Mass Audubon’s Duck Derby is back this year on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary.

Thousands of rubber ducks, sponsored by members of the community, will be released into the incoming tide of Buzzards Bay and the first to cross the finish line will win a Grand Prize of $5,000.

There will also be winning prizes of a Mass Audubon family membership, Mass Audubon swag bag and a special prize for the "Slacker Quacker," the last duck to finish the race.

Proceeds from duck sponsoring will benefit Mass Audubon's ecological and outreach projects, including the Salt Marsh Restoration, Coastal Waterbird Monitoring and its South Coast Osprey project. Winners will be announced at the South Coast Harvest Festival, on social media, in local newspapers and on the Allens Pond website.

Individuals can sign up to sponsor a duck by visiting the Mass Audubon website and navigating to its “places to explore” tab. Sponsorship begins at $10 for a duck. Sponsors do not have to be present at the race to win prizes.

Rain date for the Duck Derby is Sunday, Sept. 29.