Sustainable Developement
at the Breeding-, Resting- and Wintering Areas of the White and the Black Stork
Poland :: Israel :: Palestine :: Egypt :: Chad :: Kenya :: Southafrica
White Storks as Peace Doves
Slithshows Birds over Israel
by nino71141
Israel has a long tradition in bird watching. The region is a bottleneck for
the Eurasian - African bird migration. Year by year that circumstance
attracts hundreds of ornithologist all over the world. Bird watchers had
collected countless dates. Since the radar station of the Ben-Gurion Airport
was introduced, the researcher also can collect dates in the attitudes.
The transit through Israel, Palestine and Jordan is probably the best
researched stage of the migrating bird's routs. Twice a year between 500
million and a billion birds overfly this region on their way from Eurasia to
Africa and back.
Most
of the storks, that overfly Israel follow the Jordan Valley before they
cross the Negrev Desert southern of Bečr Shev. At the Jordan Valley the
birds find enough water and resting places However they don't use them often
for long resting.
The puddles and ponds in that region, that are the results of cultivation of
dry land, offers enough water supply for the birds. But resting here is
risky for them, because mostly the water is contaminated with pesticides.
During the night huge flocks of songbirds cross the sky, that need the
coolness of the night. During the day is the time of the big birds. They
need the updraft of worm air: Then one can watch cranes, pelicans, storks
and birds of prey. In April 2005 a flock of 105.000 White storks crossed
Israels sky in only five hours, - nearly 25 % of all Storks that overfly
Israel in one season.
One can imagine, that storks and other migrating birds are a big problem for
the air traffic, that cannot be ignored. Still up to date birds clashes with
airplanes.
More than half of the air accidents in the region are caused by crashes with
migrating birds. During the last 25 years Israel had lost not less than nine
airplanes because of collisions with birds. Three pilots died.
Between 1972 and 1982 alone there where 75 collisions that, in each case,
caused damage of one million dollar. Because of this reason in the last
years Israel and its neighboring states realized several cross-border
projects to research the exact migrating routs and the times of migratory
birds. Together with an radar expert, a former pilot of the red army, who
immigrated to Israel, the zoologist Jossi Leschem brought a weather radar
from Russia to Israel. Since then the birdwatchers study the behavior of the
flocks of birds, and they give the dates about the migrating routs, the
velocity and the flying attitudes to the army.
The conclusion of this project: The collisions of the various airspace user
could be reduced about 76 percent. When the Pelican squadrons fly from the
Danubian delta to Sudan, the air force squadrons stay on ground or use
another air layer. The military of the neighboring states is also interested
on the dates because they have similar problems. In the next step the
Israel, Jordan and Turkey air force plan to establish a regional warning
system.
Already now Israel provides radar picture of the air surveillance in the
Internet, where each group of migratory birds can be watched by everyone.
Big birds where equipped with satellite transmitters. The center of Latrun
is one of the pioneers of using telemetry for the bird researching. So the
migration of White Storks, Griffon Vultures and other birds, that nest in
Central Europe in summer, can be watched, their resting places can be
studies and protected.
Virtuell Storkwatching
Today at www.birds.org.il everyone can see, how the Griffon Vulture Salam make his circuits from Golan Heights till Yeman and the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. From all over the world, people were filled with enthusiasm in watching the routs of birds,that are equipped with transmitters. Finally with his bird project Mr. Yossi Leschem conceive the hope of a peaceful future - along the lines of his slogan "Migratory Birds Know no Boundaries"
Also the routs of the “German” stork-couple Jonas and Prinzesschen (little princess) , that had its nesting site in
Loburg,
could be followed up, until Prinzesschen, in winter 06/07 was found dead at
a groundnut farm at the Eastern Cape, South Afric. Year after year during her 14 years lifetime
Prinzesschen overwintered near Capetown whereas Jonas spend his
winter holidays in Spaina. Even she could be seen on the same
tree. The German TV channel ZDF presented her journeys, which made her very
popular, so millions of fans had followed her ways
Not everyone realized the intention of transnational understanding in
conjunction with common care of the migratory birds. A Pelican was detained
in Sudan. Because of its Israel transmitter he was “suspected” as a Mossard
spy.
Weitere Projekte
Zugvögel als ökotouristische Attraktion
Future-Links Israel
Institutionen
wahrnehmen und bewahren
Brot für die Welt, Kampagne Menschenrecht Wasser:
Interaktionen für Zukunftsfähige Entwicklung / Gesundheit bewahren, in Frieden und Würde leben
Deutsch-Israelischen Arbeitskreises für Frieden im Nahen Osten
Terre des Femmes Projektkoordination