Israel's Winged History. A Lecture by Ornithologist Alexandra Goryashko

Countless flocks of cranes in the Hula Valley, majestic griffon vultures on Mount Carmel, iridescent sunbirds, enormous pelicans, noisy green parrots, and brazen mynas—in Israel, a great many different birds live alongside us, more than 500 species in total. We perceive them as a natural part of the local landscape, and it is difficult for us to imagine that quite recently—100, 50, and even 20 years ago—the people of Israel saw entirely different birds here from those we see today. How did this happen? Why are there so many birds in Israel, and why has the composition of its avifauna changed so dramatically over the past few decades?

Everyone finds their own way to get to know Israel. For some, it is excursions; for others, starting a business; for some, an ulpan; and for others, reading history books. Ornithologist and historian of science Alexandra Goryashko has been studying birds for more than 40 years, and she too found her way to getting to know Israel through them. Together with Alexandra, we will discuss Israel’s ornithological uniqueness, view its history through the prism of birdlife, and birdlife through the prism of the history of the State of Israel.

Ticket price: ₪60