By Itamar Procaccia, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
Itamar Procaccia is a professor on the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel, specializing within the Physics of Advanced Methods. Throughout his profession he labored on and contributed to the research of chaos in bodily programs, the turbulence of fluids, the physics of dysfunction, and the creation of fractal geometries in nature. In addition to physics, he’s an avid artwork collector and enjoys chicken images as a severe interest.
The Negev desert in Israel could be very accessible, with wonderful roads going to and thru the desert. As well as, scattered habitation, nice and peaceable locations to remain, and gasoline stations with comfort shops, make a go to of chicken photographers very enticing. Birds abound – some endemic, some seen within the desert solely, and a few present in wider arid areas in Africa and the Center East. Israel is a part of the migration routes from Africa to Europe and again, and through migration instances the primary consuming alternative for incoming birds from Africa exists within the southern tip of the Negev desert, in Eilat. On this put up I describe a small fraction of the birds that may be seen and photographed within the Negev desert, to whet the urge for food of chicken watchers and photographers that recognize the serenity and great thing about the desert.
One species that’s simply noticed all through the Negev desert from about Sede Boker to Eilat is the Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura). It lives in desert areas in North Africa, the Center East, and the Arabian Peninsula. It’s a resident all through its vary. The Blackstart is 14 cm (5.5 in) lengthy and is known as for its black tail, which is regularly fanned to chill itself within the warmth of the desert; the remainder of its plumage is bluish-grey or grey-brown (North African races being browner, Center Japanese races bluer). They feed on bugs, taken primarily on the bottom.
FIG. 1a and 1b. Blackstart in Samar, a Kibbutz north of Eilat the place one can discover a uncommon inexperienced background.
Tristram’s Starling (Onychognathus tristramii), also referred to as Lifeless Sea starling or Tristram’s grackle, is extra restricted in its habitat, present in deserts in Israel, Jordan, northeastern Egypt (Sinai Peninsula), western Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman. Locations the place it might probably actually be seen and photographed are across the Lifeless Sea, like Ein Gedi and Massada.
FIG. 2. Male Tristram’s Starling, photographed close to the Amram’s Pillars
Tristram’s Starling is 25 cm lengthy (together with a 9 cm tail), with a wingspan of 44–45 cm, and a weight of 100–140 g. The males have shiny iridescent black plumage with orange patches on the outer wing, that are notably noticeable in flight. The invoice and legs are black. Females and younger birds are related however duller, with greyish heads and missing plumage gloss. The picture proven in Fig. 2 was taken close to the Amram’s Pillars, the place the reddish rocks present a formidable backdrop to the photographed male specimen. This species is known as after Henry Baker Tristram FRS (11 Could 1822 – 8 March 1906) who was an English clergyman, Bible scholar, traveler, and ornithologist. In 1858 he visited Palestine, returning there in 1863 and 1872, and dividing his time between pure historical past observations and figuring out localities talked about within the Outdated and New Testaments.
A comparatively uncommon and really fairly chicken that pulls photographers each winter after they come down from the desert mountains to the lowlands is the Sinai Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus). The male has a pink face and breast with a whitish brow and crown and the feminine is pale gray-brown general with a whitish stomach. The Rosefinches measure between 14·5–15·5 cm and weigh between 17–24 g. The nationwide chicken of Jordan, it has a fairly restricted habitat from the Sinai by way of the Negev desert to the Western deserts of Saudi Arabia. Not a lot is thought in regards to the life-style of those birds besides that when nesting season comes they disappear within the excessive desert mountains, to return down once more within the subsequent winter. By no means very quite a few, they are often recurrently present in Amram’s Pillars and in Ein Salvadora, a spring streaming to the Lifeless Sea close to Ein Gedi. I’m advised that sometimes these fairly birds are seen additionally within the Timna park and in Wadi Nefatim.
FIG. 3. Sinai Rosefinch, feminine (high) and male (backside). Photographed close to Amram’s Pillars
Two further finches which might be comparatively plentiful within the Negev desert are the Desert Finch (Rhodospiza obsoleta) and the Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus). The Desert Finch, a chicken of measurement 14·5–15 cm and weighing 17–28g, is resident in arid areas from the Negev desert by way of Iran all the way in which to Central Asia. This species doesn’t migrate besides domestically. The Desert Finch congregates close to rural and distant human settlements, and the well-watered orchard in in any other case arid land is a perfect habitat. It may be discovered feeding in giant flocks of its personal species or combined finch flocks. This species is well acknowledged by its robust black beak and attribute rose streak on the wings, cf. Fig 4.
