Sunrise at Lake Hula
Tens of thousands of Common Cranes spend the winter at Lake Hula in the north of Israel. It’s a spectacular and noisy sight. I was there participating in a sunrise workshop run by Barak Shacked, a fantastic experience and worth the long drive from the Arava. Also seen: pelicans, flamingos, avocets, and a jungle cat!
The cranes spend the night in large numbers in the shallow waters of lake as defence from predators
As the light increases, the cranes start to leave the lake and make their way to the nearby fields to feed.
A flock of pelicans share the lake with the cranes.
The pelicans take flight
The cranes gather in the fields to feed
The cranes maintain family groups of two parents and one or two fledglings within the large flock. The adults have black and red markings on their head, the younger birds have brown heads
When your parents start singing a duet while you are out with them in public
The jungle or swamp cat is a very able predator, able to take prey even the size of a pelican or crane if the opportunity arises.
