Dear friends,

2014 was a very productive year for birds and birding in Israel; a year of impressive projects and great achievements. In the following Newsletter we are proud to present you with a brief summary of our activities. One of the main reasons for this is the growing support of the “Hoopoe Foundation”.

The “Hoopoe Foundation” was founded in 2011 with the generous support of Racheli and Moshe Yanai. The foundation goals are to strengthen the subject of birding in Israel through education, bird conservation work and research. During the 2nd year of activity more generous donations were received by Mark Gelfand and others. Furthermore, the Yanai couple decided to double their annual donation to the Hoopoe Foundation for the next ten years, mainly to promote “The Army for the Protection of Nature” project. At the request of Mr.Yanai, starting in 2015, Maj.Gen.(Res.) Doron Almog will take over as the chairman of the Hoopoe Foundation.

During 2014 the activities of the Hoopoe Foundation increased significantly with no less than 24 different projects pursued. One of the most exciting projects is “Yes to the Bird” (כן לציפור). The project involves around 100 schools in Israel, half of them in Arab communities and revolves around birds, conservation and environmental education. One of the SPNI flagship projects was launched in 2014, the Champions of the Flyway. This incredible international project is making waves worldwide as a potential game changer in the horrific world of illegal killing and trapping of birds along the Flyways. The Champions of the Flyway received great publicity worldwide, brought many people to Israel and raised significant amounts for conservation. 2015 is shaping up to be just as busy with a long list of projects and challenges. The SPNI Birdwatching Centers are all leading projects, some of which are presented here. The dust has just settled on the 2nd Champions of the Flyway project that took place in Eilat in late March 2015. Once again the project was a great success and is making headlines all over the birding world. In May 2015 the SPNI birders will return to the US to take part in the World Series of Birding and to give several talks and presentations, more information on the SPNI visit can be found on page 3. Yossi Leshem will be a giving a series of lectures in the USA in July 2015. We hope you enjoy reading this newsletter and look forward to sharing the wonderful world of Israeli birding with you on your next visit to Israel.

Yours truly,

ABird's

Eye Viewof the

HOLY LANDNewsletter from Israel no.14 Spring 2015

For the most updated birding news from Israel visit www.birds.org.il

Dan Alon Secretary, Hoopoe Foundation Director, Israel Ornithological Center

Prof. Yossi LeshemDirector, International Center for the Study of Migration, Latrun

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In spring 2014, SPNI launched a new and exciting project “Champions of the Flyway”. In Champions teams of birders from around the world gather in Eilat and Southern Israel to celebrate the wonders of migration. Starting at midnight, teams of 3 or 4 compete to spot the most bird species within 24 hours, and get back to the finishing line in time. What makes the Champions of the Flyway so special is that all participating teams raise money towards a designated conservation project. The ultimate goal of the Champions of the Flyway is to raise funds to tackle the illegal hunting and trapping of birds along the Flyways, one location at a time.

The second Champions of the Flyway race took place starting in Eilat on March 25th 2015. 135 birders took to the field for the 2nd Champions of the Flyway race. 31 teams from Israel and 13 from abroad participated. 15 teams raced in the International division and 16 teams of Israeli birders competed in the national race. The teams spent the 24 hours racing side by side, some of the world’s finest field birders shared their telescopes with 8 year old children, for the shared goal of raising money for conservation.

The 2015 Champions of the Flyway were the “Cape May Bird Observatory (Leica) American Dippers”. The Dippers employed a different approach to most teams, starting in Eilat and heading north to the Negev in the afternoon; they finished with an amazing 168 species and won 3 pairs of Swarovski binoculars. The Dippers gallantly chose to donate the binoculars to a speechless Birdlife Cyprus team on the spot. The binoculars will be used to educate children in Cyprus to the value of birds in the field, through

Champions of the Flyway 2015

excellent binoculars and not through the barrel of a gun. In second place came the “Arctic Redpolls” from Finland. The young Finnish team sponsored by Zeiss Finland executed an incredible race day strategy and ended up only 1 species short of the overall winners. Team “Reservoir birds” from Spain and the Finnish “Northern Lights” team shared 3rd place with 163 species.

As the Israelis have the home field advantage they compete in a separate competition. The Israeli Champions of the Flyway race featured an incredibly diverse field with Israel’s top birdwatchers competing alongside amateurs including retired doctors, army generals and over 15 children. The winners of the Israeli Champions of the Flyway were the JBO Orioles from the Jerusalem Bird Observatory. The team led by Avner Rinot and Alen Kacal broke last year’s record and spotted an incredible 179 species within the allotted 24 hours. The JBO Orioles received 5,000 NIS to be invested in a conservation project of their choice. In close second the Pied Bushchats from the Yerucham center for creative ecology scored 176 species. The “Terns” from Ma’agan Michael took 3rd place with 170 species.

