Tens of thousands of storks have flown into the Agmon-Hula Nature Reserve
Tens of thousands of storks from Europe are currently flying through Israel on their way to Africa during their fall migration. The Agmon Hula Nature Reserve has become an important stopover for these migratory birds.
Researchers report that the seasonal migration has already begun, and storks are arriving in Israel en masse to rest before continuing their long journey.
“The fall migration has begun! Storks from Europe are currently arriving in Israel, continuing on to Africa. Most of them will spend only one night at Agmon and will set off again tomorrow morning to continue their migration,” the researchers report.
The conservation organization KKL-JNF has installed trail cameras at various locations around the nature reserve. The released footage shows large flocks of migratory birds.
According to the organization, tens of thousands of storks crossed the skies over Israel earlier this week, and some of them stopped at Agmon Huli.
During their stopover, the birds can rest, find food, and regain their strength before continuing their journey south.
Agamon Hula is an important wetland nature reserve in northern Israel, located in the Hula Valley near the border with Lebanon.
This area is one of the key resting spots for migratory birds, as the Hula Valley lies on one of the main migration routes between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
In the fall, millions of birds fly south through Israel to Africa, and in the spring, they use this route to return.
Storks, cranes, pelicans, flamingos, herons, and birds of prey can regularly be seen in the nature reserve.
According to KKL-JNF, more than 500 million migratory birds pass through the Hula Valley each year during each of the two main migration seasons—spring and fall.
About 390 bird species have already been recorded in the nature reserve and surrounding areas.
Thus, Agmon Hula remains an important natural “stopover” for birds undertaking seasonal migrations involving thousands of birds between Europe and Africa.
Earlier, residents of the Obukhiv District in the Kyiv Region witnessed a striking natural phenomenon—hundreds of white storks gathered on the outskirts of one of the villages. The birds filled the fields and wetlands near bodies of water, where they are now actively foraging for food before their long migration. Such large gatherings of storks in late summer are a common part of their preparations for the fall migration.
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