White Storks: Migration from Germany to Palestine

White Storks: Migration from Germany to Palestine
16 July 2024

During the Autumn bird migration in Palestine, the bird expert Saed Shomaly documented two white storks in the Fasayil area of the Jordan Valley during a field trip conducted by several experts to monitor birds in the area on September 23, 2023. These birds were identified as carrying rings from Germany. The continuous monitoring of birds using available tools such as telescopes, binoculars, and cameras revealed the arrival and documentation of a large number of white storks, exceeding 2,000 birds in the Jericho, Al-Auja, and Fasayil areas. Additionally, approximately 950 black storks were recorded only in the Fasayil area. The following table illustrates the recorded information on the rings.

Ring #

Site of ringing

Date of ringing

Distance to Fasayil

HM741

Bad Frankenhausen

15.6.2015

2896 km

XW283

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve / Elbe River Landscape

25.06.2021

2967 km

Bird ringing is a fundamental tool for tracking and studying the behavior and movement of birds. Its purpose includes understanding bird migration routes and pathways, as illustrated in the table above. The process of recording and documenting birds requires in-depth study of each bird's behavior and other aspects. Birds play a crucial role in ecological balance, aiding farmers in controlling rodent and snake populations and contributing to biological pest control.

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