absent from the marsh until a reintroduction programme by Harry Lumsden in the 1980s, as an employee of the Ontario Department of Natural Resources. Archeological evidence collected by Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century suggests that the area previously had significant concentrations of trumpeter swans, and historical references indicate the same. While hunters armed only with bows and arrows would have had a difficult time hunting the swan, the introduction of firearms by European explorers would have made the swan a tempting target for hunters. By 1850, only small numbers of the swan remained in Eastern Canada, and the last sighting of a trumpeter swan in Ontario before reintroduction occurred in 1884. Among Ontarians, the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre has is known as the Home of the Trumpeter Swan. The marsh is also an important breeding site for black terns and least bitterns. At least 1% of the breeding pairs of least bitterns in Canada nest in the Wye Marsh. Other bird species known to inhabit the marsh include: red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, brown-headed cowbirds, sandhill cranes, common mergansers, double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, marsh wrens, tree swallows, common yellowthroats, ring-billed gulls, common moorhens, mallard ducks, wood ducks, Canada geese, barn swallows and soras. Historically, the marsh supported large amounts of wild rice, which served as an important food source for waterfowl. The introduction of carp in the early 20th century significantly reduced the amount of wild rice, and consequently the number of waterfowl. Public recreation Hunting, fishing and trapping are all conducted in the Wye Marsh, although their popularity is decreasing. By 2001, the annual number of hunting permits issued had dropped from the 1970s level of 250 - 300 per year to 60 - 90 per year. Fishing dropped off after 1990 due to low water levels and increasing vegetation levels, and Muskrats, the most popular animal for trapping, experienced an unexplained population crash in 1994. The Wildlife Center offers a number of services to tourists of the marsh. Canoe rentals are available, including guided canoe tours of the marsh. The wildlife areas have over 30 kilometers of hiking trails, and offer programmes for school groups and private groups. Other available recreation activities include skiing and snowshoeing. References External links Wye Marsh - official site Marshes of Ontario Protected areas of Simcoe County Important Bird Areas of Ontario Nature centres in Ontario