The buzzard - the national bird

The Duchifat won 35% of the votes of about 155 voters. The Society for the Protection of Nature is concerned about the fact that about 45 species of birds unique to Israel are in danger of extinction due to the elimination of habitats, poisons, etc.

In a ceremony that took place on Thursday at the President's House, the buzzard was declared the national bird of Israel. During the last six months, ten birds competed among themselves for the coveted title. The campaign was initiated and led by the Society for the Protection of Nature, and it received the sponsorship of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The project was even recognized as part of the country's 60s celebrations. The elections were held in kindergartens and schools, in IDF camps and tourist sites all over the country, in the Knesset, in Israeli missions in 40 countries around the world and through websites. About 155 thousand voters participated in the elections.

The cause of the competition was the organizers of the Olympics in China, who asked each country to bring items that indicate the national tree, the national flower and the national bird. Other bodies in Israel chose the olive tree as the national tree and the primrose as the national flower without public participation, while the Society for the Protection of Nature, which was asked to choose the national bird, decided to involve the public in the decision.

After all the votes were collected and counted, and the public committee that was convened for the purpose expressed its position, it became clear that the kingfisher, the beautiful, colorful and majestic bird, is our national bird.

Below are the results as provided on the website of the Society for the Protection of Nature
1st place Duchipat 35%
2nd place Peshosh 10.3%
3rd place finch 9.8%
4th place Scout 7.6%
5th place Sixx 7.5%
6th place Bulbul 7.2%
7th place eagle 7%
8th place Red Falcon 6.8%
9th place you will breathe 4.8%

10th place White-breasted Kingfisher 3.5%

The hummingbird is a beautiful bird with a crown on its head. The dochipet is special in its appearance and behavior. It is the size of a row or tzuzalet (26-30 cm). Dokifat has a voice that sounds like this: Hod Hod Hod - therefore in Arabic it is called Hod Hod and in Latin Upupa Epops.

The general color of the warbler is pinkish-brown, and the wings and tail are striped in black and white. The hornbill's beak is long, delicate and bent, and along the entire length of its head from the base of the beak to the nape of its neck, rises a tuft of long feathers, which are pinkish-brown in color but with black tips, which it usually plucks when excited. Its wings are black and white and its flight is butterfly-like. The male is similar to the female, but its colors are more prominent. Distribution: Europe, Asia and North Africa. The dicotyledon is the family of the dicotyledons, which includes only one genus and only one species (as opposed to 80 types of nightingales, for example).

It used to be limited to the coast and the north, but the development of the vegetation in the settlements, as well as the development of agriculture led to its distribution all over the country. It is usually found singly or in pairs - probably monogamous. She has a funny walk, shakes her head back and forth, flies in undulating flight, deep and slow wing movements reminiscent of a butterfly.

She finds her food on the ground, in open areas, lawns, agricultural fields, while pecking and digging. She loves moths and moths, caterpillars and small reptiles. In public gardens it eats the wasps that eat the roots of the grass - a favorite of gardeners. Both parents feed the chicks from hatching. If one of them suspects that he is being followed, he will wait patiently, without moving, until his anger passes. The hornbill secretes a scent that repels other animals from approaching the nests - therefore cats and other predators avoid attacking it.

In his speech on the occasion of the announcement of the bird's win, President Peres said: "Ornithology in the State of Israel is an unparalleled asset. As president, I undertake to help and promote as much as possible the issue of nature in general and birding in particular, and to support projects for the conservation of endangered birds in Israel. Today, more than ever, we need a green landscape, fresh air and the chirping of birds."

The birds are in danger of extinction

According to Dan Alon and Yossi Leshem, the initiators and leaders of the project on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Nature, the responsibility we Israelis have towards nature is great because many species of birds are unique to our region and because quite a few species are in danger of extinction. The selection of the national bird comes to raise awareness of Israel's birds and to be a birding powerhouse, to invite the public to enjoy nature and join in preserving it.

The report of the Society for the Protection of Nature reveals: In Israel 2008, 45 species of birds are in danger of extinction, of which 18 are in serious danger of extinction and among them the golden eagle, the almon and the Nubian osprey.

Of the birds that winter in Israel or migrate there, seven species are in danger of global extinction: the sun eagle, the frog eagle, the kivet's eagle, the white tern, the field tern, the kestrel and the peregrine falcon. In the report on the state of birds in Israel for 2008 compiled by Yoav Perlman and Dan Alon from the Ornithology Center of the Society for the Protection of Nature, it appears that over the years 2 species of birds that used to breed here in Israel have become completely extinct over the years: the ostrich and the ostrich. 11 species of birds have become extinct as nesters but pass through or winter in Israel. The report shows that of the 192 species of birds that nest in Israel, as of May 2008 there are 45 species at risk in Israel, of which 18 species are at severe risk, which means that there is a high probability that they will become extinct in Israel in the coming years if no real steps are taken to preserve them, and 19 species are defined as endangered species that may become extinct in Israel in the next 10 years.

The report reveals that the status of 21 species has worsened over the past six years, the status of two species has improved, and the status of 22 species has not changed. Of the migratory or wintering species in Israel, seven species are in one of the three global risk categories: sun eagle, frog eagle, nesting eagle, white tern, field hawk, hunting falcon and hawk. Both species of eagles in Israel are under constant threat of electrocution and poisoning. The white shrike is often in danger from a hunter.

The situation of the birds of prey has also worsened: the eagle population has worsened, mainly due to repeated poisonings. The eagles have completely disappeared as nesters from the Galilee, while in the Golan the population of nesting eagles is very small. The situation of the two species of eagles that nest in Israel has greatly worsened and both are now defined as at risk or at severe risk. The bald eagle (golden) nesting in the Negev has been severely damaged by human disturbances, the hawk eagle has been damaged by various disturbances and in recent years the young individuals have been severely damaged by electrocution and other injuries.

Among the factors that lead to the extinction of the birds can be found the destruction of the natural habitats, the use of poisons, electrocutions, injuries to birds from nets in agriculture and hunting.