The spring migration is entering its peak, with millions of birds expected to arrive in Israel to nest and breed despite incoming missile fire from Iran, according to the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund’s chief ornithologist.

Yaron Charka explained that in spring, “the birds rush to get to their nesting sites to secure the best spots.” Timing is everything, he continued, because the chicks have to hatch when food supply is at its peak.

While research from 2022 indicated that greater spotted eagles avoided danger over Ukraine during the war, Charka said detours in Israel caused by the ongoing war with Iran would likely be short — but could leave the birds exhausted and not in the best state to find a partner and lay eggs.

“For the birds, [the war is] marginal,” he said. “You might take a small diversion to get to the same place. They will get here by hook or by crook. Usually, they are very loyal to their nesting territories.”

Flanked by vast desert to its east and the Mediterranean Sea to its west, Israel forms a key flyway and bottleneck for hundreds of millions of birds that travel between Europe, Asia, and Africa every spring and fall.

The spring migration from Africa starts in February, but peaks during March and April.

Common swifts, lesser kestrels, and short-toed eagles have already arrived at the Hula Lake Park in northern Israel, with some staying to nest until June before flying back south.

Nearly a million white storks will pass through over the next two months, along with pelicans, black kites, and more. Those Eurasian cranes that overwintered in Israel are already flying north, with additional flocks from Africa flying through.

Short-toed eagles only have chicks in August and leave in September, splitting the year between Israel and Africa.

Charka said he noticed no significant changes in the fall migration after the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah opened a new front in northern Israel following the deadly Hamas invasion of the Gaza border area in October 2023.

The timing was less critical in the fall, he said, as the birds “fly south after nesting, and if it takes another day, it doesn’t really matter.”

The Hula Lake Park is closed to visitors due to incoming missile and rocket fire from the war with Iran, which Hezbollah has also joined.

A spokeswoman for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority said the missiles appeared to be having a minor impact on migration, adding that there were reports of birds landing temporarily after loud bangs caused by missile interceptions.

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