Ten of the rarest breed of swan have been fitted with GPS devices to track their migration from the Fens to their breeding grounds in Arctic Russia.
As part of a project to identify threats to their migrations, the Bewick's swans have been tagged whilst they make the 2,500-mile journey from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) centre at Welney.
The data gained from the study, will be used to advise wind farm developers on the appropriate locations of turbines in large offshore wind farms, to reduce the collision risk for migrating swans.
The trust say that the population of the Bewick's swans is in decline. Assistant Warden, Katy Smith, said: 'Bewick's swans are a fantastic wetland species and this is a really exciting project to gain insight into their lives whilst providing some essential data to help the populations' survival.'
The swans arrived at the reserve in November last year and were captured by a method knwon as cannon-netting, where the net is ejected at a high speed.
'Cannon-netting looks like a very dramatic approach to catching swans,' Miss Smith said. 'But the swans' safety is the top priority for the team of experts involved.'
About 3,000 Bewick's arrive at the trust's site in mid-November each year and begin to head home in February and March.
They rely on the rich wetland habitat of the Ouse Washes to roost on and the surrounding arable land in which to feed during the day. The relationship that WWT has with local farmers, and the support of volunteers, is crucial for enabling swan catches to take place in fields around the Ouse Washes.
'We were blown away to discover the flock of swans feeding on our field represented about 1/20th of the entire European population. We were very proud that they chose our farm after flying all the way here from Russia. They've been coming here for the past few winters, but now we realise how special they are and how endangered. '
'The WWT came and tagged the swans so they can be tracked on their migration back to the Arctic, and as a thank you asked if they could name one of the females after my 1yr old daughter Daisy Clarke. As she grows up it will be fun for her to be able to check on the progress of her airborne namesake!'
Two of the GPS-tagged birds have already left the reserve for the Netherlands and then on to Germany.
The swans arrive at the reserve in November
Their route, and the outcome of the 10 tagged birds' journeys, will be monitored by the GPS collars fitted around their necks.
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