Bird Watching & Nature Photography Mission
March 9 – 18, 2010
Mission Chairman: Dr. Chet Stein JNF Professional: Stuart Diamant-Cohen
TUESDAY MARCH 9 ARRIVAL x CAESAREA
Welcome to Israel! After our individual arrivals into Ben Gurion Airport, we will meet as a group and travel to our hotel in Caesarea to check in. After time to unpack and freshen up, we will enjoy a delicious welcome dinner at our hotel. Joining us will be Dr. Yossi Leshem, Director of the International Center for the Study of Bird Migration. He will provide us with an introduction to birding in Israel as well as give an overview of the mission program.
Dan Hotel, Caesarea Overnight, Dan Hotel, Caesarea
WEDNESDAY MARCH 10 UPPER GALILEE
Early this morning we will depart the hotel and drive to Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael. Due to its unique location between the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Carmel and its position on a major seasonal route for migratory birds, Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael is considered one of the best sites for bird watching in Israel After a brief tour, Dr. Yossi Leshem will lead our first bird watching session here. Before we depart, we will learn about Gail Rubin, the American Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael photographer killed by Arab terrorists as she was photographing rare birds on a beach near Ma’agan Michael.
Afterward, we will return to the hotel for breakfast before checking out. Then, we will continue to the Hula Valley for a tour one of the world’s preeminent bird sanctuaries. Millions of birds stop in the Hula Valley along the migration route for their journey between Africa and Europe. Following our Hula Valley tour, we will enjoy a delicious picnic lunch before our next activity.
After lunch, we will meet with renowned director and photographer for the National Geographic Channels, Eyal Bartov. As one of the leading nature photographers in Israel, his work has been published in various magazines, books, encyclopedias and commercials. He will lead a workshop on nature photography and provide us with the proper techniques and skills
Pelicans in the Hula Valley to capture the beauty of Israel’s natural environment.
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Early this evening we will discuss some of the unique birds spotted today as well as review the photography skills we learned. Afterward, we will have the opportunity to participate in an optional night safari through the Hula Valley, with hopes of seeing some of the birds and other wildlife that come out at night here. Those of us who choose not to participate will return to the hotel to rest and relax until dinner.
Kfar Blum Following the night safari, we will head to our hotel to check in and enjoy dinner.
Overnight, Kfar Blum, Upper Galilee
THURSDAY MARCH 11 GALILEE
After a delicious Israeli breakfast this morning, we will depart the hotel for the Gamla Nature Reserve, known for its combination of nature, landscape and historical remains. We will meet with Dan Alon, Director of the Israel Orthonological Center for a bird watching tour of the reserve. From a cliff-edge observation station, we will be able to photograph the largest colony of Griffon vultures in Israel. We will learn about the importance of these ancient birds,
Gamla Nature Reserve whose wingspan can exceed 2.5 meters. We will also be able to photograph Israel’s highest waterfall from another lookout point nearby.
From here, we will proceed to Beit Gabriel Cultural & Social Center. During a delicious lunch in the center’s restaurant, we will learn about the 1994 reconfirmation of the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel by the late King Hussein of Jordon and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Griffon Vulture After lunch we will drive along the Rift Valley towards the Beit She’an Valley. Time pending, we will stop at the Neve Ur Reservoir. A KKL Representative will update us on the current water situation in Israel. We’ll also hear about JNF-KKL’s work to preserve and develop water resources and find solutions to the current water crisis. We’ll learn about the 200 reservoirs across Israel built by JNF, which have added 250 million cubic meters of treated water and flood water to Israel's national water economy. Kestrels in a nesting box We will continue to the Beit She’an Valley. Its location along the major migratory flyways and on the border between the Mediterranean and desert climate zones makes this place an extraordinary site for bird watching. During our visit here, we will learn how local farmers are using nesting boxes to lure owls and kestrels in order to employ them as agricultural pest controllers for their crops. As a natural alternative to chemical pesticides, owls and kestrels hunt An owl hunts crop-damaging rodents crop-damaging rodents.
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Later this afternoon, we will drive to Jerusalem. Upon our arrival, we will partake in a traditional Shehechyanu ceremony welcoming us into the city. After checking into our hotel, we will have the evening at leisure, allowing us to shop, dine and enjoy Jerusalem’s nightlife at our own pace.
Jerusalem at night Overnight, Prima Royale, Jerusalem
FRIDAY MARCH 12 JERUSALEM
After a delicious Israeli breakfast this morning, we will depart the hotel for Ammunition Hill site of the famous and fierce battle of the Six-Day War in 1967. We will take a tour of the site and see the new JNF Wall of Honor, a dedication area honoring Jewish veterans from around the world.
