Birds' Spring Migrations and Rare Local Species Are Highlights of 2008 International Eilat Bird Festival

Article by festival organizers

Bird lovers can gather to view an exotic array of feathered friends March 24-31, 2008 at the 2008 Eilat Birds Festival (http://www.eilatbirdsfestival.com). The city of Eilat will host its second international spring migration festival during the peak week of birds' spring migration.

Located in the southern tip of Israel, Eilat and the surrounding areas are world-renowned as a destination for birders. The region serves as a corridor for millions of migratory birds every season, and its variety of habitats host a wide range of hard-to-find local species.

The festival will feature four tours:

• The Magical Dead Sea tour features birds typical of the Dead Sea region as several migrant species.
• The Nizzana Bustards, Sandgrouse and More tour targets the specialty species of the Nizzana and western Negev region.
• The Enigmatic Nubian Nightjar tour is designed to allow participants to see one of the region's rarest birds. A large portion of this tour's proceedings will go towards conservation of the critically endangered species.
• The Southern Israel Nightlife tour allows participants to experience the southern Israel deserts at night and look for local owl species, migrant Egyptian Nightjars as well as animals like the Golden Jackal, Southern Red Fox, wolves, various rodents, reptiles and more.

For fees and additional information, visit http://www.eilatbirdsfestival.com.