The duck was not native but drew visitors to Pennypack

A rare mandarin duck of Eastern Asia, living in Pennypack Park, was declared deceased on Facebook earlier this week. The cause of death is unknown.

The duck drew a lot of visitors and photographers to the park. It was also featured in a Billy Penn article this Fall.

(Sidenote: Ironically enough, I hiked there on Sunday. When an older couple asked us if we were there to see the mandarin duck, I had no idea what they were talking about. IF ONLY I googled…)

Pennypack Park is a birding destination and features more than 150 species of nesting and migrating birds including owls, hummingbirds, and more.

Cover photo: via Facebook

Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia. View all posts by Julie Hancher