BISHOPDALE DUCK HOLDS UP HARTLEY AVE TRAFFIC, GETS FULL RIGHT OF WAY FROM SEVEN CARS AND A HIACE

A mallard waddled across the pedestrian crossing on Hartley Ave in Bishopdale on Wednesday morning and brought seven cars, a courier van, and a Hiace full of scaffolders to a complete standstill for the better part of two minutes.

The duck, described by witnesses as "in no rush whatsoever", entered the crossing at the southern end, stopped halfway to have a think, and then continued at a pace best described as bloody leisurely.

Scaffolder Macca Brebner, 34, was three cars back in the Hiace and said the boys had a perfect view. "Normally we'd be carrying on, ay. But the duck had the white stripes. Fair's fair. You stop for the crossing."

A woman in the front car, Lorraine Petherick of Bishopdale, said she'd switched her engine off. "I wasn't going to be the dickhead who hit a duck on a zebra crossing. Imagine the Facebook. I'd never live it down at bowls."

A council spokesperson, asked whether ducks were technically entitled to use the crossing, said the bylaws were "silent on waterfowl" but that motorists should "exercise common sense". They declined to clarify what common sense was.

The duck has since been seen near the drain behind the Mitre 10, where it is reportedly holding court. The scaffolders were late to the job. The job, Macca confirmed, will now be done Tuesday.