Afterward, we will proceed to Ir David. We will tour the City of David, which is Ir David the actual location of the Biblical City of Jerusalem captured by King David over 3,000 years ago. We will learn how JNF is helping continue King David’s legacy through archeological excavations, historical preservation, residential revitalization and educational programming. During the tour we will see some of the world's most significant archeological finds relating to the Biblical Period in Jerusalem, evidence of the more than 3000 year-long Jewish presence in the city beginning with King David. Mahene Yehuda Market We will then head to the lively Mahene Yehuda Market for lunch on our own before returning to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat. This evening, we will head to the Kotel, commonly known as the Wailing Wall, for Kabbalat Shabbat. We’ll also see where a colony of common swifts nests in holes in the Western Wall. This evening, we will enjoy Shabbat dinner at our hotel.
Overnight, Prima Royale, Jerusalem Nesting site in the Western Wall
SATURDAY MARCH 13 JERUSALEM
Today will be at leisure in honor of Shabbat. We may choose to rest at the hotel, attend Shabbat services or participate in a walking tour of the Old City.
We will walk from the hotel to the Old City and enter through the Jaffa Gate to the Western Wall, the last remaining retaining wall that enclosed the Temple Mount in the Second Temple Period. It will explore the Southern Wall Excavations, where the original steps that lead to the Temple Mount and the
Kotel remnants of ancient houses are located. Afterwards, the tour continues with a walk down the Cardo, the main street in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.
Overnight, Prima Royale, Jerusalem
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SUNDAY MARCH 14 JERUSALEM x NEGEV x ARAVA
After an early breakfast at our hotel, we will head to the Jerusalem Bird Observatory, which houses the Israel National Bird Ringing Center and is located on the grounds of the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament. Here, we will meet with Amir Balaban, one of the founders of the Jerusalem Bird Observatory. He will explain the importance of the ringing station as a tool to track the movement of birds around the world as well as study the avian wildlife that lives in or passes
Jerusalem Bird Observatory nets through the city. We will have the unique opportunity to participate in a ringing session and learn how special nets are used to catch birds for research before they are released back into the wild.
Afterward, we will continue south to Sderot, a town plagued by frequent kassam rocket attacks that hold life at a standstill for its many residents. During a city tour, we’ll stop at the local police station to see only a few of the thousands of kassams shot into the town. At an overlook looking into Gaza, a municipal
Sderot Indoor Recreation Center representative will brief us on the current situation and the impact and consequences suffered by Sderot during the recent conflict with Hamas.
Afterward, we’ll visit the new JNF Indoor Recreation Center, the largest indoor playground in Israel, which was built by JNF. This all-inclusive indoor recreation center provides Sderot’s youth with a safe, secure place to have fun and simply be children. Here, we will meet with Sderot residents and understand how the indoor playground has enriched their daily lives.
Aleh Negev From here we will continue south to Aleh Negev Special Needs Campus, a state-of-the-art residential rehabilitation center that was designed for children and adults with special needs. Located next to the city of Ofakim, Aleh Negev provides vocational training, occupational therapy and medical facilities. Aleh Negev is a partner of JNF-KKL and this new community is another component of JNF’s Blueprint Negev plan.
Next, we will proceed to Be’er Sheva, the capital of the Negev. We’ll see the
Be’er Sheva River progress of the Be’er Sheva River Project, the centerpiece of JNF’s efforts to provide a renaissance for the entire city. This extensive water, environment and economic development project is transforming Be’er-Sheva into a green lung for the Negev and will provide recreation and entertainment activities. Itai Freeman, Director of the Be’er Sheva River Project, will lead a tour and update us on the project’s progress and the impact it has had on the Negev region.
Afterward, we will continue south and check into our bed and breakfast for dinner and the remainder of the evening. Be’er Sheva River Park Project Overnight, Moshav Hatzeva, Hatzeva
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MONDAY MARCH 15 EILAT
Early this morning, we will head to the nearby Shizaf Nature Reserve to view the Arabian Babblers that live here year-round. Joining us will be Professor Amotz Zahavi, a leading expert in the Arabian Babbler and one of the co- founders of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI). After a discussion on this fascinating bird, we will also have the unique opportunity to participate in their morning feeding routine.
Arabian Babbler at dawn We will continue to Kibbutz Lotan, a kibbutz at the forefront of Israeli efforts to create an ecologically sustainable community that maintains the fragile balance between development and preservation of the desert environment. A kibbutz member will lead us on a tour and show us Lotan’s special reserve for migrating birds to safely rest on their long journeys. We will learn about each of the 5 habitats within the reserve that satisfy the needs of different species. At the Bird Watching Center, we’ll learn about Lotan hosting its first ringing station. Birding Hut at Kibbutz Lotan Finally, we’ll see the Eco-Kef Park that provides educational resources on recycling/composting, organic gardening, and alternative/natural construction.
