Every year, thousands of trumpeter swans flock to McClintock Bay, Yukon
The arrival of trumpeter swans signals the arrival of spring — even if it still feels pretty chilly.
While it may not look like it to many Canadians, the arrival of an unmistakable bird heralds spring for Yukoners. Trumpeter swans are North America's largest species of waterfowl, and on their annual migration to their breeding grounds in Alaska, they make a stopover at Marsh Lake, south of Whitehorse.
Days are getting longer and warmer in the north as the swans start showing up, so it's the true sign of spring for a Yukoner- Karine Genest
Every year, locals flock to McClintock Bay, on the lake's northern tip, to witness the large gathering of some 3,000 swans. The birds rest and feed in the ice-free water before they continue their long journey north. Residents, like filmmaker Karine Genest, love heading down to the water's edge to catch a glimpse.
Swans are a conservation success story
A century ago, trumpeter swans were nearly driven to extinction by hunting and by 1933, only 77 breeding birds remained in Canada. Today, after decades of intensive conservation work, the swans number around 16,000 in North America.
And they're worth celebrating — locals hold the annual 'Celebration of Swans' to welcome the birds, and spring, back to Yukon.
Footage by Karine Genest and Kelsey Eliasson
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