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Birds of a Feather:
Fall in the Upper Galilee
In Israel the long hot summer has finally faded and autumn is upon us. The weather is changing and we have just a little less sunlight each day. The wind whips our faces and cold air chills our skin. However, as the air gets crisper, the skies get clearer. On a cool, bright day in the Galilee of Israel you can see for miles. The view across the Sea of Galilee is spectacular as you can see every detail of the Golan Heights. Autumn is a beautiful time in the Galilee.
On one such bright afternoon a visit to the Hula Valley is in order. The Hula Valley runs along the eastern edge of the Upper Galilee. The Jordan River runs briskly through the bottom of the valley. It ends on the south at the Sea of Galilee and to the north at the boarder of Lebanon. When the Tribes of Israel settled into the Land the northern part of the valley was included in the Tribe of Dan and the southern the Tribe of Napthali.
Each fall in the Hula Valley about half a billion birds migrate through from Europe and Asia. It becomes a paradise for bird enthusiasts and for those
who just love nature. Visitors arrive by
the 10s of thousands to witness one of the world’s largest migration routes.
This migration is obviously part of G-d’s plan as it has been happening for thousands of years. The Bible specifically mentions this migration and some of the same species of birds that can be seen in the Hula Valley today, “Even the stork in the sky knows its seasons, and the dove, the swallow, and the crane observe the time for migration…” (Jeremiah 8:7)
There are over 400 species of birds that stop in the Hula including about 40,000 cranes. The birds merely come to the Hula for a few weeks to refuel before they continue their journey to Africa where they will winter. Soon the rains will come giving new life to the Hula Valley. In the spring the birds will return on their way back to Europe and Asia for the summer.
This is just one of the many very special phenomenon that Israel embraces. There are marvels here that you have never imagined. From north to south, east to west, in the skies above and in the earth below Israel is a wonder to behold. If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit us here in the Galilee we hope you will soon!
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