On August 8, 30,000 rubber ducks were launched into the Chicago River from the Columbus Street bridge to start the third annual Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby. The event is a fundraiser for the Illinois Special Olympics. Each duck is "adopted" by its sponsor for a monetary donation, and the ducks "race" downriver. Prizes are awarded for the first ducks to cross the finish line.

A 30-ton articulated dump truck from Rolling Meadows, Ill.-based Komatsu America Corp., which submitted this photo, dumped the ducks into the river, signaling the start of the race.