Save Israel's Birds of Prey

We are pleased to announce that the new breeding season has started and we already have received our first two griffon vulture eggs for the Zoo's incubators.

Last year was not an overly abundant year for successful hatchings and additionaly, there was a major poisoning incident in the wild in October, 2021. (Read about it here: https://www.timesofisrael.com/three-more-dead-vultures-found-in-judean-desert-bringing-poisoning-toll-to-12/)

Overall, as reported by the Nature and Parks Authority last August, griffon vulture numbers are at an eight year high (before this past incident) but the population was still endangered.

In June 2021, 206 birds were counted, up from 146 in the summer of 2012, a figure that was then dangerously low.

The vultures are counted in winter and spring at nesting and feeding sites, as part of a project called “Spreading Wings.”

In 2021, 48 nesting sites were counted, compared to just 33 eight years ago.

We are hoping for a fruitful year in 2022!

Keep warm, 

Rachael and the Birds of Prey Team

The Zoo has a new conservation coordinator, who will be taking responsibility for the birds of prey program, as well as the other native conservation programs at the Zoo.

Nadav Granot has a Master of Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Ecology and his Master's Thesis was on the topic of: “Examination of Time-place Association in The Foraging Behavior of Common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus)”

Of course he is thus very excited about the Zoo's work with the lesser kestrels (pictured above)

The hatching season in the National Center for Raptor Egg Incubation is over and this year we had only six successful hatchings - much less that in other years.

Discovering the reason for this will be one of the first challenges that Nadav will be undertaking

We wish his luck and look forward to working together on this important endeavor.

Rachael and the Avian Team