The Jerusalem Bird Observatory is an urban bird observatory in Israel , sited on a 5,000 m (54,000 sq ft) plot in central Jerusalem between the Knesset and the Supreme Court .
23-583: The Jerusalem Bird Observatory was established in 1994 by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel . It was founded by the naturalist Amir Balaban and the ornithologist Gidon Perleman. In 2016, 50,000 tourists visited the park. The Gutman Center addition was opened in 2011 for birds and bees. The Jerusalem Bird Observatory has a strategic location on the bird migration route between Africa and Eurasia along
46-459: A drain on water resources, increased land usage for housing and industrial development, and major transportation congestion and pollution issues. Israel today is highly urbanized, with one of the world's highest population density rates. On a national level, the number of persons per square kilometer is very close to that of Japan, while the Tel Aviv area's density is higher than that of Hong Kong. SPNI
69-703: A membership of more than 2.5 million people across 116 country partner organizations , including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds , the Wild Bird Society of Japan , the National Audubon Society , and American Bird Conservancy . BirdLife International has identified 13,000 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas and is the official International Union for Conservation of Nature 's Red List authority for birds. As of 2015, BirdLife International has established that 1,375 bird species (13% of
92-596: A sense of pride and belonging to the land. These centers also serve as the core from which SPNI assembles and coordinates grassroots activities, takes part in regional planning activities and promotes environmental issues with local government bodies. SPNI's major branches are located in Jerusalem , Tel Aviv, Be'er Sheva, Haifa and Modi'in . In 2011, the Russian government asked the organization to vacate its offices in Jerusalem in
115-486: Is also active in political and environmental improvement efforts. Projects have included working out an agricultural management plan for the Hula Valley to insure the health of migrating common cranes , and preventing the draining of a large area of salt pans, the last breeding site in Israel for Nubian nightjars . The campaign to create the 2004 Coastal Law, which forbids new development in any area within 300 meters from
138-402: Is dedicated to finding creative solutions to preserve Israel's fragile ecosystem. Land has become a precious commodity; the economic incentive for developers is highly enticing. SPNI is at the frontline, preserving the untouched land, still in its natural state, for wildlife, birds, and recreation, while promoting sustainable development, allowing residential areas to expand without clear-cutting
161-528: The Great Rift Valley . Every spring and fall, more than 500 million birds migrate through Israel. Two-thirds of the species seen in Jerusalem are migratory. 30% of the birds are permanent residents, they do not migrate. Gazelles also populate the park. The observatory serves as the national bird banding center. It is directed by naturalist Amir Balaban and ornithologist Gidon Perleman. Two hundred birds are banded every day by trained volunteers during
184-889: The Israel National Trail . A few full-time SPNI employees out in the field mark and repair trail markers, from the Galilee to the Negev. The Iris haynei (the Gilboa Iris) was chosen, as the logo of The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. BirdLife International BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats . BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding important sites for birds, maintaining and restoring key bird habitats, and empowering conservationists worldwide. It has
207-825: The Americas, Asia, Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific. The programmes provide the framework for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating conservation work and include the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas Programme, Marine Programme, Preventing Extinctions Programme, and Flyways Programme. In 2008, the English name of Wild Bird Federation Taiwan was renamed to Chinese Wild Bird Federation in order to comply with BirdLife International's demand, stemming from People's Republic of China 's pressure. Following
230-910: The Champions of the Flyway, an international birding competition and fundraiser that raises money for BirdLife International partners around the Mediterranean in an effort to stop illegal hunting and trapping of migratory birds. Israel Ornithological Center (IOC) - founded in 1980, the IOC works toward preserving endangered species such as the Lesser Kestrel, cranes, and Houbara Bustard. The IOC has several successful ongoing projects, including rehabilitating and conserving habitats for birds; leading research and surveying activities; and running numerous educational programs in schools throughout Israel. International Center for
253-609: The Hula wetlands were re-flooded in the early 1990s. In 1980, SPNI, together with Azaria Alon, Amotz Zahavi and Yoav Sagi , was awarded the Israel Prize for its special contribution to society and the State for the environment. Best known to the public for sponsoring hikes (today, SPNI's hikes are guided in Hebrew - the only regular nature tours in English are through SPNI-Jerusalem branch ), SPNI
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#1732884140070276-534: The Sergei Courtyard complex. SPNI is probably best known for its network of field schools , established adjacent to Israel's Nature Reserves and National Parks . Tens of thousands of Israelis and tourists participate in SPNI guided hikes and walks focusing on nature study. SPNI's Field School system combines three main areas of activity: education – teaching youth and adults about the region; conservation – protecting
