[3] In the early 19th century, a naval base open in Penetanguishene, and settlement of the area by Europeans began in earnest.

[3] Wyebridge became the major business centre of Simcoe County, and by the 1860s Midland was surpassed only by Ottawa as a logging town in Ontario.

[3] In the 20th century the site of Wye Marsh was a privately owned hunting preserve, until it was turned into a wildlife area by the federal and provincial governments.

[4] In 1985, the day-to-day administration of the centre was taken over by the Friends of the Wye Marsh through special agreement with Environment Canada.

[8] The swans had been absent from the marsh until a reintroduction programme by Harry Lumsden in the 1980s, as an employee of the Ontario Department of Natural Resources.

[3] 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in the 17th century suggests that the area previously had significant concentrations of trumpeter swans, and historical references indicate the same.

[3] 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.