He joined the United States Marine Corps, and passed away last year. So in his memory we launched it," says Kessler. The attendant's name was Salem, and the duck is also named Salem.
Kessler says Salem is the same size as the flamingos, enough for four adults to ride at a time, and he says Salem's rarely idle. "It's very rare that he's sitting at the dock because when a new group comes up, he's usually the first choice to go out," says Kessler. The center has set up online reservations, creating a special category online to just Salem. You can reserve Salem in either half hour or hour increments on the lake and the cost is the same as the flamingos, $20 for a half hour, $25 for an hour.
You can find Salem at Hoyt Lake off Lincoln Parkway, below the Terrace Restaurant. Kessler says reservations are not necessary if Salem or any flamingo is available.