Hula Nature Reserve in Israel — Online Bird Watching Webcam

Where the Hula Nature Reserve is located

The Hula Nature Reserve is located in northern Israel, in the Upper Galilee, near the city of Kiryat Shmona — approximately 17 kilometers south of it. You can reach it via Highway 90, which runs along the Jordan River and connects the northern regions of the country. Kiryat Shmona is a small city with a population of about 23,000 people, serving as a convenient starting point for trips to the Hula Valley.

The Hula Valley lies in the northern part of the Great Rift Valley at an altitude of about 70 meters above sea level. Its total area is 177 square kilometers — approximately 25 kilometers long and 6–8 kilometers wide. On both sides, the valley is framed by steep slopes: the Golan Heights to the east and the Upper Galilee Mountains to the west.

History of the reserve: from drainage to restoration

Lake Hula and its surrounding swamps were home to a rich ecosystem for thousands of years. Before drainage, 260 species of insects, 95 species of crustaceans, 30 species of snails and mollusks, 21 species of fish, 7 species of amphibians and reptiles, as well as 131 species of migratory birds lived here. However, between 1951 and 1958, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) carried out large-scale drainage works on the lake for agricultural purposes. This led to a real ecological disaster — the unique ecosystem was almost completely destroyed.

Realizing the scale of the damage, scientists and conservationists managed to preserve a small part of the wetlands. In 1964, the Hula Nature Reserve received the status of Israel's first nature reserve. The protected area covered 3.2 square kilometers (320 hectares). Later, part of the drained lands was returned to nature as part of an ecosystem restoration project.

Pelicans and other birds of the reserve

The Hula Nature Reserve lies on the global bird migration route and serves as the main stopover for birds flying from the north — from Russia, Europe, and Scandinavia — to the south, to Africa, and back. Over 200 bird species have been recorded here (according to some sources — up to 400), including white storks, pelicans, flamingos, cormorants, sea eagles, herons, and gray cranes.

White pelicans are among the most colorful inhabitants of the reserve. After the drainage of the swamps in Mesopotamia, the Hula Valley became the most important stopover for these birds. To prevent pelicans from damaging fish farms, special feeding ponds were created for them. Pelicans are distinguished by their calm behavior: unlike noisy cranes, they sit motionless and show complete indifference to what is happening.

By the end of October, about 35,000 cranes arrive at the reserve, some of which stay for the winter. Their cries can be heard for kilometers, creating an unforgettable soundscape for nature observation.

Wildlife of the reserve

In addition to birds, the Hula Nature Reserve is home to water buffalo, wild boars, otters, wild cats, muskrats, turtles, and fish. Water buffalo were brought to the Hula Valley as early as the 8th century and used as pack animals for milk production. Today, the water buffalo herd in the reserve is the largest in Israel. A small herd of Persian fallow deer (Dama Mesopotamica) also lives in a fenced area — a rare species threatened with extinction.

Ecotourism and nature observation

The Hula Nature Reserve is one of the best places in Israel for birdwatchers and nature lovers. There are convenient walking trails, observation decks, and hidden observation points from which you can watch birds without disturbing them. The reserve is divided into several zones: the Hula Nature Reserve itself with the restored lake and the Agamon Hula Park — an extensive wetland area with a circular route of about 9.5 kilometers.

For those who cannot visit in person, there is an online camera that allows you to observe the life of the reserve from anywhere in the world. This is especially valuable during migration season — in autumn and spring, when thousands of birds stop in the Hula Valley.

Climate and best time to visit

The Upper Galilee has a mild Mediterranean climate with warm summers and cool rainy winters. In summer, air temperatures can reach 35–38°C, and in winter they can drop to 5–10°C. The best time to observe migratory birds is from October to December (autumn migration) and from March to May (spring migration). It is during these months that the chances of seeing the greatest variety of species are highest.

What you can see on the camera

The online camera is installed at an observation point in the reserve and broadcasts a view of the wetlands with a large gathering of pelicans. The pelicans rest in shallow waters and among coastal vegetation, and can be observed up close. In the background is the water surface of the reserve lake, and in the foreground is shrub vegetation. Depending on the season and time of day, herons, cormorants, cranes, and other feathered inhabitants of the Hula Nature Reserve may also appear on the broadcast. The camera operates in live broadcast mode, allowing you to observe the life of one of the most important ornithological reserves in the Middle East in real time.