By Steffan Messenger BBC Wales
Environment Correspondent
16 January 2017
Electronic tags have been fitted
to one of Europe's rarest birds to understand its dramatic decline at a Powys
reserve.
The RSPB estimates the population
of Greenland white-fronted geese at Ynyshir has fallen by 83% since 1990.
The research project is being
funded by Welsh Government.
It comes after a decision by
ministers in August not to
implement an outright ban on shooting the rare birds caused
controversy.
Their movements will be monitored
in real time, helping the charity and other partners to understand their needs
and put conservation measures in place.
It is hoped the scheme will
contribute towards international efforts to boost numbers of the threatened
species.
The global population of
Greenland white-fronted geese is estimated to be 18,879 - the lowest recorded
since spring 1985 - and a marked decline on the last estimate of 20,797 in
spring 2014.
The birds, which breed in
Greenland, migrate in spring and autumn through south and west Iceland to
wintering grounds in the British Isles.
The majority head for Ireland and
western Scotland.
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