Monday, June 23, 2014

Rolling Stones....

First of all, Plaese- Make sure not to get near nesting birds/chicks, especially not for watching them oר photographing them. There are enough threats on them without these close encounters! In none of the images nearing the chicks was done for this purpose.

Resting Black Winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus תמירון
As days go by at Eilat and summer is as hot as usual, we start to see how nature overcomes the damage of the floods. It took few days till the water level dropped enough so the Black Winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus תמירון were able to restore their nests in the middle of the salt pond and lay new eggs. It took no longer than 25 days, we were doing the weekly afternoon count with some of our kind volunteers, when we noticed 3 stones rolling towards the water. It wasn't stones but 3 tiny chicks who have just hatched. The adult Stilt was still seated on the top of the rock, seem to be proud but paralyzed. It didn't follow its chicks, it only watched them from above.

On the next morning, when walking around the IBRCE Park I saw the big happy family with an extra chick- the reason for the adult's stagnant sitting last night! They were observed while swimming towards shore. It is hard to say how many nests there were and how many are successful but in the highest count we counted 7 nests and now we know about 3 families at least, most of them are only with a single chick. Is it possible that due to the delayed breeding, because of the flood that washed away almost hatching eggs, it is now too hot for them? Hard to tell but we'll keep on following!


Black Winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus תמירון
Black Winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus תמירון
In the meantime we enjoy also good numbers of birds at the Northern Beach of Eilat as described so well at Yoav Perlman's Blog.



Yael Lehnardt

Head Ringer & Guide, IBRCE

A little more of the local atmosphere
Also the reeds are starting all over again-
breking the amazingly strong clay layer made by the flood
Note the footprints of Stone Curlews 
Burhinus oedicnemus כרוון

Not only feathers

Golden Spiny Mouse Acomys russatus קוצן זהוב
By Liri Koplevitch 'צולם ע"י לירי קופלביץ