Finding a quiet spot on the water to get away from it all can be difficult, especially if you’re a trumpeter swan.

Every winter, about 200 birds fly south to LaSalle Park in Burlington, Ontario.

In previous years, these birds would have been a rare sight, having been nearly hunted to the verge of extinction during the 19th century.

Conflict with humanity is hitting the trumpeter swans hard once again. The LaSalle Park Marina Association is trying to push through plans to create a 400 metre, 10,000 tonne-stone breakwater to protect their boats, and also expanding the number of boats they can store.

Two trumpeter swans huddle together. Photo by Art Ward, a photo contest submission.

Doing so would protect the boats, but would likely to the lake freezing, and the trumpeter swans without a food source in the winter months. Previously, a floating break-water had been used, and that allowed for the swans to still feed safely.

The question is though, with the City of Burlington taking over the plans, where would the swans go if LaSalle starts to freeze over in the winter? There are few options left.

Read more about the trumpeter swan and what people are doing to protect its Lake Ontario home in Canadian Wildlife magazine, Nov + Dec 2016 edition.

File photo by James Hawley, a photo contest submission.

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