Anyone who has visited Long Island, New York - and maybe even those who haven't - have probably noticed the ducks. They're everywhere, both literally and figuratively. Driving out to the East End, one will find 'The Big Duck' (literally, its name), the Long Island Ducks baseball team has games every season, and every pond, lake, bay, and even large puddle, is usually home to a duck or ten.

Long Island's duck representation and animal species are not coincidental - and it's also not an accident that it's one of the best places in North America for waterfowl viewing. The relationship between this small island and its favorite bird species goes back more than a century and has a history that many people - including some Long Island natives - are unaware of.

Why So Many Ducks? A Long Island History

Long Island was not always known for being home to an overwhelming number of duck species. While the wildlife on this island is distinctive and unique there are many others - deer, squirrels, rabbits, swans - that call it home and can be seen fairly regularly. In order to understand the significance, we must first go back to the late 19th century; the 1870s, to be exact.

According to the Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink, this was the first time that the Pekin duck was ever introduced to America. The journey from China began with a total of 24 (potentially more, but it is unclear what happened to them) who started the long trip to the U.S. Along the way, 15 of them did not survive, and five were eaten -leaving only four who successfully made the ship voyage across the pond. Originally, these ducks had a brief life in Connecticut before being sent across the Long Island Sound to Long Island. It's these four ducks to whom Long Island owes its duck farming success.

The Boom Of Long Island Duck Farms

The four ducks who made it to the island began a duck farming boom that was about to give Long Island its premier reputation. During the 1900s, people couldn't seem to get enough of Pekin duck, and it was quick to become a specialty on every restaurant menu that could afford it. According to Modern Farmer, Long Island duck farms were producing a whopping 7.5 million ducks per year by the 1960s.

  • Fun Fact: The duck boom drew the attention of Cornell University, which established the Cornell University Duck Laboratory to study duck disease in 1949.

With all of this success, however, also comes the downfall of the Long Island duck farms.

The Impact Of Duck Farms On The Environment

As with anything, it's not often that the dangers of something are known until it begins happening. On Long Island, this is exactly what happened during the 1970s. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation began imposing restrictions due to the runoff from the farms which, on an island, can obviously lead to very bad things. Suddenly, three-fourths of the duck farming industry on the island were either shut down or on the move to the Midwest. The price of duck skyrocketed, and those are the prices we can still see reflected today at most high-end Long Island restaurants.

Related: Shelter Island Is The Perfect Alternative To The Hamptons, And This Is How To Get There

Long Island's Ducks Today

Today, there are several tributes to the ducks that once outnumbered residents on Long Island. The first, and most prominent, is The Big Duck, which has since been relocated to Flanders. Built in 1931 by Martin Maurer, who was once a duck farmer, this duck-shaped shop stands as both a symbol and a history lesson to those driving out to Long Island's East End. A stop at The Big Duck is absolutely necessary (as is the classic photo in front of it) for those who have never been. Since the early 90s, it has been a steadfast roadside attraction featuring a gift shop and unique photo ops.

  • Hours: Daily, 10 AM - 5 PM
  • Address: 1012 NY-24, Flanders, NY 11901

Those who want to dive even further into Long Island's duck farming history are encouraged to also visit the Long Island Duck Farming Museum at Big Duck Ranch. This museum features unique displays and tours that showcase roughly a century of duck farming on the island. Future visitors should be sure to check the museum's website to stay up to date on their adjusted hours and opening times.

If nothing else, Long Island, as a whole, offers an array of options when it comes to wildlife viewing. Whether it's at one of many East End farms during the summer and fall months, or during a hiking trip to one of the island's many parks. Simply just finding a road down to the water - be it ocean, bay, or lake - will surely result in hours of waterfowl exhibition that outranks any in the country.

Next: Long Island Is Home To The Washington Spy Trail And It's The Perfect Destination For History Buffs