Besides the main award for the most birds spotted several more awards were handed out.

The Knights of the Flyway award for the team which shares the most information was given to the Next Generation Birders team that besides spotting a very good 157 species took the time to share valuable information before and during the race, put other teams on great birds (and mammals) and sacrificed their own time to help others. The team won a pair of Swarovski Optik SLC’s 10X50 that they will donate to a Birdlife project of their choice.

The Guardians of the Flyway award, for the team that raised the most money, was handed to the Birdwatch/Birdguides Roadrunners who raised over $7,500 for the cause. Honorable mentions go to the Birding Ecotours team from South Africa and the Dutch Knights who both raised an incredible amount themselves. The main winners of the 2015 Champions of the Flyway are the birds

Jonatan Meyrav, Dan Alon, Tom Read and Yoav Perlman proudly show their prize

of Cyprus. Over $50,000 was raised so far and the fundraising continues. A team from Birdlife Cyprus competed, and went home with a check for $35,000 that will go towards birding education programs on the island. Sadly, the picturesque island is a true death trap to millions of birds. The scale of illegal hunting on the island is horrific and the funds raised will help our colleagues at Birdlife Cyprus tackle the issue on the ground.

In May 2015, the SPNI Champions of the Flyway team is returning to the World Series of Birding in Cape May to defend their title and further promote the project. As part of our fundraising efforts we have created a fundraising page to support the SPNI team. The funds raised through this page will be directed to real conservation work that is done on the ground in Israel. We remind you that we are a non-profit and that we rely on your support to carry our message to even greater crowds. If you would like to sponsor SPNI’s Champions of the Flyway team please go to http://www.worldseriesofbirding.org/wsb/teampage.asp?fundid=1920Thank you in advance for your support.

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Champion of the flyway group photo.(Photo: Yuval Dax)

Temminck's Horned Lark - Negev Desert (Photo: Yoav Perlman)

SPNI Discovery Tours 2015For the first time in over a decade, The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel is offering fascinating guided tours in English. Join us for 9 days exploring the history, beauty and wildlife of the Holy Land:

Hike Ein Gedi, the desert oasis; Discover the secrets of Jerusalem’s Old City; See wildlife in the forest, birds in the Hula Valley and much more.

Tour Dates: August 15-24 and November 14-23

Prices start from: $2,995 Single supplement: $1,435

For more information about these tripsplease contact our office: 1-800-411-0966

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The Desert Tawny Owl is a mysterious bird and has been defined as such since biblical times. Isaiah mentions an unidentified nocturnal bird in the Judean Desert over 2,600 years ago. In 1910 Father Smith collected a pale Owl from the Judean Desert but mistakenly identified it as an albino Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus). In 1932 Aharoni, the first Hebrew zoologist, referred to the Owl as the rarest, most mysterious species in Palestine.

Throughout the 1980s and the 90s, Israeli birdwatcher, Hadoram Shirihai, invested uncountable nights studying the Tawny Owl from the desert. Shirihai, who grew-up in birdwatching circles of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, invested a great deal of time studying the owl. For years, he documented several pairs in the Negev, the Judean Desert, and the Eilat Mountains. Due to its rarity and beauty, the Desert Tawny Owl is one of the most sought after species for birdwatchers around the globe, and in the 1990s Shirihai led hundreds of birdwatchers to observe the owl in the wadis of southern Israel. During these excursions, he consistently explained to the birdwatchers that this owl was different, unique. Shirihai began, in fact, the expansion of birdwatching tours to Eilat for tourists from abroad, and it is safe to say that the Desert Tawny Owl was one of the strongholds for this development. Even today the Owl remains one of the most sought after species for observation among birdwatchers coming from abroad. In 1985, Shirihai was handed a suitcase by the late Prof. Mendelssohn from Tel Aviv University. The case contained the skins of approximately 20 bird species from Israel for comparison to those preserved in the British Museum. One of these skins was of the Desert Tawny Owl. Shirihai compared two skins from Israel with the museum specimen which was labeled as Hume’s Tawny Owl (Strix butleri), and returned with unequivocal conclusions: the Israeli “Hume’s Owl” is different from the type specimen butleri, and was probably a

In January 2015 a new species of owl was named inthe deserts of Israel, Strix hadorami

different species!Thirty years have passed and a team of researchers led by Guy Kirwan, with the aid of advanced DNA technology, validated Shirihai’s assessment from the 1980s. The team provided significant proof that the Owls from Israel differed genetically from the type specimen, butleri. This mysterious owl from the deserts of Israel proved to be unique; it was genetically and morphologically different from the type specimen, and the Desert Owl was redefined. After the publication of the article in the most prominent scientific journals, the owl was redescribed as the Desert Tawny Owl – a direct translation of the Hebrew name. In addition, a new scientific name was given to the owl by the research team as homage to the Israeli birdwatcher who was the first to notice its distinctiveness: Strix hadorami.