299-978: The Study of Bird Migration (ICSBM) - the center at Latrun was founded by Yossi Leshem who was the executive director of the SPNI from 1991 to 1995, and is the center's director and a senior researcher at the Department of Zoology in the Faculty of Life Sciences at Tel Aviv University . ICSBM - Latrun is the joint initiative of SPNI and the Tel Aviv University. The center deals with many cutting edge and creative educational projects, such as migration research, flight safety , eco-education, ecotourism , and international cooperation. SPNI's education programs reach Israelis of every age and sector - over 50% of Israeli children and teens are involved in SPNI education programs! SPNI believes that by fostering young people's connection to
322-404: The coastline was a notable accomplishment. With almost 800 employees, SPNI is an enormous non-profit organization, with a wide range of activities, thus SPNI is known as well by its various divisions' names as it is by the name "SPNI". SPNI's Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is the watchdog and advocate for the little remaining open space left in Israel. Mass immigration has contributed to
345-512: The forests Israel has spent so many years planting. With five hundred million birds migrating through Israel's skies twice a year, nature lovers have begun to take note of Israel's unique potential as an ornithology superpower. SPNI, through its Israel Ornithological Center (IOC) and International Center for the Study of Bird Migration (ICSBM), leads Israel's partnership in the world of wildlife preservation and protection of bird species threatened by urbanization and economic development. SPNI sponsors
368-525: The land, heritage and to their own communities, we grow a generation that gives back to Israel in establishing a strong society, concerned with preserving Israel's natural treasures for all time. Spearheading environmental activities in Israel's major metropolitan areas is integral to SPNI's overall endeavors. Field-based and hands-on, SPNI staff run urban eco-centers from which they work with residents to raise awareness of environmental issues and run educational activities for children, youth and adults to promote
391-472: The lands and waters needed for their survival, and is Israel's oldest and largest conservation organization. SPNI was founded in 1953 by Azaria Alon and Amotz Zahavi in response to plans to drain the Hula Valley . The Israeli government and the JNF ultimately did drain a majority of the Hula wetlands to prevent the spread of malaria and to create agricultural land. After 40 years of SPNI campaigning, some 10% of
414-472: The opportunity to discuss BirdLife International's demands in its General Assembly meeting, BirdLife International Global Council voted to remove CWBF from its partnership program. BirdLife International CEO Patricia Zurita subsequently issued what Reuters described as a "gag order", directing her staff to not comment publicly on the "sadly public statement" from CWBF. "If you receive any queries regarding this matter, please DO NOT offer comment and instead refer
437-531: The organization's removal from BirdLife International in 2020, the English name was changed to Taiwan Wild Bird Federation (TWBF). In December 2019, BirdLife International asked Taiwan's then named Chinese Wild Bird Federation (CWBF), to address the following issues or risk removal from its partnership program: However, BirdLife International stated that even if CWBF were to address all of its demands, it may still be removed from BirdLife International's partnership program. On 7 September 2020, before CWBF had
460-595: The region's natural environment; and research – gathering information about the region in conjunction with SPNI's various departments. Field Schools are an integral part of SPNI's operations, a focal area for local eco-activities, and play a leading role in Israeli environmental tourism and education. English-language tours are offered by the Jerusalem Bird Observatory . The ITC marked and actively maintains 10,000 kilometers paths, 950 kilometers of which represents
483-773: The spring and fall migrations. It is located between the Parliament, the Wohl Rose Park and the Supreme Court building. Small wooden observation posts are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The park is free. Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel ( Hebrew : החברה להגנת הטבע , HaHevra LeHaganat HaTeva ), or SPNI , is an Israeli non-profit environmental organization working to preserve plants, animals, and natural environments that represent bio-diversity, by protecting
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#1732884140070506-406: The total) are threatened with extinction ( critically endangered , endangered or vulnerable ). BirdLife International publishes a quarterly magazine, BirdLife: The Magazine , which contains recent news and authoritative articles about birds and their conservation, and publishes its official journal Bird Conservation International with Cambridge University Press . BirdLife International
529-472: Was founded in 1922 as the International Council for Bird Protection by American ornithologists T. Gilbert Pearson and Jean Theodore Delacour . The group was renamed International Committee for Bird Preservation in 1928, International Council for Bird Preservation in 1960, and BirdLife International in 1993. BirdLife International has nine conservation programmes implemented across Africa,
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