Champions of the Flyway

Every spring, the sky over Israel and Palestine becomes a highway for migratory birds on their way to Europe. One of the migration hotspots for the birds is in Eilat, which is why the international bird race “Champions of the Flyway” takes place there annually at the end of March. “Champions of the Flyway” has 12 Teams of top birders from around the world compete with each other during a 24 hour period, midnight to midnight, in order to see (and hear) as many bird species as possible. Besides it being a fun race for avid birders, the race carries with it also a strong message against the killing of millions of migrant birds as they migrate to and from the breeding grounds. This year's conservation cause was the Illegal hunting and trapping of songbirds in Turkey, and all funds went to "Birdlife Turkey". 

This year the Hanns Seidel Foundation and the EU PfP sponsored two participating teams: the "Palestine Sunbirders", a mixed Israeli and Palestinian team, and "Team Orioles", the only female team in the race with four Israeli birdwatchers. The "Palestine Sunbirders" came in second with an incredible score of 176 bird species, and "Team Orioles" made first place for raising the most funds of all the Israeli teams, which earned them the title "Guardians of the Flyway". 

Exhausted but very happy the team members were smiling when the birdwatchers from all over the world gave them standing ovations in the closing ceremony of the event.