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The Development of a National Network of Birdwatching Centers in Israel
and their contribution to the environment, tourism, education and research
Yossi Leshem, Dan Alon, Josef Avi Yair Engel (Jucha), Amir Idelman, Ran Haklai
Israel's attraction is based on tourism, in fields mainly
connected to its heritage: a rich past, the cradle of
Christianity, the world of Jewish traditions alongside the
establishment of the State of Israel, which has achieved
wonders in the establishment of kibbutzim, moshavim,
villages and towns, and, the development of modern
agriculture and the blossoming of the desert. The
abundance of archaeological sites concentrated in small
area, the uniqueness of Jerusalem, the story of Masada and
the climate, which is pleasant for most of the year, are all
factors which draw tourists to Israel.
During the last two decades nature tourism has increased
and birdwatching in Israel has become a sector of
tourism with enormous potential which could promote
multidisciplinary aspects of the economics of the country,
mainly in the peripheral areas of the Negev and the
Galilee.
Israel is situated in a unique geographical position – at
the crossroads of three continents, between the Great
Rift Valley and the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. This
rare combination of conditions makes Israel a site of
international importance as over 500 million birds fly
over the country twice a year during the seasons of bird
migration.
Executive Summary
Israel: a birdwatcher's paradise all year round The relation between bird species and the area of
The geographical conditions give rise to the extraordinary a country
variety of bird species in Israel, relative to the size of the
Country Area No.bird No.species
country. More than 540 different bird species can be seen
(in kms) species per 1000
in Israel – resident species, wintering birds, birds that kms
spend the summer here, migrants and vagrants. A large Israel 23,500 530 22.5
number of species are desert birds and other species that Britain 244,400 489 2
do not breed in Central or Western Europe. These species Germany 356,500 258 0.73
are a unique attraction for foreign birdwatchers and, thus, Sudan 2,500,000 871 0.35
increase Israel's tourism potential. China 9,800,000 1198 0.12
Another distinction that Israel has is in the rich variety The autumn and spring bird migrations last for six to seven
of natural habitats that exist here. This is an enormous months each year. The spring migration is from the end of
advantage for nature lovers who can cover the country February until May; the autumn migration is from August
in a relatively short time, from the snows of Mt. Hermon until November. The birds that winter in Israel are here
and the cliffs of the Golan Heights, to the Agamon in the from October to March giving birdwatchers from Europe
Hula Valley, the fishponds in the northern valleys, the the opportunity to spend a Christmas holiday watching a
Mediterranean scrub region, the Galilee, Judean Hills variety of resident and wintering birds. From April to July
and Desert, the Negev Desert and the mountains of Eilat. birdwatchers can observe nesting species and summer
In these regions there are accessible road networks and species, such as the nesting colonies of Lesser Kestrels, Bee-
accommodation available at different levels near all the eaters, Pygmy Cormorants and five species of Heron. So,
birdwatching sites. Valuable information about the best Israel is definitely a "birdwatching attraction", the whole
time of the year and the best sites to see each bird species is year round.
available to birdwatchers.