The Ma’agan Michael Birdwatching Park officially opened to the public in recent days, offering visitors the chance to encounter a wide variety of birds and wildlife in an area that has undergone ecological restoration.
The park is situated between the fish ponds of Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael, in the meeting area of the Taninim River and the sea, between the Carmel ridge and the coast, in the space that was once the Kabara swamps. The site is considered an important stopover point along the migration route of hundreds of millions of birds.
The project is managed by Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and is based on converting fish ponds into a restored natural area. According to SPNI, this initiative restores a damaged aquatic habitat while creating a space that serves both wildlife and the public.
Guided Tours and Sightings
Visits to the park take place through guided tours along the restored pond banks and between observation points. Among other offerings are sunrise and sunset tours, bird banding tours, tours for seniors, tours in Arabic, combined tours with tractor cart rides, and tours focusing on the birds’ mating season.
On Wednesdays, between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., the park opens for free self-guided visits without a guide, subject to prior registration on the SPNI website. In the future, activities are expected to expand to additional days.
Throughout the year, visitors can observe dozens of bird species in the park, including little grebes, cormorants, herons, egrets, sandpipers, rails, warblers, stilts, gulls, and kingfishers. During the winter and migration seasons, additional species appear, including pelicans, black storks, spoonbills, flamingos, whiskered terns, terns, various shorebirds, and songbirds. In the summer, sea gulls and little gulls can also be observed.
Part of a Network of Birdwatching Centers
The park is part of SPNI’s network of birdwatching centers, alongside centers in Kfar Ruppin, Jerusalem, Eilat, and the Negev Highlands. SPNI notes that the site is also intended to serve as an educational and learning hub on human responsibility for nature conservation.
To avoid disturbing the birds and their habitat, access to the park is allowed only for organized groups by prior arrangement and under guidance.
Free parking is available next to the park. Visits are conducted on foot, and the site has restrooms at the beginning and midpoint of the route. The park is accessible, and pets are not allowed.