Agamon Hula

Shalom, y’all!

My friend suggested we go to a bird sanctuary.  I’m not certain what makes these birds more special than the ones found in America, but I’m open to find out!  Maybe I’ll bond with them since I feel like such a bird-brain right now (still jet-lagged and disoriented).

As we entered the area, it became apparent this is more than just a bird watchers haven.  This is a place of wonders, the result of creative and determined people working together with Mother Nature to create a haven a green, abundant beauty.

Until the 1950s large parts of the Hula valley were covered by the Hula Lake and swamps. The project for draining the swamps contributed to settlement in the area and to the addition of large areas of agricultural land.  Unfortunately, the soil in the areas surrounding the central lake remained so acidic the crops couldn’t be sustained. Then in the early 1990s one of the areas of the valley became flooded again as the result of heavy rains.  Since agriculture efforts had failed in this area, it was decided to leave the flooded area as it was and not try to drain it again. The new site – Agamon Hula –  quickly became the second home for thousands of migrating birds that pass through the area in the autumn and spring, as well as the home of many native birds, making it a popular sight for bird-watchers from Israel and abroad.

Agamon Hula has walking paths, observation points, and telescopes for observing the thousands of birds that inhabit the site. Visitors can also go on guided tours that offer explanations about the birds that inhabit the Hula Valley.  We decided to hop a ride on the open-air bus that provided one of these tours.  Although a brochure was provided for the English speaking tourist, the driver only spoke Hebrew.  This placed a bit of a burden on my friend to translate along the way.  It became apparent bird and plant names aren’t so easily translated on the spot, but she adapted and worked through the challenge with impressive ease.

Water is extremely abundant in the valley as it drains from the surrounding mountains into the valley to fill the already abundant lakes, rivers and swamps.  The area is green and flowering, a pure miracle of nature.  The animal life is vibrant, and playful.  We paused to watch their play and enjoy their antics, and took a leisurely walk along the paths before heading out.  A light dinner followed by some lounging time in the hot-tub on the deck of our room was on our agenda.

The Bible notes this area as the place where Joshua defeated the Canaanites as they entered the “Promised Land”.  As I reflect on the day, I can’t help but think again how it remains a promise.  The area is so green, lush and rich with natural resources.

I was curious how such amazing agriculture actually impacted their import/export business, so I did a quick search.  It was remarkable to learn Israel produces 95% of their food requirement and depend on imports for only 5%.  The independence and ingenuity of the Israeli people can be seen throughout the land.  I understand their pride.  It’s amazing!

Only an hour in the hot tub and I’m caving into the jet lag once again.  I understand it can be expected to take as many days to recover from a bad bought of jet lag as hours in the time difference.  There’s no way I’m dealing with this for 7 days.  I’m going to sleep this off!