When the corona year began, I found myself in a claustrophobic situation that was getting worse from closure to closure.
As a bird and nature lover from childhood, the constant need to walk outside only intensified during the closures and so I devoted myself to the nature surveys of the Society for the Protection of Nature and the Nature and Parks Authority, which became the ultimate refuge.
As part of the work, I would wake up at one in the morning, drive three hours on empty roads, and another hour on dirt roads with a regional inspector of the Nature and Parks Authority. Israel's.
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Israeli Nature 2021 (Photographer: Yuval Dex, Society for the Protection of Nature)
Without a hint of civilization or global recognition
This is how I got to visit the natural sites of Israel, which in my opinion are some of the most beautiful in the world.
Some are accessible to the public and some are still so remote, with no cellular reception, no hint of civilization and no global recognition.
While working as a reviewer for the Birding Center I tried to photograph these sights with the understanding that I might get one last chance to document Genesis sights, which are not sure to take place here in the coming years.
Last chance to document Genesis mirrors.
Wolf and her puppy (Photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Let in front of a hypocrite - a battle over a scoundrel (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Golden magic
The survey focused on locating and guarding the golden eagle - the
king of birds of Israel
.
It is the eagle of eagle beer, the ultimate symbol of power and speed in the world of poultry - it can hunt pigeons, rabbits and foxes without a problem.
Personally I have a complex relationship with the eagle, because the neighborhood where I grew up as a child in Jerusalem was built more or less on the eagle's last nest in Jerusalem in Nahal Gilo, and so the rapid development made me miss this eagle as a child.
Today there are less than ten pairs of golden eagles left in the whole country and perhaps these are the last pairs to nest in the Middle East.
During the search for the eagle I learned to understand how allergic this species is to humans - it chooses the most remote places to nest and there are not many such options left in Israel.
Of all animals, it is mentioned most often in the Bible and symbolizes our primordial and biblical nature.
The sight of such a bird soaring over a beautiful river channel with the background sounds of rock rabbits, hawks and desert birds symbolizes the essence of Israeli nature - something special that is not found anywhere else.
On one of the hottest and toughest polling days after we again found no evidence of eagle nesting, the inspector and I arrived at a small spring that attracted thirsty songbirds and stopped to fill up with water and cool off in the shade.
On the way out a huge flying feather appeared from the sky - it was a golden eagle feather!
Apparently this was a message not to be discouraged.
Some species of predators are rapidly disappearing.
Golden Eagle (Photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Safari in Israel
One of the constant frustrations of watching animals here is that you do not see them and you can understand why - after thousands of years of hunting they will do anything to get out of sight and photograph them is an even more difficult task.
Out of this need to locate animals I learned to ‘read the area’ and recognize their presence even without seeing them.
Nature has a simple hierarchy in which as the area becomes richer with the common species - so too will the rarer ones be able to exist.
But in the year of the corona there were moments when I felt 'like in Africa' and it happened precisely in the desert - in some places you can see herds of dozens of wild grazing in grasslands with a herd of desert military, tortoise acorns, hawthorns and many other species of crayons, rocks and birds and then you can imagine What would the land look like once upon a time when animals ruled.
Eagles and jackals compete for a meal (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Lone Wolf (Photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Everyone is looking to eat.
Hypocrite and Mercy (Photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
The intersection of the three continents
Israel's natural world is one of the richest in the world in relation to the size of the country.
Nearly 600 species of birds, over 100 species of reptiles, and 150 species of mammals have been documented here.
For comparison - the variety of species here competes with countries fifty times larger than Israel, such as California, which has a similar climate.
The reasons are the unique encounter between vegetation areas, richness of habitats and heights, and of course the intersection of the three continents - the amazing location we are in allowed the passage of peoples and cultures, but also brought together animals and plants and shaped Israel to what it is today.
Pelicans.
They migrate through us every year, and even now (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Goats drinking in Ein Gedi (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
A wild cat captured on a trail camera camouflaged in the wild (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Cameras non-stop
The trail cameras I placed showed that during the closure, when humans do not interfere, the desert becomes bustling with life and especially at night. Despite the image of wilderness - the Israeli desert is the richest in nature in Israel and the entire Middle East - and the simple reason is that human influence has not yet reached full force - animals can get by with little vegetation and water in the desert as long as habitats are preserved.
The cameras showed activities of rabbits, jackals, foxes, hyenas and wolves, wilds and porcupines as well as rare animals I had never seen in reality like feral cats, caracals, and also rock nappies - a cute little mouse. The activity of the animals in the cameras showed me that the more the natural environment is preserved with the acacia and goddess trees, and the local vegetation - the more animals will appear and also the rare predators that feed on them. In one of the photos, drug smugglers dressed in camouflage clothes also appeared - a new species to wipe ...
Considered a 'raider' for photographers, but rare outside of Israel.