FIG. 4. Trumpeter Finch, photographed close to Amram’s Pillars (high), Desert Finch, photographed in Ezuz (backside).
The Trumpeter Finch is of comparable measurement and weight to the Desert Finch and is acknowledged by its orange beak and delicate general pink shades which might be amazingly near the colours of the rocks of the Eilat mountains, cf. Fig 4.
The Trumpeter Finch has a comparatively large distribution and is present in arid areas of Africa, the Sahara desert, and in dry and heat areas of the Mediterranean basin and the Asian continent. Within the Negev, it may be discovered in lots of localities, together with the Ramon crater, the ”meishar”, and the Eilat area.
A particularly uncommon chicken that can also be very localized within the Negev is the Black Scrub Robin (Cercotrichas podobe). Outdoors the Negev desert, it’s present in dry areas of Africa and the Center East, however the first specimen was noticed in Israel solely in 1981, and till 2015 there have been no identified nests. This winter (2024-2025) I used to be advised by the native knowledgeable that there exist eight specimens in Kibbutz Samar and perhaps just a few extra within the ”Hai-Bar” Yotvata Nature Protect. Apparently the numbers are rising slowly, however stay very localized. Photographing this chicken with passable outcomes shouldn’t be straightforward. Though it has hidden maroon feathers and a beautiful tail adorned with a ladder of white markings, if it doesn’t show these, it appears simply black. Because it prefers to spend its time on the bottom or low branches, if not hidden within the thicket, one wants endurance and dedication to show its particular magnificence. Its measurement is about 20-23 cm, with a very lengthy tail that’s regularly held up. Its variable tune is good and melodious, typically together with trills and rattles. Calls embrace a pleasing, descending “jweeee” and chattering notes. Once you go to Samar, the place the photographs of Fig. 5 have been taken, you hear their calls earlier than you see the birds which might be normally hidden within the undergrowth.
FIG. 5. Black Scrub Robin, photographed within the Kibbutz Samar, the place the uncommon inexperienced background might be discovered. Aspect view and again view to point out the tail markings and the maroon wings when unfold out.
FIG. 6. Desert Lark photographed close to Amram’s Pillars.
In distinction to the Black Scrub Robin, the Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti) is well noticed and could be very broadly unfold – it breeds in deserts and semi-deserts from Morocco to western India. It seems to face no apparent threats, and surveys have proven that it’s slowly rising in numbers because it expands its vary. Sadly, this isn’t at all times a great signal, because it signifies elevated desertification of areas that had extra benign circumstances prior to now. The causes of desertification are a mixture of pure and human elements, with local weather change exacerbating the issue. Regardless of this, there’s a widespread false impression that desertification is solely the results of pure causes like local weather change and soil erosion. In actuality, human actions like deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices contribute considerably to the problem.
The Desert Lark is about 15-16.5 lengthy, weighing about 25 grams. Its feathers are coloured mild brown just like the sand by which it seeks its meals, which is principally seeds that it cracks with its robust white beak. Often it will additionally eat bugs.
The Negev desert is a wonderful location for observing and photographing quite a few completely different Wheatears (of the genus Oenanthe). I’ll deal with two that reside completely within the desert, the Hooded Wheatear (Oennanthe monacha) and White-crowned Wheatear (Oenanthe leucopyga). The Hooded Wheatear is a resident breeder in un-vegetated desert from jap Egypt by way of the Arabian Peninsula. It was once in UAE and Oman as a scarce breeder, within the Hajar mountains to Iran and Pakistan. This Wheatear has a physique size of 15.5–17 cm, a wingspan of 29–30 cm, and weighs 18–20 grams. Within the Negev, it’s straightforward to {photograph} since it isn’t afraid of people, and it may be typically seen attempting to find bugs in flight. Though exact inhabitants counts usually are not obtainable, my impression is that the inhabitants measurement is giant sufficient.
The White-crowned Wheatear is barely bigger with a size of 17–18.5 cm. It breeds in stony deserts from the Sahara to Arabia and throughout to Iraq. It’s thought-about a “true” desert chicken, having the ability to survive in areas that lack any vegetation. Just like the Hooded Wheatear, it feeds primarily on bugs.