We will then head to the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, located on Kibbutz Ketura. As the leading environmental institute in the Middle East, the Arava Institute serves as a regional center for conservation and environmental protection activities, developing ties between Middle Eastern and Western university students. During lunch with students, we will see, first Kibbutz Lotan hand, how this institution encourages environmental cooperation between different people. After lunch, we may have the opportunity to meet Arava Institute alumni, Anton Khalilieh. Anton came to the Institute for a Masters program to be a professional researcher in bird migration and conservation. As an avid bird photographer as well, he will discuss his current exhibit that explores the cultural and ecological meaning of birds in the Arava region.
Later this afternoon, we will continue to our hotel in Eilat. After checking in, we Arava Institute for will have the remainder of the afternoon and evening on our own. Options for Environmental Studies this afternoon include indulging in a luxurious spa treatment at the hotel’s spa, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling or simply relaxing on the beach or at the hotel. (*activities not included in the mission price and are at an additional cost).
This evening will be at leisure, providing us with the opportunity to dine, shop and enjoy Eilat’s vibrant nightlife at our own pace.
Eilat Overnight, Royal Tulip, Eilat
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Today, we will have an early morning departure and eat breakfast en route to the Eilat Banding Station located in the Eilat Bird Sanctuary. Upon our arrival, Dr. Reuven Yosef, Director of the International Birding and Research Centre Eilat (IBRCE) will explain the importance of this sanctuary as a conservation site before taking us on an exciting bird watching tour.
Afterward, a representative from IBRCE will join us at Yoash Mountain, where Raptor Watch point at Yoash we will be able to see the thousands of raptors and other birds here. Mountain
We will continue to one of the Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel’s (SPNI) Field Schools. A representative will explain the importance of this unique institute and discuss current environmental battles taking place.
Following lunch, we will continue to JNF’s Timna Park. As we pass through the front gates to the newly built chronosphere, we will be immersed in a fascinating
Mushroom at Timna Park 360-degree multimedia experience called the Mines of Time. Through dramatic audio, visual reality, computer simulation, and state-of-the-art animation, this presentation will introduce us to the ancient Egyptian and Midianite cultures dating from the time of the Exodus - a prelude to what we’ll encounter further on in the park. Following our tour, we’ll take a nature hike.
Later this afternoon, we’ll return to our hotel to rest and relax. The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be at leisure in Eilat.
Solomon’s Pillars at Timna Park Overnight, Royal Tulip, Eilat
WEDNESDAY MARCH 17 EILAT
After breakfast, we will depart our hotel for the Yotvata Research and Development Station. The R & D Station’s manager, Amnon Greenberg, will lead us on a tour and discuss the current research taking place here, which includes: the exact measurement of irrigation water consumption through scientific instrumentation, the development of calculation methods for optimal
Crops at Yotvata water consumption for all types of crops, research in preventing infestation of viruses harming garlic crops, and research in growing dates and pomegranates in the burning desert.
Afterward, we will continue to Hai Bar Yotvata, a unique national park that rehabilitates endangered animals and birds before reintroducing them to their natural environment. We will meet with a representative for a tour and an information session to learn more about what takes place here. Hai Bar Yotvata
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Afterward, we will have a special photography workshop at the flamingo pools near Eilat with a professional photographer to instruct us (pending confirmation). In addition to photographing the birds, we will learn how flamingos have made Eilat their home.
We will then return to our hotel for some time to relax and freshen up before this evening. Tonight, we will enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Eilat.
Flamingos in Eilat Overnight, Royal Tulip, Eilat
THURSDAY MARCH 18 EILAT x EN ROUTE
After spending a leisurely morning in Eilat, we will head to the airport for our flight to Sde Dov Airport. Upon our arrival in Tel Aviv, we will have the opportunity to do some last minute shopping or sightseeing around Tel Aviv.
The guide will lead an optional walking tour through Tel Aviv’s neighborhoods. We will walk down Rothschild Boulevard to see some
Tel Aviv excellent examples of Bauhaus architecture, which was all but destroyed in the bombing of Germany during WWII. We will continue to Rabin’s Square, the place of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, before the final stop in Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, built in 1909.
For those of us who would like to shop, start at Nahalat Benyamin, the famous pedestrian street filled with musicians, handmade jewelry and artifacts. Continue to Tel Aviv’s own Soho on Shenkin Street, the lively and colorful street especially known for its unique shops, café life and youthful ambiance. Next, walk Neve Tzedek down the famous Rothschild Boulevard before ending at the open-air Carmel Market.
As another alternative, spend the afternoon relaxing on Tel Aviv’s famous beach and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea.
Early this evening, we will be picked up and transferred to the airport for our return flight home.
Tel Aviv beach Overnight, En Route
**Itinerary and speakers subject to change based on availability
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