In January 2015 a new species of owl was namedin the deserts of Israel, Strix hadorami

Desert Tawny Owl(photo: Hadoram Shirihai)

a model for systems in Israel led by worthy national conservation projects as well as for armies in the rest of the world.Knowing that competition breeds excellence within the armed forces, commanders were challenged to come up with innovative and effective conservation projects. SPNI’s ecologists helped refine the proposals and 22 commanders presented their unit’s plans to the selection committee who decided which projects would receive 100,000 NIS to implement them.

The winning projects for 2014 were: Hermon Brigade: Rehabilitating areas around bunkers on Mount Hermon and reducing harm to ground nesting birds. Havat HaShomer Basic Training Base: Planting a garden for rare plants and flowers damaged in the expansion to the Golani junction. Bika Brigade: Protecting artificial bat roosts in bunkers in the Jordan Valley. Technology and Logistics Directorate: Creating a path for local residents to tour natural flora at the Army’s Central

Army for the Protection of Nature Commanders TakeResponsibilityfor Their Environment

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Transport. Hub Palmahim Base: Eradicating invasive species in the sandy dunes. Lahish Command: Establishing protocols to protect animals living in live fire zones.Southern Foxes: Creating a nature trail for visitors around the Gaza security envelopeHatzerim Base: Protecting the Loess plains around the base, home of the Hubara Bustard Caracal Brigade: Creating passages for mammals through the border fence with Egypt.

In the army the project was led by Maj. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, current Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Noam Tibon, Commander of the Northern Region, Lieut. Col. Eyal Ezra, Director of Environmental Protection Administration at the Technological and Logistics Directorate. From April 2015, the project will be led by Maj. Gen. Kobi Barak. The announcement of new projects for 2015 was announced on March 26th at Tel Aviv University.

13/4/2014: The Chief of the General Staff, Maj. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot(at the time Deputy Chief), at the launching of "The Army for the Protection of Nature" project in the “Marom Hall” at IDF Headquarters in Tel Aviv, enjoying the exhibition of photographs (Photo: Amir Ezer)

The Jordanian General Mansour Abu Rashid visits a bunker occupied by bats

The project “The Army for the Protection of Nature” was initiated and established by the Hoopoe Foundation of the Society for the Protection of Nature, led by Brig. Gen. (Res.) Baruch Spiegel, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Asaf Agmon and Prof. Yossi Leshem. The Society for the Protection of Nature raised one million shekels for the project’s first year. SPNI has been joined by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and other organizations with the aim of creating a significant environmental and educational project led by the army. The aim of the project is to combine the subjects of environment, nature, knowledge of the country and its heritage in order to connect the soldiers in the unit to the program. In addition, the IDF, as the “army of the people”, led by its commanders, will be

Israelis and Palestinians working together (photo: Yuval Dax)

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The year 2014 was the fifth consecutive year of our project “Yes to the Bird”, which involves 100 schools, in the northern region of the Ministry of Education, in birding activities: research questions, group activity and getting to know the birds in the area around the school. The project is led by the Director of the Northern Region of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Orna Simchon, the Hoopoe Foundation, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and other green organizations.During the 2014 school year an additional 87 schools joined the project, led by Shoshi Cohen, the Inspector of Science and Technology Studies. They dealt with understanding bird migration, researching the birds in the school grounds and other subjects with the emphasis on nature protection.

Educational Birding Activities have Significantly IncreasedProf.Yossi Leshem,Orna Gemmer & Shlomit Lifshitz

This coming spring, eight of the schools in the program will work in cooperation with schools in Europe to learn about migration. They will follow the progress of Ospreys that have been fitted with satellite transmitters and watch the nests of Ospreys on webcams. We hope that, in the future, schools from North America will join this project. World Osprey Week (WOW) will be celebrated from 23-29 March 2015 and will connect all the schools.In the coming year we hope to connect 136 schools to the USA government’s program, GLOBE, that researches climate change in the area of the schools as well as expanding the bird studies.In January 2015 a 3-day seminar was held in Nazareth with 25 teachers from Jordan and 21 teachers from Israel participating, to strengthen the contact between the Jordanians and the Israelis. This seminar was the continuation of the seminar that was held at hotels in the Dead Sea area of Jordan in April 2014.

