Duckbill (rock formation)

{{Short description|Rock formation in the U.S. state of Oregon}}

{{Infobox landform

| name = Duckbill

| photo =Duckbill (rock formation at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area), 2014-08-27 iPhone.jpg

| photo_caption = The rock formation on August 27, 2014

| elevation_ft = 39

| map = Oregon

| map_relief =

| map_caption = Location in Oregon

| label_position = Cape Kiwanda

| location = Tillamook County, Oregon

| coordinates = {{coord|45.21777|N|123.97934|W|type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| type = Sandstone hoodoo

}}

Duckbill was a sandstone hoodoo rock formation at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, in the U.S. state of Oregon. The formation was a frequently-photographed tourist attraction on the Oregon Coast. It was destroyed by a group of teenage vandals who toppled the stone on August 29, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/09/06/people-thought-this-iconic-oregon-rock-formation-fell-on-its-own-then-a-video-emerged/|title=People thought this iconic Oregon rock formation fell on its own. Then a video emerged.|work=washingtonpost.com|accessdate=7 September 2016|archive-date=25 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825183459/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/09/06/people-thought-this-iconic-oregon-rock-formation-fell-on-its-own-then-a-video-emerged/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/06/us/oregon-rock-formation-duckbill-toppled-trnd/index.html|title=Vandals topple Oregon's iconic rock formation|first=AnneClaire|last=Stapleton|work=cnn.com|date=6 September 2016 |accessdate=7 September 2016|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116151847/https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/06/us/oregon-rock-formation-duckbill-toppled-trnd/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a48362/tourists-destroy-oregon-state-park-rock-formation/|title=The Destroyers of a Beloved Rock Formation Claimed They Were 'Doing the World or Oregon a Favor'|date=6 September 2016|work=esquire.com|accessdate=7 September 2016|archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808035449/https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a48362/tourists-destroy-oregon-state-park-rock-formation/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2016/09/05/video-shows-vandals-destroying-iconic-oregon-sculpture/|title=Video shows vandals destroying iconic Oregon rock formation|first=Emily|last=Saul|date=5 September 2016|work=nypost.com|accessdate=7 September 2016|archive-date=5 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905224031/http://nypost.com/2016/09/05/video-shows-vandals-destroying-iconic-oregon-sculpture/|url-status=live}}

The vandals said they destroyed the formation as "a public service" which eliminated what they called "a safety hazard" because a friend of theirs had broken a leg on the rock formation.{{cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/nation-world/2016/09/08/oregon-police-look-for-people-who-destroyed-popular-duckbill-rock-formation/|title=Oregon police look for people who destroyed popular "Duckbill" rock formation|author=Chokshi, Niraj|publisher=Alaska Dispatch News|date=September 8, 2016|accessdate=September 8, 2016|archive-date=September 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909163551/http://www.adn.com/nation-world/2016/09/08/oregon-police-look-for-people-who-destroyed-popular-duckbill-rock-formation/|url-status=live}} However, Chris Havel, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department associate director, noted that the formation was fenced-off and signs warned visitors against approaching it: "The fence is very clear; you have to intentionally move the wires aside and crawl through it."{{cite news|title=The destruction of a social media 'rock star'|website=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-37309111|date=10 September 2016|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923034503/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-37309111|url-status=live}} None of the vandals have ever been caught.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2017/02/17/police-stumped-cape-kiwanda-duckbill-rock-vandalism/98067968/|title=Police stumped on Cape Kiwanda 'duckbill rock' vandalism, want public's help|first=Zach|last=Urness|website=Statesman Journal|accessdate=Jul 23, 2020|archive-date=July 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713130418/https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2017/02/17/police-stumped-cape-kiwanda-duckbill-rock-vandalism/98067968/|url-status=live}}