The Jerusalem Bird Observatory - another hidden gem in Jerusalem

Hidden away on a tiny, one-acre plot (5,000 square meters) between the Knesset (the Israeli parliament), the Rose Garden and the Supreme Court, sits the Jerusalem Bird Observatory - JBO.

The JBO was established in 1994 by the Society for Protection of Nature in Israel - SPNI - in order to preserve one of the last bird and wildlife refuges in the city.   The site is one of the few traditional birdwatching areas in Jerusalem that has not been harmed by development, and its central location makes it an attractive educational and tourist center for the public.

I wrote an earlier piece about the 500 million birds passing through this country in the autum and spring as they migrate to and from Europe and Africa.

It is possible to stop by the JBO any time of the day and night to sit and watch the birds who stop off at the small pond to rest and refuel on their long journey across continents.

The Hoopoe

Voted Israel's national bird in 2008

 

At present the JBO is receiving a USAID grant promoting a joint Israeli - Palestinian ringing project. The JBO offers monthly activities to the general public. These include: afternoon bird walks, nature walks, bird banding (ringing) for students from preschool to college age. It is also possible to arrange private bird watching trips to all parts of the country.

 

Watch a short movie about the JBO





 On your next visit to Jerusalem, take the time to enjoy this special place  - only a stone's throw from the Knesset but much more relaxing and spiritually rewarding.



Blooming Marvellous! - The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Which plant did Adam and Eve take as a reminder of the Garden of Eden? What was the Burning Bush?

Questions like these and many more can be answered by touring the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.

Today I joined a tour for English-speaking tour guides of the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens in Nayot situated close to the Israel Museum and Knesset. Although I live just a short distance away from the Gardens and have visited them on several occasions since they were opened to the public in 1985, I was very excited to learn about the new programs on offer to the public and see how far the area has developed in the past few years.

Something is always blooming in the Gardens' six geographical sections, which replicates landscapes from around the world. Here, you can travel from Europe to North America, from Southern Africa to Australia, and from Asia to the Mediterranean, without stepping on a single plane!

We started our tour on the Flower Train passing through landscapes of the six geographical sections. We learned about medicinal plants, the new Bonsai Garden being opened with the assistance of Japanese friends and a grass maze for children. We were introduced to the Bible Path and learned how botanical metaphors were used to convey moral and other messages in a language the ancient Hebrews would have easily understood.

With the largest plant collection in Israel (some 10,000 species), the Gardens truly present 'biodiversity live'!

Diversity in the Gardens is also reflected by the diversity of the visitors.  Whether it's families with young children, senior citizens, religious, secular and ultra-orthodox Jews, Arabs, new immigrants, people with special needs - everyone benefits from nature and exposure to the beauty and tranquility of the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.

Special activities for children and families are organised for private groups.

Next time you visit the Israel Museum or Knesset, take time out for a tour of the Botanical Gardens. You can also enjoy a meal or light refreshment at the lakeside restaurant.

NB Thanks to reciprocal membership schemes, holders of subscriptions to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens get free entry to the San Diego Botanic Garden and the Chicago Botanic Garden too!