Israeli and Jordanian teachers at a joint seminar in Nazareth birdwatching together in the hotel grounds (Photo: Yossi Leshem)

On November 28, 2014 the fourth annual Crane Race took place at the Hula Lake park. The race was a tremendous success and 2,500 runners participated. This year, in addition to the popular 5-km course (the Hoopoe Race) and the 10-km competitive course (the Crane Race) a 21-km competitive half-marathon course was added. The objective of the race was to combine “a healthy soul with a healthy body”, emphasizing nature preservation and a bond with our neighbors, citizens of Israel and IDF soldiers. Among the 2,500 participants were approximately 300 soldiers and many senior officers, sponsored by the Northern Command Recruitment, Major General Noam Tibon, and the Brigadier General Yossi Bachar. In addition, an impressive representation from the Jordanian top running team, 50 participants from the pre-army program, “Nesharim Kalu” (swifter than eagles) led by Muki Betzer – all who have participated in every annual race along with 35,000 cranes! 400 runners participated in the half-marathon course. Some of the runners lodged in the area the night before the race in order to attain new records the following day. They were hosted in the hotels and guesthouses in the north. The half-marathon participants were accommodated by Mitzpe HaYamim in Rosh Pina.

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The Fourth Annual Crane Race in the Hula Lake Park November 28, 2014

The Jordanian top runners, displaying their country’s flag at the starting line.

Runners participating in the fourth annual crane raceMajor General Noam Tibon, Prof. Zvi Ben-Avraham – Israel-Prize laureate in geophysics, who participated for the third time in the 10-km Crane Race and he is 74 years old!, Brigadier General Yossi Bachar and an unidentified runner.

International WorkshopGreat White Pelican Migration overIsrael: Management of EcologicalDemands and Conflicts with InlandFisheriesHula Valley,27-29 October 2014The entire population of the Western Palearctic (South-East Europe and South-West Asia) Great White Pelicans (GWP) migrate through Israel in the autumn. They are the largest birds in the world that perform such a long trans-desert migration (to East Africa). This population is in decline due to drainage of wetlands, disturbance, and persecution, overexploitation of fish stocks, pesticides and electrocution and trauma from electric power lines. All of the southbound GWP that pass through Israel stop over for a period of one night up to several weeks. Afterward, most GWP continue their migration to East Africa (mainly to Sudan). Israel provides one of the only relatively protected stopover areas with sufficient feeding resources and conditions for rest and refueling. Many stopover and feeding wetlands along the migration routes of GWP between SE Europe and Africa have been seriously degraded or have disappeared, with serious implications for their populations and for aquaculture farms in Israel. The arrival and refueling of such a large population of fish-eating birds provides a real management challenge. In the 1980s, between 2,000 - 3,000 pelicans did not continue their migration to Africa and wintered in Israel. This created a tremendous conflict with the aquaculture sector. This workshop brought together 35 researchers, professionals, stakeholders and government officials representing countries along the Great White Pelican’s migratory route in order to evaluate the unique GWP stopover situation in Israel, to share information and establish multi-country, wide-range, problem-solving strategies for conservation of this key species. The workshop was organized by the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) and the Israel Ornithological Center of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and in cooperation with Wetlands International and IUCN Species Survival Commission Pelican Specialist Group.A summary of the findings and discussions from the workshop was published. A clear picture emerged from these discussions about the uniqueness of the Israeli situation in terms of pelican ecology (bottleneck migration with birds in low physical condition) and habitat availability (almost no natural wetlands coupled with a high density of aquafarms). Overall, the guest speakers from other countries praised the work being conducted in Israel. They were impressed with the quality and quantity of data and with the cooperation of various stakeholders, especially given the difficult situation with the fisheries. All parties gave their full commitment and support for a continued international effort to conserve this important species.

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Cooperative Workshop With Germany and Israel: the Effect of Climate Change on Birds and Bird MigrationFrom November 30 until December 2, 2014, a workshop was held on the “hot” topic of worldwide nature preservation, with top experts from Israel and all over the world taking part. Lecturers from the workshop addressed an audience of 250 guests who came from all corners of the country. The lectures were in English while simultaneous translation was provided. Afterwards, members of the workshop were taken to the Hula Lake Park to observe the cranes’ peak migration and from there they continued to the Pastoral Hotel in Kfar Blum. The third day of the workshop began at dawn, watching the cranes leaving their roosting place; it continued at the banding station on the premises and was followed by a tour and lectures at the Jordan River. All participants of the workshop agreed that meetings of this sort between nations are imperative, and this workshop was a great success.

