It's not a typo. Museums around the world have been sending each other duck pics on Twitter.
It all started Jan. 4, when the Museum of English Rural Life called out the British Museum asking for its "best duck."
hey @britishmuseum give us your best duck
— The Museum of English Rural Life (@TheMERL) January 4, 2019
What followed was a stream of ducks: photos, paintings, sculptures, even a few of the rubber variety from the Met, the Louvre, the J. Paul Getty Museum and so many more.
We're not @britishmusem but here across the pond we have a bird that is quite duck-like! 🦆 https://t.co/eYGKog10bp pic.twitter.com/nZyKVLKrKY
— J. Paul Getty Museum (@GettyMuseum) January 4, 2019
You want ducks? We've got ducks. But they're all, er...resting. pic.twitter.com/O9p21KuULY
— Spadina Museum (@SpadinaMuseum) January 4, 2019
Hey !
— Musée d'Orsay (@MuseeOrsay) January 5, 2019
Wait for uuuuus !!!
🦆 Plate "Bracquemond-Rousseau" (between 1866 and 1875) pic.twitter.com/OJOhbfNnkX
And there was plenty of smack talk.
Bet it's not as fast as our duck, Mallard. *mic drop* pic.twitter.com/nujNBOPqDu
— National Railway Museum (@railwaymuseum) January 7, 2019
As for what prompted this duck call, MERL responded via Twitter, saying, "literally just why not."
Although the duck pic action might be winding down, MERL has already tweeted that its next quack attack will be Jan. 5, 2020: #InternationalSolicitedDuckPicDay.
First published Jan. 9, 9:34 a.m. PT
Update, 11:25 a.m.: Adds comment from MERL.