Hawk fans tune into a big brooder show

Bird of prey fans will be able to watch 24-hour footage of one feathered family at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) after a Big Brother-style nest cam was set up.

The sparrowhawk cam, the first of its kind in the UK, is due to start filming a breeding pair of the majestic birds this Sunday for three months.

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

It is hoped that the filming, dubbed the Date With Nature project, will allow members of the public to learn more about the birds, which staff say often have a bad reputation.

Martyn Dickson, arboretum manager, said there were two pairs of resident sparrowhawks at the Botanics that produce offspring every year.

He said: "We think the first pair of sparrowhawks started nesting here in the 1970s or 1980s and they're always an impressive sight. We did a pilot in 2009, which was low spec but of a decent quality, then we put together a montage for the public. We tried it again in 2010 and had a few signal issues, but we'll be ready to show live coverage from this Sunday.

"The camera will be rolling for 24 hours but we'll show some of the night coverage throughout the day.

"A little camera will be put into the tree, directed onto the nest, and people can watch from a screen in the John Hope Gateway. We're not saying where the nest is so the sparrowhawks aren't bothered and there's no risk of vandalism. It's not just a gimmick for the public, it'll provide a unique opportunity for research. Nobody has had access to that kind of ranging data before."

Max Coleman, science communicator, added: "We're looking to change the public's perspective a bit. Sparrowhawks aren't just birds that eat other birds, which is simply a part of nature. You will see them feeding on other birds, but that's only a small part of it. Viewers get to see the fledglings hatch and branch walk, then eventually leave the nest in August time."

The sparrowhawk pair are reported to be sitting on their eggs and they are expected to hatch in the second week on June. In August, the youngsters will fly the nest, while their parents continue to be Botanics residents. Last year, the adults produced five eggs, three of which reached maturity. They are fed on a varied diet, including garden birds such as blue tits and pigeons.

Tracey Stewart, RSPB Scotland Date With Nature project officer, said: "I think what's most exciting about this project is that for the first time we'll be able to show visitors to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh the secret lives of one of Scotland's smallest birds of prey."