Hula Bird Festival 2012 : grues, aigles et compagnie

The Hula Valley in Northern Israel is one of the most important stopover and wintering sites for southbound migrants through the Great Rift Valley. It is here that complete populations of birds stop to “refuel” before reaching the desert strip to the south. The region serves as a migration flyway for thousands of Common Cranes, White Pelicans, Ducks, Waders and Passerines every year. Over 300 species are seen here annually including some of the rarest European birds of prey. Species like Greater Spotted and Eastern Imperial Eagles, Pallid Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard and more winter in the valley and can be easily found with patience.
At this period of the year, over 30,000 Common Cranes are present through the valley and form a spectacular roost on the Agamon lake, a recently reflooded area near the Hula Nature Reserve.
The Hula Valley Bird Festival is an initiative of the Israel Ornithological Center (Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel) to highlight the fantastic bird watching sites of Northern Israel in general and the Hula Valley in particular have to offer. The 1st edition of the Hula Valley Bird Festival in November 2011 was a memorable week, and the second edition was organized from the 11th to the 18th of November 2012. The Ornithomedia redaction was invited during this week. In this article, we present you the birdwaching areas we visited and a synthesis of the daily observations.