Data Zone
Country/territory: Israel
IBA Criteria met: A4i, A4iv, B1i, B1iv (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria please click here
Area: 35,000 ha
Site description
A largely agricultural area (orchards, wheat, legumes, cotton), stretching from Karkur to Tira, c.10 km inland from Netanya near the Mediterranean coast. There are some fish-ponds and reservoirs scattered within the valley.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. Three species of heron and egret breed, and non-breeding summer visitors include Casmerodius albus, Ardea cinerea, A. purpurea, Ardeola ralloides, Ciconia ciconia, Platalea leucorodia, Plegadis falcinellus and Fulica atra. Wintering numbers of Grus grus have fluctuated but have not been less than 100 since 1980. Other notable wintering species include Circus aeruginosus (25). Large flocks of Pelecanus onocrotalus occur on passage.
Non-bird biodiversity: Flora: Linaria pelisseriana, Verbascum berytheum.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by S. Blitzblau, reviewed by R. Frumkin.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2021) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Hefer valley. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 16/09/2021.
