Dutch bird protection organisation Vogelbescherming Nederland has switched on its cameras to livestream the goings on in the nests of a number of breeding birds for a new season of Beleef de Lente (experience spring).

A group of dedicated volunteers will be blogging about the birds’ progress. ‘I’m looking forward to it,’ Kelvin Klaassen, who is monitoring an osprey nest in the Biesbosch in Brabant, told nature programme Vroege Vogels.

Ospreys started a successful come back to the area in 2016. The male osprey and his mate have been returning to the nest for five years in a row and have reared 14 chicks. The pair are expected to return in late March.

Birds featuring in this year’s Beleef de Lente include tawny owl, barn owl, little owl, stork, osprey, sea eagle and great tit.

Cameras will also be trained on meadows and ponds, and Vogelbescherming Nederland is currently setting up cameras to look in at black birds, swifts and common redstarts.

Also featured is an oystercatcher nest, as 2023 has been declared year of the oystercatcher, whose numbers have been declining.

Beleef de Lente attracted 1.2 million viewers last year.