It’s Fish Doorbell season!
On Thursday, March 21, professional WWE wrestler Shiloh Hill announced on Instagram to his nearly 1 million followers that the Fish Doorbell is back in effect for the season, which he calls “the most wonderful time of the year.” He points his camera to his computer screen, showing the website, Visdeurbel, a Dutch word that translates to “Fish Doorbell,” and explains how the process works.
Every spring, thousands of fish travel through the canals and waterways of Utrecht, Netherlands, in search of places to reproduce, according to the website. However, in their path stands a dam with a manually operated lock called the Weerdsluis, separating two major waterways the fish need to travel.
Though the lock has been in place for centuries, it is no longer used for its original transport purposes and has become more of a historical tourist attraction. However, it received a crowd-creating update when a webcam was placed on it in 2021.
Through the live stream on the Visdeurbel website, viewers can see when fish are near the lock and “ring” the doorbell on the screen. This will alert the lock operator to open the gate to allow the fish to swim through. “He’s a monster,” Hill says excitedly as a huge fish swims across his screen. “Let’s go! Be free, buddy!”
The site allows diligent viewers to track which fish they see and how often. The select fish species that may be caught on camera are the bleak, common roach, eel, freshwater bream, ide, perch, pike, pike-perch, rudd, and the white bream.
Although Hill admits to being “easily entertained” and believes Visdeurbel to be “one of the best sites on the internet,” he’s not alone in this sentiment. The website, reportedly attracting 2.7 million viewers in 2024, also allows viewers to flip through previous images captured by other observers. “The thrill you get from letting a fish through is unparalleled,” he said.
These fish aren’t just visiting either. The inhabitants of these waterways are important to the biodiversity of Utrecht’s rivers, canals, and waterways, keeping them clean and contributing to the city’s livability. The doorbell also delivers the city vital information on the species of fish using which waterways, thus allowing it to update and create a healthier habitat for species that are just passing through.
As of writing, nearly 1,500 people are watching the stream. The Fish Doorbell is in effect from early March through late May.
Read the full article here