The professors at the German-Israeli workshop (Photo: Sivan Faraj)

Map of migrating pelican trackby satellite transmitter

First Findings from Researching the Use of GPS Tags to Track Barn OwlsResearch methods of Dr. Motti Charter: Thirteen data loggers (Gypsy 4 GPS, manufactured by Technosmart) were attached to mature male Barn Owls trapped in nesting boxes.Findings:The 2014 nesting season served as a pilot for the method with which to re-trap subjects wearing GPS tags. This was not an easy task, as it entailed numerous nightly attempts examining nesting boxes, which resulted in failure. Ultimately, a successful trap was constructed, and 13 GPS tags were attached to the birds. Data was collected in seven categories. During the process, the researchers learned how to trap mature subjects, some of them male – an endeavor mostly impossible during the day – and to supply a great deal of information regarding percentage of survival, and male distribution. Finally, all subjects carrying a GPS device supplied coordinates, sampled per minute, for three and a half nights. On the average, each subject provided approximately 3,000 locations per time frame. We found that the owls hunt in a much wider scope than we had previously suspected. We are still in the data-processing phase, but it can be seen that frequently, most of the subjects flew distances of 1 – 5 km, and an average diameter from the nesting box of 13.4 km (Se = 2.6, N = 7). During the nesting season of 2015, we will continue the research, but mainly we will increase the sample size, by which we will increase our knowledge and efficacy obtained by tracking the hunting habits of the Barn Owl. All of this was made possible through the use of GPS tags. Our heartfelt gratitude to: The Hoopoe Foundation, The Addax Foundation, and The Oryx Foundation.

Seminar participants; Jordanians, Israelis dancing together in the evening.

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The National Initiativefor Using Barn Owlsand Common Kestrels as Biological Pest Control Agents in AgricultureThe national initiative for using Barn Owls and Kestrels as a biological pest control in agriculture is based on a wide, comprehensive, and long-term approach to attain the most environmentally friendly, sustainable agriculture possible. This national initiative was established in 2008 with the cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and Tel Aviv University. In 2011, the Hoopoe Foundation joined in funding the initiative. It embodies years of experience and academic research beginning in 1983 on Kibbutz Sde Eliahu, the flagship of the development of environmentally friendly agriculture. So far, over 3,000 nesting boxes for Barn Owls and as many as 700 for the Common Kestrel have been placed. The year 2014 was characterized with a low percentage of nesting apparently due to minimal precipitation which limited vegetation growth, thus resulting in a limited increase of rodents, which serve as the natural diet for the Barn Owl. During the year, approximately 1,414 boxes were left, among which 22.6% were populated by nesting pairs of Barn Owls. Overall 2014 was a success for the national initiative, tremendous effort was placed on education, publicity and regional cooperative meetings among Israelis, Arabs, Palestinians and Jordanians.This year research addressed whether biological pest control using the Barn Owl actually decreases the use of poisons in the fields. Dr. Yoav Motro devised a graph showing the number of nesting boxes in Israel between 1983 – 2014, using data from the national Barn Owl project. The number of nesting boxes in Israel is represented in blue. A large increase in nesting boxes for the use of Barn Owls can be seen during the groundwork period of the project.

The graph shows that the amount of the Rosh-80 poison authorized for use changed greatly over the years, but decreased in general with the rise in the use of the Barn Owls. In addition, in 2013 it can be seen that while there was an increase in the rodent population in many areas of Israel, there was an increase of the amount of Rosh-80 authorized for use, but this rise was negligible in comparison with the amount of Rosh-80 that was used before the onset of the Barn Owl project.

Map of migrating pelican trackby satellite transmitter

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Two years ago, the Hoopoe Foundation administration decided to establish the “Hoopoe Library� with the aim of producing at least one or two publications on the topic of birdwatching each year. In light of this decision, in 2013 two books were published, Buma the Barn Owl and The Sunbird.

Buma the Barn Owl, the Farmer's Friend, written by Yossi Leshem in Hebrew and Arabic, and in 2014 the book was translated into English. The books sold well; the Hebrew version has practically sold out, and the Arabic version was distributed among 300 Arabic-speaking farmers in Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, and another 200 were given to teachers and students in the Northern Region in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. The English version was published bearing the "Hoopoe Library" logo, in cooperation with Carta Publishers.