FIG. 7. Hooded Wheatear, photographed within the hills above Ein Akev (high). White-crowned Wheatear, photographed close to Amram’s Pillars (backside)
One other simply discovered and well-photographed species is the Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi), a gamebird within the pheasant household Phasianidae. This partridge has its predominant native vary from Egypt and Israel east to south Arabia. It’s intently associated and just like its counterpart in southeast Turkey and east to Pakistan, the See-See Partridge (Ammoperdix griseogularis). This 22–25 cm chicken is a resident breeder in dry, open, and sometimes hilly nation. It nests in a scantily lined floor scrape laying 5–14 eggs. The Sand Partridge takes all kinds of seeds and a few insect meals. It isn’t unusual to see a complete household of a male, a feminine, and a flock of chicks working after the adults. An outstanding level to {photograph} these birds is Amram’s Pillars the place they received used to human presence. They arrive near the night time tenting website of the Nature Protect to search for meals stays. That is the place I took the photographs seen in Fig. 9 in a really early morning mild.
Within the Japanese a part of the Negev desert lies the Arava valley alongside the Syrian-African fault that comprises the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and the Lifeless Sea, going all the way in which South to Africa’s Nice Lakes. There’s the Sheizaf Nature Reserve, a really good area that maintains thriving populations of Arabian Babblers (Turdoides squamiceps) and Arabian Inexperienced Bee-eaters (Merops cyanophrys). The Arabian Babbler prefers to settle alongside dry river beds with few timber and bushes. It’s present in jap, southern, and western Arabia, occurring within the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, and western Saudi Arabia however absent from the central and northeastern elements of the peninsula. Its vary extends north to Jordan, Israel, and jap Sinai. The Babblers of Sheizaf have been studied extensively by Amotz Zehavi, who described intimately their social habits. Babblers dance and take baths collectively, supply one another presents, clear themselves, and typically enter into battle with one another for the privilege of serving to one other babbler. They could additionally feed their counterparts. This peculiar habits made them a privileged instance of ethological theories regarding altruism amongst animals. On account of the intensive analysis lots of the Babblers of Sheizaf are banded, see Fig. 8.
Fig. 8. Arabian Babbler in Nachal Sheizaf
The Arabian Inexperienced Bee-eater was cut up from the Asian Inexperienced Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) solely in 2014, and its habitat is restricted to the dry areas from the Judean and the Negev deserts by way of the Arabian Peninsula from Saudi Arabia south to Yemen and east to Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Like all bee-eaters it catches flying bugs from butterflies to bees, performing charming pre-breeding rituals when the males supply the females selection delicacies. It’s at all times a pleasure to {photograph} this gorgeous member of the Merops household, and you’ll at all times belief to seek out it both within the Nebi Mussa valley of the Judean desert or within the Negev.
Fig. 9. Arabian Inexperienced Bee-eater in Nachal Sheizaf
I’ll finish this put up with a powerful suggestion for a beautiful chicken conceal in Ezuz. Ezuz is a small neighborhood settlement within the western Negev desert, on the nook of Israel, Egypt, and the Gaza Strip. Named for Nahal Ezuz, a dry riverbed, in 2022 it had a inhabitants of 86. In Ezuz a woman by the title of Celia maintains a little bit water pond with an adjoining chicken conceal. The place is legendary for the Sandgrouses that come to drink within the pond. Often one can {photograph} 4 species of Sandgrouses, and I present right here two, the Topped Sandgrouse (Pterocles coronatus) and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata). The previous measures about 25-26 cm, whereas the latter is greater, about 28-32 cm with one other 10 cm for the pin tail. It’s fairly fascinating to look at, throughout nesting time, when the thirsty chicks are ready on the nest, the male Sandgrouse would soak its feathers with water, to fly again to supply them with the much-needed water.
For sure, there are various extra fascinating birds within the desert. I didn’t even point out right here the breeding Griffon Vultures, Egyptian Vultures, and the migrating raptors that are touchdown in Eilat for refreshing themselves upon arrival from Africa.
FIG. 10. Sand Partridge, male (high) and feminine (backside), photographed close to Amram’s Pillars at a really early morning mild, simply earlier than dawn.
FIG. 11. Topped Sandgrouse (high), Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (backside). Taken at Celia’s chicken conceal in Ezuz
In Eilat, there’s a well-built and fantastically organized chicken park, with two hides that may be rented by the general public. Briefly, the desert shouldn’t be empty, it is stuffed with thrilling alternatives for chicken watchers and photographers.