Botanics sparrowhawks are preyed on by crows

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's sparrowhawk show has suffered a setback after a marauding crow destroyed five of its eggs.

Bird-of-prey fans are able to watch 24-hour footage of the feathered family at the gardens after a Big Brother-style nest cam was set up.

Set up by the RSPB, the Scottish Seabird Centre, RBGE and the Lothian and Borders Raptor Study Group, the filming captures the birds nesting, hatching the young, feeding the chicks and all other aspects of their lives.

However, the project has been dealt a blow after cameras yesterday revealed a crow attack on the family.

Footage shows the female sparrowhawk tussling with a crow. The crow appeared to win as it was later spotted pecking the eggs.

Despite the setback experts say the cameras will continue to follow the sparrowhawk family and they hope the pair will mate to produce more eggs.

A spokeswoman said: "Sadly these things do happen in nature but we are hopeful that the sparrowhawk pair will mate again.

"Cameras will continue to follow them if possible. If not we have another breeding pair at the Botanics who we will focus on instead."