From Africa, they make their way to Europe and Asia. Hundreds of millions of birds pass through this natural gateway. Tired and hungry, they stop briefly in Eilat before continuing their arduous journey to the place where they will build new families. Eilat is like a busy train station where, for a fleeting moment, a Steppe Buzzard from Asia meets a Honey Buzzard from Europe, or a Siberian Chiffchaff crosses paths with its Western European relative. Eilat became this “gateway” because it lies on the only land bridge connecting three continents. Tiny birds for whom crossing the sea is dangerous, and large soaring species that depend on warm air currents rising from the ground, all choose this route—where migration is safer and easier over land. But that’s not all. In autumn, Eilat is the last green stop before 3,000 kilometers of the Sahara Desert, where food is scarce. Birds rest here to feed and gather strength before tackling that challenging desert crossing. In spring, Eilat becomes the first green point they reach—a welcoming gate rich with food and safety after the exhausting desert journey that few survive. In the past, Eilat’s salt marshes served as the birds’ “refuelling station”—lush, food-filled habitats independent of rainfall, with wadis (dry riverbeds) that flourished after good years of flooding. However, the development of the city of Eilat erased most of these salt marshes, and drainage channels built around new infrastructure reduced the ability of floods to awaken the wadis from their desert slumber. One day, the birds discovered that their safe haven had become a city, a kibbutz, and agricultural fields.

How did we create the International Birding & Research Center, Eilat?

Birdwatchers recognized Eilat’s importance from the very first days of the city’s existence. The first employee of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Eilat, Uriel Safriel, explored the region on camelback and, as early as 1957, published his article “Observations on Bird Migration in the Eilat Region” in the Israeli magazine Teva Ve’Aretz and in the British ornithological journal IBIS. His work introduced the remarkable migration phenomenon of Eilat to the world of ornithology and migration research. Early bird-ringing (banding) projects began in the 1960s and 1970s, led by Bruria Gal and international researchers. These pioneering efforts marked the very beginning of bird-ringing studies in Eilat—a breakthrough that opened the door to decades of discovery and scientific insight.

It was Hadoram Shirihai who set the vision in motion—partnering with the Ministry of Tourism and Shmulik Tagar, head of Eilat’s Tourism Association, to establish the International Birding & Research Center, Eilat (IBRCE). Together, they recruited a team of American raptor ringers led by Bill Clark to study and tag migrating birds of prey. In 1984, Hadoram spearheaded the creation and development of the IBRCE, marking a turning point in systematic bird surveys and efforts to protect vital stopover sites for migratory birds. With the support of the Nature and Parks Authority (led by Yuval Peled), Hadoram began an intensive year-round program of ringing and field surveys. That same year, the first comprehensive report was written, identifying Eilat’s saltmarsh as a critical stopover habitat for migratory birds—a document that laid the foundation for future conservation efforts to protect this unique ecosystem. As activity grew, in 1985, the Eilat Birdwatching Center Association was formally established with the vital help of Shmulik Tagar, who led and nurtured its work for many years. Yossi Leshem and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel became key partners in the endeavor. With the dedication of countless volunteers, the first systematic migratory raptor count was launched, alongside raptor ringing by Edna Gorney and Bill Clark, systematic ringing in fields and orchards, and surveys of breeding birds across the region.

Alongside the many volunteers and researchers from Israel and abroad who joined the work of the center, Eilat soon overflowed with thousands of birdwatchers from all over the world who came to witness the great migration. Guiding these visitors became a major source of income supporting the center’s continued work. Hadoram Shirihai discovered around fifty bird species new to Israel, some of them during his work in Eilat. His publications and research brought international recognition, transforming Eilat into one of the world’s leading centers for birdwatching and migration studies.

Another milestone in the work of the IBRCE (International Birding and Research Center in Eilat) was the establishment of the Eilat Bird Sanctuary. In 1993, the Eilat Municipality, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL), the Nature and Parks Authority, and the Ministry of Tourism joined forces to transform the site of Eilat’s old landfill into a new “refuelling station” for migratory birds—replacing the original saltmarsh that had been lost to urban development. Before long, the site blossomed with lush habitats, a rich variety of migratory birds, and many visitors. Professor Reuven Yosef, who managed the sanctuary for many years, focused primarily on research, attracting scientists from universities around the world and helping to turn the former dump into a thriving, living sanctuary.

Changing Times — A New Mission for the IBRCE

Over the years, the reality for migratory birds in Eilat has changed. Natural habitats have been damaged and reduced in size. Farmers in the date plantations have learned to use less water and have cleared much of the surrounding vegetation, while crop fields have become far less welcoming to birds. As a result, many migratory species have been forced to crowd into less suitable areas, often exposed to various hazards. Today, the IBRCE’s primary focus is nature conservation — protecting and restoring the vital habitats that allow millions of birds to continue finding refuge in Eilat on their incredible journeys.

The Eilat Bird Sanctuary, operated by the IBRCE, attracts numerous visitors—both tourists and locals—and has, over the years, become a hub for community-based nature conservation and environmental culture. The sanctuary is a prime example of an impressive conservation project. The 520 dunams of scorched, ruined landfill land have been transformed into habitats tailored to a wide variety of migratory birds: Lakes and nesting islets for fish-eating species such as terns, herons, and cormorants. Salt ponds for crustacean-feeding birds like plovers, gulls, and flamingos. Dense salt-tolerant vegetation for sparrows buntings and swallows. Desert scrub for all kinds of warblers. Most of the plants are native, carefully selected to ensure that during every migration season, nectar, pollinating insects, and fruits are abundantly available to any bird in need.

o manage the park effectively, we ring birds every morning during migration through a carefully organized capture effort. Bird ringing allows us to assess the physical condition of migratory birds, determine which species are successfully accumulating fat and resting in the sanctuary, and identify which species require habitat adjustments or improvements. This ringing program, conducted for over thirty years, also provides a clear picture of changes in migration patterns and the impacts of climate change, habitat loss, and hunting on the populations of birds passing through Eilat.