The weather shows no signs of change, but fall has begun. How
so? The fall bird migration has commenced. Over the next
three months, more than 500 million birds will cross over
Israel's skies.
Because Israel is situated at a junction of three continents,
in the fall (and spring) it becomes a main avenue for
migrating birds on their way from Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Bird migration is one of the most fascinating phenomena in
the wonders of creation, and universal interest draws birds
and scientists from all over the world to Israel every year.
In the ornithology center of the Society for the Protection
of Nature, they already opened their annual study of bird
migration, part of a long-term research project on bird
migration that has been going on since 1977.
Since the beginning of the study, the society's members have
looked at more than 70,000 storks that have flown over
Israel. The peak of stork migration was found to be in
Elul/September, peaking at 60,000 storks in one day. By Rosh
Hashanah a quarter of a million storks are estimated to have
crossed Israeli skies.
The first honey buzzards also arrive. Short-toed eagles and
lesser-spotted eagles are expected to follow soon after.
Altogether around 200 species of birds, including 30 species
of raptors, gliding birds, such as storks and pelicans, and
pafferines will fly over Israel.
Barak Granite, Research Director for the Society for the
Protection of Nature, advises those interested in observing
storks to do so in the Beit She'an Valley Region.