In August 2014, the book The Sunbird, written by Prof. Yoram Yom Tov was published by the Carta Publishers. During Operation "Protective Edge," the Head of the Regional Council Hof Ashkelon, Yair Farjun ordered an edition of 1,000 books for all of the soldiers from the region, in which he dedicated a two-page introduction.

Prior to its publication, the Ministry of Education purchased 200 copies of a new book entitled "Yes to Nests" (in Hebrew: Ken LaTzipor). In December, the Hoopoe was proud to be part of the fifth publication of Changes and Exchanges in the World of Birds in the 20th Century written by Dr. Uzi Paz, funded by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Israel Foundation for Nature Preservation directed by Dan Perry (previously the CEO of INPA). In February 2015, the foundation produced the sixth publication of 30 Years of Cooperation with the Israel Air Force (1984-2013), written by Yossi Leshem, Dan Alon and Oded Ovadia. The publication reviews the groundbreaking activity with the Israel Air Force throughout three decades and outlines the migratory observations of a network of birdwatchers in Trans-Sumaria-Kfar Kasem and the northern valleys.

Establishing the“Hoopoe Library”2013-2014In two years:the first 6 books and journals

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The project for identifying the current situation of birds in Israel began in 2009 and is led by the Israel Ornithological Center (IOC) of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel with the aid of the Hoopoe Foundation and other organizations. The project specializes in understanding the current situation of birds in Israel. Every five years the IOC will publish a comprehensive report examining the challenges facing birds in Israel, according to which activities in the center will be prioritized. It will also serve as an authorized document for relevant decision makers in Israel and will be distributed to the public. The first report will be published at the end of 2015.

In 2014 the IOC staff continued to observe distinctive habitats and endangered bird species. For instance, in conjunction with comprehensive research that began in 2013, we have resumed observing the distinctive nesting sanctuaries in the Hermon and have found 17 Israeli species nesting in the Hermon alone. We examined the most sensitive areas of the Hermon and mapped out vital areas for birds.

In addition, we have continued to research scrubland areas in Israel. Scrubland is an exceptional habitat that is at risk due to the upsurge in development. A unique array of birds live in this susceptible habitat. In 2014, the focus was on central Israel and in the south. We found sensitive and characteristic nesting areas of scrubland birds: Long-billed, Speckled Warbler, Upsher's Warbler, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Black-eared Wheatear, Woodlark and more.

Soaring Birds' Migration This research, which has been in existence for the past 30 years with the cooperation of the Israel Air Force, has returned to its homeland – the eastern Dan Region, Kfar Kasem. We have found a network of expert birdwatchers from Israel and abroad to assist with data collection. As part of our policy to expose this professional activity to the public, we have held 20 instructional tours in which approximately 2,000 people participated.

The Lesser KestrelThe IOC has been researching the Lesser Kestrel since 1996. Monitoring this species' nesting in Israel, which has been defined as at risk of extinction, continued in 2014. We conducted a comprehensive and detailed mapping of the population in the Carmel region, Ramot Menashe, and the Jezreel Valley, as well as that of the eastern Dan region and the northern Negev. For the first time, 10 mature Kestrels were tracked in the Carmel region with GPS transmitters. We hope the Kestrels will return safely this coming spring with exciting data of their migratory route and their wintering areas.

In addition, we have continued to survey the Sooty Falcon population in the Negev and the Judean Desert, the Egyptian Vulture in the Negev, the Ferruginous Duck that nests in reservoirs in central and northern Israel, and the Marbled Duck in the north.

In the beginning of the year, we launched a new system to report observations on the Israel birding portal (www.birds.org.il). This system is groundbreaking for birdwatching in Israel with respect to accessibility to information and the center's ability to obtain an indication of the situation of birds in Israel with the help of information gathered from amateur birdwatchers.

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TheState of theBirds in Israel

Griffon Vulture, Gamla, (photo Hadoram Shirihai) Israel

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FourthAnnualStudy Day:“The Vultureof the Skies…”In cooperation with Tel Aviv University, the Fisher Instituteand the Air ForceThis was the fourth year that we held a study day celebrating the Air Force’s history of bird conservation. This is a combined initiative with the Fisher Institute, Tel Aviv University, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and the Hoopoe Foundation. The event was attended by 600 guests at the Bar Shira

Bar Shira Hall at Tel Aviv University on June 6, 2014

Hall at Tel Aviv University to listen to lectures on the Air Force’s history, its conflict with the birds and research on birds.After the lectures, 175 guests signed up for guided tours to see Long-eared Owl nestlings around their nests near Tel Aviv. The tours were guided by guides from the Israel Ornithological Center, and were enjoyed by all!The Fifth Annual Study Day will be held in memory of Lieut.Col. Ran Lapid at the Bar Shira Hall at Tel Aviv University on 4/27/15 in cooperation with the Fisher Institute and Air Force.

