Itai Shanni et la nidification de la Rousserolle d’Irak en Israël

Despite intense draining works in the 1950’s, the Hula Valley, in Northern Israel, is still an important wetland. Thanks to the creation in 1964 of the Hula Valley Nature Reserve and the campaign which began in Spring 1993 to restore parts of the valley, the entire area attracts more and more nesting, migrating and wintering species.
The importance of the area has been confirmed with the recent discovery by ringers from the SPNI (BirdLife in Israel). of the only recorded breeding population of Basra Reed Warblers Acrocephalus griseldis found outside of Iraq. After the discovery in 2006 of four individuals in the Hula Valley, the SPNI have announced in 2007 the return of three of the ringed inbirds along with one unmarked adult, a confirmation that the Basra Reed-warbler does indeed breed in Israel.
Itai Shanni of SPNI and manager of the Hula Birding Center answered our questions concerning the presence of the Basra Reed Warbler in Hula.