Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
An area of the coastal plain north of Haifa, largely developed or agricultural, with fish-ponds and some other small wetlands including the marsh at Ein Afeq (66 ha) c.8 km south of Akko.
See box for key species. Ein Afeq is an important winter roosting site for
Phalacrocorax pygmeus and holds some breeding herons and egrets. Mishmar Hayam (12 ha), just south of Akko, is a small site with a grove of trees important for many breeding herons and egrets and the largest colony of
Plegadis falcinellus in Israel. Up to 65
Circus aeruginosus and 22
Aquila clanga have been present in winter.
Non-bird biodiversity: Reptiles: Chalcides guentheri. Flora: Salsola soda.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Ein Afeq (66 ha) is a Nature Reserve, and the Nature Reserves Authority has proposed the same status for Karei-Na’aman (50 ha, swamp and marsh) and Mishmar Hayam (12 ha), which are both threatened by industrial development. Additionally there is a small Nature Reserve (6 ha) with a spring and rare plant species.
Data-sheet compiled by R. Frumkin.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Zevulun valley (Israel). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/zevulun-valley-iba-israel on 23/11/2024.
