(Israel Ministry of Tourism)
Artists for Nature - Hula Valley, 6-15 March 2009
The 2nd annual Artists for Nature Festival will take place in the Hula Valley in the north of Israel, 6-15 March 2009, organized by the Israel Ornithological Center of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) together with the Dutch-based Artists for Nature Foundation (ANF). The festival is designed to raise awareness of top priority conservation issues through the cultural exchange of art. The culture of nature artists and nature lovers provides a unique, non-political platform for people to connect to their natural environment.
Over twenty internationally-renowned wildlife artists will participate in the festival, drawing and painting alongside Israeli wildlife artists in the open landscapes of the Hula Valley. In addition, there will be nature tours, lectures and workshops for students, artists and the general public. The festival will culminate in an exhibition of the artists' work that will form the basis of a traveling exhibition and a full color art catalogue.
The re-flooded Hula Valley, with Lake Agmon at its center, is one of the best-known birding centers in Israel with a developed tourist infrastructure. Visitors can take advantage of the camouflaged bird observation points and choose to tour the area on foot, by bicycle, golf cart, safari wagon or train.
International Spring Migration Festival - Eilat, 23-30 March 2009
The 3rd annual International Spring Migration Festival will take place in Eilat, 23-30 March 2009, organized by the Israel Ornithological Center and the International Birding and Research Center Eilat (IBRCE). The program, timed to coincide with the peak week of the spring bird migration in Israel, will include activities for nature lovers and birders of all levels. These include free guided daily tours to the best birding hotspots in the southern Arava, a hands-on ringing demonstration and bird identification workshops in the field.
Bird-watchers in Eilat (Photo: Israel Ministry of Tourism)
Tourists visiting Eilat are also invited to participate in birding tours and night tours offered by the IBRCE. In addition, the Bird Sanctuary is open to the public every morning, offering tourists the opportunity to watch the bird ringing and observe the birds in their natural environment.