Former Air Force Commanders Maj. Gen. (res.) Herzl Bodinger, Chairman of the Air Force Association and the Fisher Institute, and Maj. Gen (Res.) Amos Lapidot always attend these events (Photo: Sivan Farag)

Silvan Shalom, the Minister for Regional Cooperation, addressing the audience. He has contributed much towards promoting joint projects with the Palestinians and Jordanians 175 guests in 7 groups watched the Long-eared Owls in

kibbutzim and rural settlements around Tel Aviv after the Study Day

In 2014, two nature films were produced: "The Champions of the Flyway – birdwatching in full force", and "Global Warming and Its Effect on the World and Its Birds". The Champions of the Flyway discusses the national birdwatching race initiative through the eyes of the participants: the expectation, the suspense and satisfaction gained from taking part in a race in support of migratory bird preservation. The movie was filmed and produced by Yuval Dax (http://youtu.be/CkzjxubXLJw). Global Warming and Its Effect on the World and Birds is the work of Eyal Bar-Tov, who describes the destructive effect of climate change on the bird population worldwide. The film was produced for an international conference that took place in Tel-Aviv on November 30, 2014, on the topic of the effects of climate change on birds in general and migratory birds in particular. The film includes breathtaking shots, an

Productionof Nature Films, and Online Cameras in Nests

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overview from the finest scientists in Israel and abroad, that examine the changes and harm caused to the birds’ migratory routes and food sources as a result of global warming.http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwp8fBYm0_Q

The Barn Owls Star in the Last Episodes of “Polishuk”The Barn Owl initiative, in cooperation with the Jordanians and Palestinians, starred in the series “Polishuk” initiated by Keshet, Channel 2, written by Shmuel Hasifri. The 36-episode series ended with a double 90-minute episode, in which one of the leading initiators of the Hoopoe Foundation starred: the Barn Owl as one of the heralds of peace in the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis were exposed to the initiative while watching the episode, which depicted the government humorously. Yossi Leshem starred in the program, after which he received over 800 emails from citizens who were made aware of the Barn Owl activity while watching the episode – an effective use of publicity!

Online BirdwatchingThrough the Israel birdwatching site, you can connect directly to an online camera that airs Barn Owl nesting activity during their nesting season (February-July) 24 hours a day, including night time, thanks to the infra-red cameras. You can follow all the nesting stages, from egg-laying, hatching, feeding the fledglings rodents - to the flight of the owlets. The online cameras have received tremendous interest among farmers in particular and the public in general. The cameras play an important role in exposing the public to the power a pair of Barn Owls has in the biological pest control endeavor. In 2014, a camera was placed in Moshav Ram On under the supervision ofDr. Motti Charter and Shai Halevi.

“Beit Schiff” nesting area for swifts.It is one of the first houses on which the law of preservation was enforced, and the first in which nests were preserved. With the cooperation of Discount Bank, we laid the groundwork to set up a tracking camera, and at the beginning of every season we observe the birds, then choose from which nest to air the online tracking.

Yossi Leshem holding the Barn Owl, with actress Hannah Azulai Hasifri

They spread poison, the mouse ate the poison, the eagle preyed on it and died…

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Between 13-18 July 2014, Yossi Leshem, along with three colleagues, was invited to teach a field course at Hog Island in the US State of Maine with an emphasis on raptor migration. The field course was organized by Audubon in collaboration with Cornell University, led by Dr. Steve Kress. Dr. Kress is a leading ornithological figure and was a key player in reintroducing puffins to Maine’s coastal islands after they became extinct from the area. The connection was initiated by Rabbi Steve Shaw, a longtime friend of both Dr. Kress and Yossi Leshem.The tour was planned for about a month and Yossi gave a series of lectures in Maine, at Acadia reserve Schodic Intistute, Audubon Greenwich, Temple Israel Synagogue in White Plains, NY with ASPNI, Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer Baratz LLP, a large law firm, and a number of lectures on the West Coast which were sponsored by Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU). A total of 10 lectures were given, and the academic course lasted a week, in which 750 people were exposed to our activities. Yossi also met with Paul Winter, General Bob and Meredith Magnus as well as other dignitaries and potential donors.

Both because of the difficulty of the ongoing operation in Gaza and because bird issues are new to Americans and the Jewish community in the US, the lectures received intense interest and were met with a great deal of enthusiasm. Everyone was very impressed with the original and interdisciplinary programs conducted in birding in Israel, constituting only positive reviews, and creating hope for the future in these difficult times.

