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........

© The Times of Israel