This post is especially for the bird lovers and the nature photographers among us.
The Hula Valley Reserve and Agamon HaHula are without a doubt the most surprising sites in Israel.
Why surprising? Surprising because they are large wetlands in a mostly arid country!
The story is a bitter sweet one. The newly founded State of Israel drained the wetlands in order to change swampland into usable farmland. At the time the government didn’t realise how important the wetlands were to the ecology of the area and to the migration of birds from Europe and Asia.
Draining the Hula Valley caused the complete devastation of wildlife in the area. All the birds that had migrated through Israel found alternate routes. A species of endemic (a plant or animal which is specific to one place) frogs was believed to have become extinct.
In the 1960’s a section of the valley was re-flooded and became Israels first nature reserve. Every year that passes more birds return to their original migratory pattern, and two years ago the frog which was believed extinct was rediscovered.
Every year over 200 species of birds fly through the valley on their migration. In the fall they journey/ migrate towards Africa and in the spring to Europe.
In the reserve you will find Indian water buffalo( locally called jamus), otters, catfish, turtles and birds. There is a covered walkway over the open swamp which facilitates spotting some of the 200 beautiful species of birds flying overhead. There is Visitors’ Center with a great 3D movie which tells the tale of the migrating birds.
The Hula Valley is a great place to take the entire family!
