This is the Knesset, the building where the Israeli parliament convenes. It's about a twenty-minute walk from our house. The Knesset is built on a hilltop that also houses the Supreme Court building, the Israel Museum, the Science Museum, and Hebrew University, among others. It's a busy area, full of important government buildings and significant tourist attractions. Nestled on a small plot of land in between all these buildings is an unlikely find: the Jerusalem Bird Observatory. Israel is in a major migratory corridor, and is known for its birding, but most birders travel south to the Negev desert or Eilat, or north to the Galilee or Golan to see exotic birds moving through the country. But in the right season, lots of birds stop here in the big city for a drink or a rest; many pause at the little stream up on the hillside by the Knesset. We visited the Observatory at the end of the spring migratory season, so we didn't see a lot of birds, but there were a few small ones playing in the water, and plenty of shade and birdsong during our visit. It was worth the walk to see this little gem of a place in the middle of the bustling city. I'd love to come back to Israel when the kids are a little older to see more migrating birds, but for now, our little excursion to the Jerusalem Bird Observatory was a nice start!
(Translation: Cyprus Tree)
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