At least 500 million birds of 300 different species fly across Israel twice yearly on their way to and from Africa, Europe and Asia.
One of the most popular places to watch this extraordinary March and November spectacle is the Agamon Hula Lake Nature Park in the Upper Galilee.
Here, tens of thousands of common cranes touch down in the fields every day for a noisy meal to fuel their long journey.
They’re joined by many other feathered friends such as white storks, little egrets, barn swallows and black caps.
The nature reserve also is home to many other kinds of wildlife, such as coypus and boars.
You may choose to explore the reserve by foot, or rent a single, double, or triple bike or golf cart to get around. There are guided tours in a covered wagon as well as daytime, sunset and nighttime tours.
This year, birdwatchers in the Hula Valley are enjoying a new eco-friendly hi-tech visitor center.
Ten years in the making, the Stephen J. Harper KKL-JNF Hula Valley Visitor Center includes state-of-the-art VR stations; a 194-square-foot digital, gesture-controlled wall that projects a live feed of migrating birds; a 3D digital model of the Hula Valley, dynamically updated with terrain data; a 220-seat auditorium fitted with a 4K projector, and more.
If you come, bring your binoculars and camera! And if you can’t, enjoy these images from this year’s mighty migration. Check the KKL-JNF’s Agamon Facebook page for daily pictures and videos.
More on Earth
Fighting for Israel's truth
We cover what makes life in Israel so special — it's people. A non-profit organization, ISRAEL21c's team of journalists are committed to telling stories that humanize Israelis and show their positive impact on our world. You can bring these stories to life by making a donation of $6/month.
