We know spring is arriving when this floating excavator appears on the river to break up the thick ice in order to prevent flooding. I watched this one go slowly up and down a relatively short section using the big 'shovel' on the front to break the ice while the two big 'paddles' on either side stabilize it. Obviously the Canada Geese are not at all bothered!

An old clip from 2014 explains the process and shows this breaker at work: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/breaking-the-ice-on-the-rideau-river-1.1761406