Morning!
Xx
Yesterday
a visit to the Jerusalem Bird Observatory was suggested. To be honest
I wasn't aware that there was one but as my daughter, Rebecca, was at
a synagogue for Shabbatt, I took the opportunity to visit.
Situated
within a large parkland area west of the Old City, the observatory
was easy to find and after stopping to look at a few terrapins in a
nearby pool, I entered the Observatory's reserve.
Immediately
it became apparent that this was no ordinary bird observatory. To the
right beside an open hatched building a group of around thirty
people, obviously not birders, were seated watching Observatory staff
members ring a procession of various passerine birds.
Sitting with
them, listening to the commentary given as bird after bird was
processed and handed to to a young girl to release, was fabulous as
the visitors were obviously massively enjoying the ringing and the
close views of such incredible small migrants.
The talk was prolonged
and by the visitors' reactions, must have contained amazing facts
about the birds' journeys and humour too for they responded with
laughter and exclamations of surprise and shock. Questions were asked
and answered. All of this was in Hebrew and I didn't understand a
word but really didn't need to.
Lesser
Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, they all came
one by one to be measured, rung and released.
Meeting
with one of the birders met at The Champions of The Flyway, Ron and
on receiving a wave from another net there also, the Dougal carrier
from when our team, The SpokesFolks, was filmed at KM20, I was
introduced to Gideon, the wonderful bird ringing man and his
delightful eight year old daughter, Shira.
Given a
Jerusalem Bird Observatory t-shirt, I became a member and went
birding.
A superb
two hour visit to an incredible place, the thrill of being there was
in witnessing the visitors to this urban reserve obviously enjoying
their close to nature encounter and one can see how the vitality of
the staff engages the visitors so completely.
Thanks to
everyone there.
