Data Zone
Country/territory: Israel
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, A4iv, B1i, B1iv, B2, B3 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 24,000 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 1994 | not assessed | high | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
Part of the northern Jordan Valley and formerly an extensive marshland area, but now drained except for the Hula Nature Reserve near Yesod Hama'ala. The reserve's water level is maintained at c.6 m above that of the surrounding valley, and the main habitats are open water, Cyperus papyrus thickets, swamp-meadow with Cyperus, Typha, Juncus and Scirpus, and Phragmites beds. There are fish-ponds and reservoirs in the area adjacent to the reserve and to the north.
Key biodiversity
The Hula valley, and particularly the Hula Nature Reserve, is the most important wetland area in Israel for breeding waterbirds. See boxes for key species; other breeding species include Halcyon smyrnensis and Ceryle rudis. The reserve provides a roost site for large migrant flocks of Pelecanus onocrotalus, and there are high passage numbers of Ciconia ciconia, Anas clypeata, several raptor species and Grus grus (see box). Wintering species include notable numbers of Circus aeruginosus (60) and Aquila clanga (23). The site was listed as a wetland of international importance by Carp (1980).
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by S. Blitzblau, reviewed by R. Frumkin.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hula valley (Israel). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hula-valley-iba-israel on 24/11/2024.