Great photo. Looks beautiful. First, you have a lot of rocks, which is not a great substrate as the swans can suffer from Bumblefoot. What you might want to do is to choose the area that you want the swans to exit and lay down a grassy substrate. Make it comfortable for the swans so that they do not have feel an abrasive surface on their feet. Place a feeder in this location and they will also be able to sit and preen. This may be the reason they are going down the fairway or up to the clubhouse, no feed and no grass to munch. You might also add some lemon grass (aquatic vegetation in the area althought it may take time to get this to grow before the swans mow it down). You might also use some organic petunias, etc. in that same area as a vegetation resource. But, you need to ensure that there are no insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, etc.

Do Not use any type of fencing, cables, or poles, etc., in the water. The swans will attempt to go to the other side unless the fencing totally acts as a visual barrier. If a swan can see on the other side of a fence, they will attempt to get to the other side. This can lead to serious injuries to their wings and necks. Additionally, any poles just under the water can impale the swans. This type of containment will be potentially more hazardous to the swans than actually a method to contain them.

There is no research on an electronic collar as used in an electronic fencing for dogs. This device probably will not work as there has been little to no research on the range of hearing of swans. Most electronic devices for dogs work in the ultrasonic sound realm and we're not sure how much that the swans hear in this range.

Finally, we know of no containtment system unless it is a solid chain link fence (tall enough to prevent the swans from going over or under and the links filled with slats to prevent the swans from seeing through the fencing. Although a fencing structure as described would contain the swans, it would certainly not add to the aesthetic qualities of the pond. It in fact, would detract from those qualities. The only other containment would be a boom of some kind, which again would be extremely visible during photos.

So, the best system that we would propose, and remember, swans are their own beings and will circumvent anything that humans do to control them, but the best method would be the grassy ramp with feeder in the area that you want them to exit. Constant harrassment to get the swans to not exit in those areas that you do not wish for them to exit may help. Good luck and let us know how this works. The Regal Swan