o take off from water, a duck must do so in one of two ways. Either it must run across the water until sufficient speed is reached to gain lift, requiring a large expanse of water. Or it must free itself from the water by slapping the surface with its wings and then continuing up in a near-vertical ascent, requiring only a puddle of water. The latter method is executed by puddle ducks of which mallards are a part.
n this sculpture we see a "Vaulting Mallard" leaving this puddle of water, perhaps on its way to the next one.
