Swimming Great Cormorants, Rammelwaard, Holland Royalty-Free Stock Photo

The dutch government has a number of areas designated which can be used as the water level of the river rises too far, like here in the Rammelwaard, the forelands of the river IJssel. The dynamics of changing water levels has created a valuable natural river habitat with many birds like these great cormorants. This is a very common and widespread bird species. It feeds on the sea, in estuaries, and on freshwater lakes and rivers. Many fishermen see in the great cormorant a competitor for fish. Because of this, it was hunted nearly to extinction in the past, but thanks to conservation efforts, its numbers increased. In the front a grey heron passes.