# So why does this duck quack when flourescent light is switched off then? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423 "2016-06-03T20:30:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shearer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@Shearer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shearer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423/21 "2016-06-04T23:49:34Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Does it ECHO then !?!?!? Now then, now then ---
**Author:** ![Jesta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Jesta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesta)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423/22 "2016-06-05T11:32:11Z")
> [@Fridgemagnet](#): > > or keep the duck in a metal box. May I suggest the garage? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423/23 "2016-06-05T12:17:05Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > The bigger mystery is why the OP has taken the trouble to install a motion sensing duck under the table by his sofa only to search for a way to disable it, (as opposed to just not having it or taking the batteries out) but fortunately they aren’t asking for an answer… I’d say they are just ducking the question. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423/24 "2016-06-05T13:02:25Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Why a duck? Because one of its legs is both the same. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423/25 "2016-06-05T23:39:51Z")
The OP, at least, knows the sound of one duck quacking. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423/26 "2016-06-05T23:43:44Z")
> [@Fridgemagnet](#): > > It sounds like **Dunmurry’s** duck is being triggered by the big electromagnetic spike produced when the fluorescent light is switched off. Was going to be my suggestion, too. I’ve got a fluorescent light that when switched on or off makes my flat screen TV cycle flicker, and they’re not even on the same circuit. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423/27 "2016-06-06T10:46:32Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > But now that you have, don’t you really really want one? No. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423/28 "2016-06-06T17:04:14Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve heard about the biscuits/crisps nonsense they’re always going on about, but what’s with the ducks then? So, saying “then” at the end of a sentence is a British Bobby thing, a Canadian English thing, and a Western Pennsylvania thing; got it. I hope the duck is cousin to the [Talking Big Mouth Bass (ebay)](http://www.ebay.com/bhp/big-mouth-billy-bass) and not the [Exploding Penguin (youtube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyFxXdqtGNk). ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423/29 "2016-06-06T20:09:37Z")
I think the duck is calling for help. I missed the word “plastic” on my first read of the OP and I was horrified. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423/30 "2016-06-06T20:18:29Z")
It’s the latest thing in the UK; guard ducks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-this-duck-quack-when-flourescent-light-is-switched-off-then/756423.md?page=1)