Don Armeni Park is famous for its sweep of the Seattle skyline, but lately, visitors to the boat launch have had their eyes fixed firmly on the ground. The attraction? A young, female mallard duck who has spent the last three weeks holding court near the park’s public restrooms.

Nicknamed “Donna” by local Harbor Avenue couple Greg Haapla and Carolyn Grieser, she has become a bonafide neighborhood celebrity, drawing crowds, photographers, and a steady stream of hand-outs.

A Domesticated Demeanor

Unlike her wild counterparts, Donna exhibits a striking lack of fear. She wanders comfortably around cars and people, allowing curious onlookers to approach within six feet. This relaxed behavior has raised both interest and concern among locals.

“She's not afraid of people. She's not afraid of cars, which is kind of concerning to me,” Haapla shared. The duck’s gentle demeanor was so pronounced that Haapla initially wondered if she might have been someone’s escaped pet, prompting her to post about the duck on a local online community forum.

While Don Armeni's waterfront is often a chaotic scene of pigeons, crows, and seagulls aggressively vying for food, Donna remains remarkably unbothered.

“She seems to be, you know, she's willing to share,” Haapla observed, noting that Donna doesn't aggressively compete with the local pigeons.

Left Behind But Flying High

For a species known for flocking together, Donna’s solitary lifestyle is unusual. Haapla, who grew up on a lake, noted that ducks are almost always seen in groups, making this "lone duck" highly intriguing. Donna even left a small memento to a lady during a recent visit—dropping a single feather right at her feet.

Despite her solo status, Donna is in good health. She is not injured and has been observed flying distances of up to 100 yards.

To understand why this young bird—estimated by Haapla to be at least an adolescent—is sticking to a paved parking lot rather than a marsh, Westside Seattle reached out to experts.

Wildlife experts at PAWS in Lynnwood explained that leaving the flock is actually normal behavior for a duck. However, her decision to remain at the boat launch boils down to a classic wildlife motivator: free meals.

The Cost of Fame

“It’s likely she is sticking around because she’s being fed,” PAWS advised.

Indeed, Haapla and Grieser confirmed that the boat launch has become a non-stop buffet. "Tons of people," Grieser said, can be seen feeding Donna and taking photos all day long. While Haapla himself admitted to offering her a little corn recently, the sheer volume of breadcrumbs and crackers from passing tourists has turned Donna's temporary pitstop into a permanent residency.

While having a local celebrity is charming, wildlife advocates say the best thing the community can do for Donna is to ignore her. PAWS advised that if people stop feeding the mallard, she will naturally move on, rejoin her own kind, and find a safer, more natural environment to call home.

For now, Donna remains the darling of Don Armeni Park, comfortable in the spotlight but perhaps waiting for the day the free buffet finally closes.