Trying to follow them once in flight is not an easy venture because often they will travel another mile to their new permanent home and they don't follow roads and signs like you'll have to. Expect to read about pheromone attractors to catch swarms this Spring 2001 as I start doing a section on capturing swarms in the 21st century. Expect hundreds of photos and wallpaper images this Spring. They tend to stay low, often only a few feet above the ground. But sometimes they will be hanging on a tree branch where a ladder or rope is needed.
Lets cover the steps of swarm capturing in some logical order.
Remember, swarms are generally docile. This doesn't mean smack them with a stick or shove your hand inside to see if they are solid. It does mean that you can get away with out the full beekeeping garb that you may wear when the bees are having a bad day. I still like wearing my swimming goggles and leather gloves. First, get in close and do a general inspection of the bees.