Nestled in the southern tip of Israel Eilat is beautifully placed between the magical blue waters of the Red Sea and the majestic Eilat mountains, an extension of the massive granite ridges of Sinai.

Organized by the Israel Ornithological Center (IOC), International Birding and Research Center in Eilat (IBRCE), and Kibbutz Lotan Center for Birdwatching, the spring migration Festival aims to bring together birders from all around the world for an unforgettable event during the peak migration period in Southern Israel.Besides the wealth of birds around, during the week many bird related activities will take place. These will include active Birdwatching trips led by field experts, ringing demonstrations, identification workshops, lectures and more.

Visitors are welcome to join a guided tour, or bird the area on their own. They will be greeted at various locations and hotspots by local guides and birders who will point them in the right direction, answer questions and help with difficult families or species. The Festival headquarters will provide up to date information, sighting boards, rarity alerts and give any help that might be needed exploring the region.

Every evening you will be invited to enjoy lectures, talks and slideshows from professional, local, and visiting birders and a detailed summary of the day's significant sightings.

Local guides and birders will let you in on some of their hotspots and world renowned bird experts will give you a personal look at their work. Professional photographers will help you enhance your results with reflex photography and digiscoping techniques.

The relaxed city of Eilat provides new habitats for many migrant and local species and amazing birds can be seen from your hotel room balcony or during a stroll through the cities gardens and parks. At your doorstep you will find Laughing Dove, Yello-vented Bulbul and the beautiful Palestine Sunbird to name a few.

Eilat North beach at the tip of the Red sea is one of the most interesting seawatching locations in the Western Palaearctic. Migrant Herons, Ducks, Gulls and Terns mingle with near tropical species like White-eyed Gull, Western Reef and Striated Herons and Pied Kingfisher for a memorable seawatch. The North beach regularly produces astonishing rarities and has hosted many new species for the region and even a new species of Shearwater to science ! Many Red Sea and Indian Ocean species regularly work their way north up the bay of Eilat and reach the North beach.

Bordering the city from the west are the beautiful Eilat Mountains. Besides the breathtaking scenery, the mountains are home to some great desert species like Little green Bee eater, White crowned and Hooded Wheatears, Sand Partridge, Desert Lark and Barbary Falcon. During the Spring, millions of soaring birds pass over the Eilat Mountains. On a good day thousands of Raptors and Storks can be seen at amazing proximity. There is no better place in the Western Palaearctic to work on identification of birds of Prey of various species, not to mention the photography opportunities.

The pools and reservoirs just North of the city are an important stop for hundreds of thousands of shorebirds that migrate to and from their Eurasian breeding grounds. Any visit to the famous K19 and K20 pools produces an astonishing list of waders and other species. Rare birds like Phalaropes, Broad billed and Curlew Sandpipers and more are easily found here.

Moving North of Eilat up the rift valley, the developing Southern Arava region is dotted with fields, plantations, pools and reed beds that host highly localized residents like Namaqua Dove, Little Green Bee-eater and Indian Silverbill. During the Spring these habitats hold thousands of migrant passerines and birds of prey. The fields are full of Pipits, Wagtails, Wheatears, Hirundines, Buntings and Larks. A good few days are necessary to bird through these areas and the wealth of birds is incredible.

40 minutes North of Eilat lies Kibbutz Lotan. This magical little kibbutz has grown to be an exciting destination for visiting birders. With its active birdwatching center and world renowned tours Lotan is an excellent place to come and enjoy the birds literally at your doorstep. Feel free to bird the kibbutz lawns and gardens or visit the beautiful bird reserve and enjoy the birds from the coolness of one of the hides. Pop into the tourism office and ask about the latest bird information or about the kibbutz eco-tourism and ecological projects.
Lotan will be hosting a special package for festival visitors and birders visiting the area. B&B and full board packages are available and there is a mouthwatering list of activities to be enjoyed by the non birders and birders families visiting Israel.

The open desert areas of the Southern Rift valley and the Southern Negev plateau hold exciting residents like Trumpeter Finch, Desert Wheatear, Spotted and Crowned Sandgrouse and more. These areas are also important sites for rare and nomadic Desert Larks which peak during March. Temminck's and Hoopoe Larks require searching for but can be found in these areas and previous springs have produced sightings of the rare and unpredictable Thick-billed, Dunn's and Black crowned Finch Larks.

During late March the whole valley is flooded with birds and migration is evident everywhere. Any green area acts like a magnet to migrants as are the patches of Acacia scrub that dot the valley. Spring migration in Israel is undoubtedly one of the best in the world.

http://www.birdingisrael.com/festival/index.html