The nation of Israel has finally chosen their national bird. After months of selecting and voting, it would seem that the Hoopoe had the most votes. This pretty little bird managed to scoop a massive 35% of the votes, giving it the prestige of becoming the new symbol of Israel.

It all started last December when more than 1 000 bird lovers were asked to select 50 nominees for the title out of an even longer list of candidates. The selection process took place at a seminar held at the Tel Aviv University and the results were quite surprising. The resulting fifty birds were then narrowed down even further to just ten different birds – all of which were vastly different from each other. The finalists were the bulbul (Pycnonotidae), the goldfinch, the red falcon, the spur-winged plover, the biblical vulture, the warbler, the honey-sucker, the white-chested kingfisher, the hoopoe and the white barn owl. The final choice was then left to the results of a nationwide election held by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, which took several months and saw approximately 155 000 people vote.

It would seem that the humble but attractive hoopoe managed to get the majority of the votes, even receiving the majority of internet votes in the election held by Ynet. Clearly it was the overall favorite of the bunch. The final result was recently announced by President Shimon Peres. After announcing the winner, President Peres praised the election and noted that there was a dire need in our present time for “green scenery, fresh air and the beautiful, multi-colored birds” that regularly flock to Israel. He further added that ornithology was one of the main assets of the country and lamented over the fact that so many birds that were once common in Israel have since become rare or disappeared from the country completely. Peres spoke of talks being conducted with French President Nicolas Sarkozy as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel regarding the returning of several of these birds to their natural habitats.

President Peres admitted that he had personally voted for the vulture, but also felt that the dove would have been a very fitting symbol for his country and he was disappointed that it was not one of the finalists. According to Peres, some 500 million birds make their way through Israelite skies every year – a massive accomplishment for such a small country. Hopefully the choice of national bird will be just one small step in a long list of environmental achievements that will see many more birds return to this country.

Related posts:

1. Eilat Spring Migration Festival, Israel
2. Pay a Visit to the National Aviary
3. Jekyll Island To Host National Bird Education Gathering

Southern Israel is widely considered to be a bird watcher’s paradise, with the city of Eilat and the surrounding areas being among the best birding destinations in the Western Palearctic. The Israel Ornithological Center and the International Birding and Research Center have teamed up to organize the Eilat Spring Migration Festival with the objective of gathering together birders from all around the world to enjoy the wonders of bird migration in southern Israel. The Eilat Spring Migration Festival is set to take place during the peak spring migration period, from the 24th through to the 31st of March 2008 and will be based at the Isrotel Agamin Hotel in the city of Eilat.

Eilat is located between the sparkling blue waters of the Red Sea and the magnificent Eilat Mountains. During the migration season, the Eilat area teems with activity as the rugged outline of the Rift Valley becomes a corridor for millions of migrant birds. The variety of habitats in the city and the surrounding areas attracts an incredibly diverse range of bird species, both migrants and permanent residents. Visitors are likely to see birds such as the Laughing Dove, Yellow-vented Bulbul and Palestine Sunbird from their hotel balconies or during a stroll through the city’s many gardens and parks. Migratory birds include raptors, storks, pipits, wagtails, wheatears, hirundines, buntings and larks.

During the Eilat Spring Migration Festival participants can make use of a free guided shuttle service to explore the best birding spots in Eilat and southern Arava. Longer trips to central Arava and specialty tours will also be available. The specialty tours include a trip to the Dead Sea region, which incorporates a stop-off at a special reserve where several pairs of Arabian Warblers are breeding, as well as a swim in the lowest sea on earth. Birders can expect to see permanent residents such as the Fan-tailed Raven, Tristram’s Grackle, Clamorous Reed Warbler and Smyrna Kingfisher, as well as a wealth of migrant birds.

“Southern Israel Nightlife” is a tour that invites participants to witness the desert coming to life as the sun sets. The tour will target local owl species such as the Pharoah’s Eagle-Owl and the rare Hume’s Tawny Owl. Participants can also expect to spot the migrant Eqyptian Nightjar as well as interesting desert mammals such as the Golden Jackal and Southern Red Fox.

In addition to a host of organized bird spotting trips with field experts, the program includes many bird-related activities, including ringing demonstrations, identification workshops, lectures by leading ornithologists and photography competitions. There is no doubt that participating in the Eilat Spring Migration Festival in southern Israel is a bird-watchers dream come true.

Related posts:

1. Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival 2011
2. Down East Spring Birding Festival 2011
3. Southwest Wings Festival