Wild whooper swans from Mongolia outfitted with solar-powered, global-position satellite (GPS) transmitters are helping a team of international scientists track the potential spread pattern of avian influenza.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as the birds take wing across Eurasia toward their wintering grounds, earthbound scientists from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Mongolian Academy of Sciences and USGS are taking surveillance as part of the Wild Bird Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance (GAINS) program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The birds’ locations are recorded and stored in the transmitter before being relayed to the research team by e-mail via weather satellites; scientists say the studies will show how wild birds may be involved in the spread of the disease. The influenza strain, H5N1, is highly lethal for a variety of species; when transmitted to people through close contact with infected birds, it can be fatal. World leaders are concerned about a potential pandemic should the virus become transmissible among humans.