Rare Golden-breasted Plover Sighted in Israel for Second Time
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
A rare Golden-breasted Plover was sighted in northern Israel for the second time in history at the Fora Reservoir. The endangered bird, which typically nests in the Arctic and migrates to Argentina, was identified by birder Miriam Al Sarhan. Experts speculate a navigational error led the young bird to Israel, possibly via Europe or Asia, with a recent sighting in Cyprus lending support to the European route.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A rare Golden-breasted Plover was sighted in northern Israel for only the second time.
- The endangered bird was spotted at the Fora Reservoir in the northern Negev.
- The species normally nests in the Arctic and migrates to Argentina.
- The first sighting in Israel was in the fall of 2018 near Kibbutz Ga'ash.
- Experts suggest a navigational error may have caused the bird to stray.
- A recent sighting in Cyprus may indicate the same bird traveled through Europe.
A rare Golden-breasted Plover has been spotted in northern Israel, marking only the second time the species has been documented in the country. The bird was seen last weekend at the Fora Reservoir in the northern Negev, a crucial stopover point for many migratory birds situated on the edge of the desert. This species typically nests in the Arctic Circle, in northern North America, and its regular migration route leads it to the coasts of Argentina. The Golden-breasted Plover is classified as globally endangered (VU), facing threats from habitat destruction, hunting, and climate change.
Birder Miriam Al Sarhan identified the bird on Friday. The first sighting of this species in Israel occurred in the fall of 2018 near Kibbutz Ga'ash, where it remained for only two days. Experts are uncertain how the young bird, on its first migration, ended up in Israel. Dr. Yoav Perlman, Director of the Birdwatching Center at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, suggests a navigational error is likely.
Perlman outlined two possible routes the bird might have taken. One possibility is that it crossed the Atlantic Ocean, reached Western Europe, and then traveled to Israel. This theory is supported by a recent first-time sighting of a Golden-breasted Plover in nearby Cyprus just a week prior, potentially indicating the same individual. Alternatively, the bird may have traveled from Alaska and northern Canada, crossed the Bering Strait, traversed all of Asia, and arrived in Israel.
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