(Israel Ministry of Tourism)
Every fall, the skies of Israel fill with the sight of 500 million birds, migrating south from Europe to warmer climates in Asia and Africa - a paradise for bird watchers. Israel's unique strategic location, the only land bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa, provides the migrating birds with a large variety of habitats and the warm air currents they need for perfect soaring conditions. This makes Israel one of the most exciting and accessible regions for bird watching in the whole of the West Palearctic.
The Israel Ornithological Center, which operates three bird watching centers in Israel and aims to protect the region's biodiversity through activities with birds, has recorded more than 540 different species of birds in Israel at various seasons in the year, with over 400 occurring annually - and this despite the fact that the country is only 500 kms long. The IOC also works in conjunction with the Palestinian Authority and Jordan in its efforts to create a sustainable environment throughout the region, irrespective of borders.
The fall migration of storks, which began this year with the first sightings as early as mid-August, has just ended, with over 500,000 storks passing through Israel's skies. In addition, vast flocks of birds of prey (more than 30 different species) and hundreds of other species of soaring birds, pelicans and songbirds will make their way from Europe and Asia to Africa. Flocks of cranes wrap up the fall migration towards the end of December.
Israel has several birding sites throughout the country, suitable for both tourist and serious bird watcher alike. The re-flooded Hula Valley in Northern Israel, with Lake Agmon at its center, is one of the best-known birding centers with a developed tourist infrastructure. Approximately 35,000 cranes fill the fields and wetlands during the fall migration, with about 25,000 staying for the winter, while rare raptors can be seen soaring in the skies above. Visitors can take advantage of the camouflaged bird observation points and choose to tour the area on foot, by bicycle, golf cart, safari wagon or train. This is also a center for bird research and a station for bird ringing.
Other popular bird watching sites include the coastal region around Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael, with its shore and fish ponds, the Golan Heights, the Sea of Galilee and the Beit She'an valley (part of the Rift Valley basin) to its south, the Jerusalem Bird Observatory (Israel's first urban wildlife site), the Arava and Negev desert regions, the Dead Sea area, Kibbutz Lotan in the south and Eilat with its International Birdwatching Center (IBCE) offering tours, bird ringing and conducting research.