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September 26, 2003
Flock to Israel's Hula Valley
Jewish National Fund helps farmers by scattering corn seed for
cranes.
MEIRA MAIEROVITZ DRAZIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
The Hula Valley in Israel's Galilee has become one of the main
wintering and migratory spots for birds on route from Europe to
Africa. Although general tourism might be down in Israel, birdwatchers
are flocking to the Hula Valley to get a glimpse of the many rare
and varied species of birds visiting Israel this winter.
On a late November afternoon, busloads of tourists from countries
such as Germany and the Netherlands mingle with Israeli schoolchildren
in the Jewish National Fund's busy Hula Valley Crane Centre. With
binoculars, cameras and their guidebooks, everyone is looking, pointing
and, with various degrees of expertise, trying to identify the species
of the thousands of birds in the fields and skies.
Located at the crossroads of three continents, birds use Israel's
airspace as part of their migratory route at a rate unparallelled
anywhere. More than 500 million birds cross Israel twice a year
in the course of their migrations – a fact well known by bird
enthusiasts everywhere.
"At about a quarter to five, the birds start arriving for their
night time rest," explained Joachim, a "birder" from
Frankfurt. "They come from every direction, creating a huge
noise with their calls and flapping wings that lasts until darkness
falls. The birds rest on the lake until the first signs of dawn
when they again ascend to the skies and feast in the fields. At
the end of November, they spread their wings over the Hula Valley
for a final time this year and continue on to warm Africa."
Covering only 50 square miles, more than 300 bird species have been
spotted in the Hula Valley, including the globally endangered imperial
eagle, spotted eagle and marbled teal. In comparison, Germany, for
example, has had only 350 species spotted throughout the entire
country. Out of all the varied species visiting the Hula Valley,
however, cranes are the most prevalent.
In 1988, approximately 1,800 cranes visited the Hula Valley but,
by the winter of 1998, experts estimated more than 20,000 cranes
were using the Hula as their winter home. Last year, 17,000 cranes
were counted in the first week of November and, by the middle of
the month, numbers reached 35,000.
There are two reasons for the virtual explosion of the Hula Valley's
wintering crane population. In 1991, the Jewish National Fund, together
with the Israel Land Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture,
undertook the Hula Restoration Project. Together with local farmers'
moves toward cultivating crops such as peanuts, corn and chickpeas,
a rich habitat was created for cranes needing rest and fuel in the
course of their winter migration.
In the 1950s, Israel undertook its largest engineering project to
date with the drainage of the Hula Valley – to drain swamplands
and free up land for agriculture. Although many still believe the
drainage of the Hula was a necessity for the time, it is now clear
that an environmental price was paid. The primary objective of the
restoration project, the cost of which reached some $20 million,
was to re-flood part of the valley by creating a 275-acre body of
water in an area of sunken peat.
The project brought back riverbank vegetation like reeds and papyrus
and, in its wake, came birds and many of the animals that make their
home among the plants. Moreover, the farmers' crop changes were
so successful that the JNF had to step in, along with the Society
for the Protection of Nature in Israel and the Nature and Parks
Authority, in a project that worked with the farmers to ensure that
cranes enjoy the Hula Valley without harming the agriculture. Approximately
280 acres have been set aside to be scattered daily with two tons
of corn seed and, from dawn until just before sunset, the cranes
feast to their hearts' content.
At the end of 2001, the JNF worked with ornithologists to build
a crane lookout which faces the cranes' new "restaurant."
More than 75,000 people have visited the lookout since it opened.
"The lookout gives us a great vantage point to see the beauty
of nature," said Esther, who had come up for the day with her
husband from Jerusalem. At that moment, international and Israeli
birders, schoolchildren and their teachers all cried out in wonder
as thousands of cranes soared magnificently into the sky.
Meira Maierovitz Drazin is a writer with Israel Press Service.
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