Washington’s Department of Energy and the Environment is investigating the deaths of three ducks found near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as a wildlife rehab group plans daily checks on the birds dwelling in the algae-bloom-filled water.
It remains unclear what killed the ducks — though bright green algae has infested the iconic landmark after President Donald Trump’s recent restoration project. Forbes reported Tuesday that the algae bloom could be cyanobacteria, which is toxic to marine birds.
City Wildlife, a nonprofit animal-rehabilitation center, collected the bodies of two dead ducks on Sunday found in a nearby pond at Constitution Gardens, The Washington Post reported. Another dead duckling was seen floating dead in the Reflecting Pool, but its body was not recovered.