DON’T be fooled by colourful flashing signs at the Otmoor nature reserve, they are not Christmas decorations.

The bright tags have been installed on power lines to help birds navigate their way past them safely.

Geese and swans often fly into overhead power lines at the nature reserve, knocking out power and injuring or killing themselves.

Southern Electric Power Distribution worked with reserve owner the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to install the lights.

Where there is a recognised flight path used by birds, tags placed on power lines make them more visible and slash the number of fatal collisions.

The tags are brightly coloured with white reflector and spin in the wind to alert flying birds.

Alan Patton from Southern Electric’s Oxford depot said: “We are pleased to be able to support the RSPB and implement a simple initiative that will help birds avoid the lines and tackle the problem.

“It will be a happy day to see no fatalities or lines down.”

Owain Hegarty, spokesman for RSPB Otmoor added: “We hope this initiative will put an end to fatal collisions.”