The Hula Valley

The Hula valley sits on the narrow land bridge between Africa, Asia and Europe, which puts it directly beneath one of the busiest bird migration corridors on earth, and hundreds of millions of birds pass over it twice a year. Much of the original marsh was drained in the twentieth century and part has since been deliberately re-flooded, creating the shallow lake and reedbeds of Agamon Hula, and the results are spectacular: pelicans stopping over in their thousands, storks, raptors and herons, and above all common cranes, tens of thousands of which now overwinter here, fed on maize in the fields to keep them off the crops. Watching them lift off at dawn in a rolling grey wave, calling, is one of the great wildlife sights of the region. A flat circuit around the lake is ridden by bicycle or in covered wagons that the birds tolerate closely.

History

In the 1st century the historian Josephus called the lake here Semechonitis, and the "Waters of Merom" sometimes used in scientific literature properly refers to springs on the western side of the valley (Wikipedia, Hula Valley).

What you'll find

• The wintering cranes - tens of thousands gathered from late autumn through winter.
• Dawn take-off - the mass lift-off at first light, the highlight of a visit.
• Migration in passage - pelicans, storks and raptors on their way through in spring and autumn.
• The lake circuit - the flat loop by bicycle, golf cart or covered wagon.

When to go

November to March is the crane season, and the numbers peak in midwinter; the great migration passages in spring and autumn bring different species in enormous numbers. Dawn is the best hour by far, and dedicated early wagon tours run for it. Summer is quiet by comparison.

Good to know

It is strongly seasonal: outside the migration and wintering periods there is far less to see, and a summer visit can be flat. The best experience, the dawn wagon, means a very early start and must be booked ahead. It is a managed site with hire fees on top of entry, and the valley is in the far north, a long drive from the centre of the country.

Nearby

Hills rise on either side of the valley, and Tel Dan nature reserve is nearby.

Key facts