Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
The Jordan valley from Lake Kinneret to Tirat Zvi, west of the Jordan river. The highest point of the site is 209 m below sea-level. Most of the area is cultivated fields, date-palm plantations and fish-ponds. Fish-ponds are mainly located near Kefar Ruppin (c.3 km north-east of Tirat Zvi), Afikim and Bet Zera.
Kefar Ruppin is an important breeding site for herons and egrets. Other notable wintering species include
Circus aeruginosus (10-13) and during migration this species is also common (daily max. 75).
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Caracal caracal (rare).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
A few of the sites of ornithological interest are protected as Nature Reserves. The Kefar Ruppin fish-ponds (c.260 ha) are protected partly by the Nature Reserves Authority but mainly by cooperation between the operators and the Israel Ornithological Center. There are local threats from agricultural intensification, grazing and military activity.
Data-sheet compiled by S. Blitzblau, reviewed by R. Frumkin.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Northern lower Jordan valley (Israel). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/northern-lower-jordan-valley-iba-israel on 23/11/2024.
