Migratory Birds Begin Arriving at Hula Nature Reserve Despite Summer Heat

As summer temperatures peak, the first migratory birds have started arriving at the KKL-JNF Hula Nature Reserve in northern Israel. The autumn migration season opened with impressive sightings of stilts, bitterns, and limosa birds. Inbar Shlomit Rubin, the reserve's education manager, monitors the migrating birds daily from a hidden observation cart and surveillance cameras, expressing amazement at the annual natural spectacle.

Rubin explains that despite the intense summer heat, birds begin their migration based on daylight length rather than temperature. Since June 21, days have started to shorten, signaling birds to finish nesting quickly, build fat reserves, and head south, especially younger birds. While large flocks have not yet arrived, early migrants such as stilts, grey herons, and wagtails are already moving southward.

The migration intensifies in August with the arrival of storks, followed by pelicans, ducks, and herons in early September. Cranes, known for their loud calls, arrive later in late September or early October after raising their young. Rubin notes that changing climate patterns do not halt migration; birds seek feeding areas with suitable temperatures. Occasionally, unusual visitors like flamingos appear in the reserve, a phenomenon that has become more common in recent years, sometimes numbering in the hundreds.

The Hula Nature Reserve continues to be a vital stopover for migratory birds, showcasing the dynamic interplay between natural cycles and environmental changes.