Common Fox, Jerusalem Mountains (Photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Yael Novi rests on a road in the Judean Desert (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Nature takes over the city
During the closure, when it was impossible to get away from home, I discovered that nature comes to me and there are animals that are considered completely wild but feel at home in the heart of the city as well.
In Israel, urban nature has risen to the next level, in addition to wild boars, goats, foxes and jackals - from time to time visitors also visit striped hyenas in the heart of our sleeping cities.
Israel is a world power for this species and although it is considered the national animal of Lebanon - it is much more common here and mammal lovers from around the world come here to look for it.
The hyena has a negative image in human culture for no good reason, perhaps because of its asymmetrical appearance or eating habits, which include breaking bones and dragging dead animals into the den, but from the time I spent watching hyenas I learned that it is one of the smartest animals to adapt to. And the largest predator we have left in the country after the extinct tiger.
In fact, he does not prey but finds what is - and especially likes sweet things when he finds some fruit or something in the bin.
Hyenas can get used to the presence of humans and are sometimes seen wandering within cities that are on the edge of open spaces.
It has a negative image in human culture for no justifiable reason.
Painted (Photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Striped hyena in the Jerusalem mountains (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Nature in free diving
During these survey days, some of which were in harsh conditions, I learned a lot from the supervisors of the state of nature that absorbs fire from every possible direction - habitat loss, development, invasive species, fragmentation by construction, fences and roads and what not.
Droughts and heat waves also have a devastating effect on remote sites in the desert, seemingly detached from human influences.
I have discovered that certain species of predators are also rapidly disappearing at the regular sites where they were observed each year.
Empress Butterfly in the Mount of Pilots Reserve (Photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
24/7 security
The threats have not disappeared this year and nature conservation bodies are investing tremendous efforts in nature's' artificial resuscitation '- feeding stations for eagles, guarding raptors' nests, returning animals to nature, caring for injured animals and more - these are just a few examples of the dedication and resourcefulness required.
While documenting the activities I learned how complex this process is which combines science, technology and means of surveillance, fields at the highest level and especially love of nature.
The needs led the teams to produce original solutions such as a skimmer that was used to bring food to the orphaned chick in the nest, transmitters that signal distress signs to eagles and more.
Efforts in the 'artificial resuscitation' of nature.
For example, feeding stations for eagles (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Lilith Desert (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Middle East Nature Reserve
Israel, which is surrounded by fences from all directions - in fact functions today as a large nature reserve.
After decades and centuries of continuous hunting and accumulation of weapons - animals have almost disappeared from all the countries around us.
In Israel, on the other hand, large animal relationships remain in abundance and some feel comfortable enough here not to be afraid of humans.
In terms of area we are similar in size to the Kruger National Park in South Africa - and even there the animals are rescued from hunting and development thanks to a fence that encircles the entire huge reserve.
Israel's borders prevent the free movement of animals but also protect them from hunters across the border.
The Israeli deer exists today only in Israeli territory, and other animals such as the ibex, hyena, wolf and other species of predators - thrive here in relation to the rest of the Middle East.
Even the fox that is considered 'raiding' for photographers is very rare outside of Israel.
Inspectors in Ramon Crater (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
National Geographic is here
In the year of the Corona, I discovered that there is a lot of interest in Israeli nature, but not from local media outlets, but rather from global ones.
I helped film and advise production companies and nature channels, such as the BBC and National Geographic which could not send camera crews because of the closures.
For them, Israel provides world-class 'nature stories' and it turns out that in nature films we are also on the map - and especially desert animals.
Wolves and goats can only be found here and it is best to photograph them chasing and eating each other if possible.
Even savages, painted rams and an infinity of other species are the only representatives left from the glorious nature of the Middle East.
The migration of birds over Israel is one of the most amazing phenomena in the world and although everyone has heard of the migratory storks and pelicans - there are many more unfamiliar sides to migration, which will receive their exposure in the coming years.
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Wolves and chamois can only be found here, with us (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
"In the year of the Corona, I discovered that there is a lot of interest in Israeli nature" (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Following the caracal
One of the most elusive animals I have tried to locate is the caracal - one of the most iconic animals in Israel and with the least PR.
For a whole year of polls day and night, with long walks to the most remote places - the caracal appeared on cameras less than five times - like a ghost of the desert.
It can walk tens of miles at night, finds occasional prey and disappears before sunrise.
In the Middle East it was documented only in Oman and Israel and less than a hundred individuals remained throughout the country.
This obsession led to a strange dream that comes back to me every night, where the caracal emerges from the darkness, settles into the perfect photo and disappears back.
And say that nature helps mental health.
Like a ghost of the desert.
Karkel in a night camera (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
The caracal emerges from the darkness, settles for the perfect photo and disappears back (Photo: The Society for the Protection of Nature, Yuval Dex)
Yuval Dex
is a senior birder at the Israeli Birding Center, the Society for the Protection of Nature.