The Bittern lives a secluded life and spends most of its time in the reeds, where it builds its nest. Its diet includes frogs, fish and water insects. It forages for preference along the boundary between reedbeds and open water. The commonest way to sight a Bittern is to listen for the hooting sound of the male birds in the springtime. It sounds like air being blown across the mouth of a bottle and can be heard over many kilometres. Every year one can hear the hooting of two or three males at Asköviken. The number of Bitterns has dropped off steeply in Europe, for which reason the species gets priority protection within the EU.

Photo: Lars Broberg