Summary of Yossi Leshem’s USA Tour6th - 31st July, 2014

top: (from left to right) - United States Marine Corps general (ret) Robert Magnus, Tom Iovino, President and Founder of the JUDLAU OHL Group, Judy Iovino and Meredith Magnus at Yossi’s Greenwich lecture, middle: Mr. Richard Blum enjoying our new article in Lifestyles magazine,bottom: 7 time Grammy Award winner Paul Winter performing with his daughter at Yossi’s lecture at Audubon Greenwich

Update on Evrona Oil Spill: Israel’s Worst Ever Environmental Disaster SPNI is playing a central role in the response to Israel’s worst ever ecological disaster, sitting on the national committee appointed to take charge of the cleanup and rehabilitation efforts.On December 4th, the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company’s (EAPC) pipeline burst, the emergency backup systems failed, and over 5 million liters of crude oil spilled into the Evrona nature reserve. Eighty people were hospitalized in Israel and Jordan as a result of the toxic fumes released.Our field workers, especially those from the International Birdwatching and Research Center of Eilat and the Eilat Field School, have been reporting up to date information on the state of birds and the other wildlife affected to the authorities. As of writing, all the liquid oil along with the contaminated topsoil has been removed, although we are still unsure of the long term damage which may take decades to fully rehabilitate.

We are simultaneously working to ensure that a catastrophe like this can never happen again (worryingly, during the cleanup geological evidence was uncovered indicating several past leaks that were never publicly reported). As EAPC operates under a shroud of official state secrecy, a relic of its past as a joint Iranian-Israeli venture, this will be no simple task.SPNI is fighting on the public’s behalf to make sure that the EAPC, rather than the public, pay the full costs of the cleanup and compensation to those affected. We will petition the State Comptroller to open EAPC’s operations to external scrutiny to see if there is any evidence of negligence, and if there is make sure they are charged with criminal negligence. We also want to see the public compensated by turning one of the Eilat beaches, currently used by EAPC, into a new nature reserve, and in doing so protect the coral reef and other wildlife in the area, so at least some good can come out of this disaster.

News Shorts:Nachsholim Beach saved: Following on the heels of the Palmachim Beach victory, SPNI successfully campaigned to save another of Israel’s remaining public beachesEurobats welcomes Israel: Thanks to SPNI, Israel has officially agreed to join and been accepted into the European convention for the protection of batsSPNI celebrates open spaces: SPNI’s organized tours and events across the country during February, its first annual Open Spaces month, for residents to get in touch with their local flora and fauna, over 10,000 participants joinedBreakthrough in Sustainable Fishing Campaign: The Ministry of Agriculture has agreed to SPNI’s request to impose tighter fishing limits on commercial fishing in 2015 The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) is Israel’s leading environmental non-profit organization. For the past 60 years SPNI has been dedicated to protecting and preserving Israel’s natural resources, environment, natural assets and unique landscape. SPNI is working tirelessly with policy makers and in schools, youth groups and communities all over the country to create a sustainable future for Israel in the 21st Century.

And in other SPNI News…

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Photographer: Ofer Levi

Editors:Yossi Leshem, Lawrence Kasmir and Dan Alon

Graphic Design:

Prof. Yossi Leshem, DirectorInternational Center for theStudy of Bird Migration, LatrunDepartment of ZoologyTel Aviv UniversityRamat Aviv,Tel Aviv 69978Tel/Fax: +972 3 640 6010yleshem@post.tau.ac.il

Dan Alon, DirectorIsrael Ornithological CenterSPNI2 HaNegev StreetTel Aviv, 66186 Israelioc@inter.net.il

If you would like to support the birding conservation activities of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel please visit our website www.natureisrael.org/donateor send a check to your local SPNI office:The American Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel28 Arrandale Avenue, Great Neck, NY 11024, USAaspni@aol.com

The Canadian Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel25 Imperial St., Suite 200Toronto, Ontario M5P 1B9, Canadaspnicanada@gmail.com

Les Amis de la Terre d’Israël "Les Empereurs" 6 rue Spitalieri06000 Nice, Franceirl@club-internet.fr

UKSPNIPO Box 67678London, NW11 1LDukspni@spni.org.il

Moshe Yanai • Mark Gelfand• Samis Foundation • Friedman Foundation

• Abraham Bachri • Irv Cantor

We would like to thank all our partners and supporters including:

contact international@spni.org.ilFor the most updated birding news from Israel visit www.birds.org.il