International Hula Valley Bird Festival

From: http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Pages/home.aspx
After last year’s success, the Second International Hula Valley Bird Festival is scheduled for November 11-18 2012, highlighting the magnificent Hula Valley and northern Israel, which feature some of the most incredible birding destinations on Earth.

Festival participants will enjoy tours led by the leading birders and tour guides in the country, all of them specialists with intimate knowledge of the area and the birds. Highlights will include mobile tours and ringing demonstrations. The full birding program is available at www.hulabirdfestival.org

Every evening a feature presentation on birds will take place in the hotel lounge. Participants will be based in the Pastoral Hotel Kfar Blum, on a half board basis.

The Hula Valley is at its best in late autumn as tens of thousands of Common Cranes and Pelicans are present as well as over 25 species of raptors.  In addition, spotters may get the rare and sought after opportunity to view species such as the Greater Spotted and E. Imperial Eagles, Pallid Harrier and more. Local species such as the Black Francolin, Pygmy Cormorant and three species of Kingfishers offer extraordinary viewing and photo opportunities.

The festival is a joint initiative between The Israel Ornithological Center of the SPNI, Israel Ministry of Tourism, the International Center for the Study of Bird Migration, Latrun and the Hoopoe Foundation.

For more information: www.hulabirdfestival.org