The magic corners In Haifa
Tel Shikmona It is an ancient mound located in the southern part of the city of Haifa, close to the Seas and Lakes Research Institute. Shekmona was once an ancient settlement, which left archaeological remains, which can still be seen today. The area has great importance, both historically and archeologically and in terms of the nature in and around it. The hill sits along the stretch of coast where there are wave breaks, and what makes it unique in terms of natural treasures is a reef built by snails from the tuber family.
Those who like bird watching have something to see in Tel
There are quite a few people who are involved in the field of ornithology, either as a hobby or as a profession which is a complete and magical world of bird watching. I also have a great affection for the birds and to my delight Haifa is a fertile place for birds. So far I have managed to document and photograph about 150 species of birds in Israel. Many of my observations were in Shakmona, that national nature site. During the year many dozens of different birds come to the mound. Seabirds, songbirds and more. Many birds come to the mound in different seasons. For example, the rocks that I will expand on in a moment.
And who are the regular visitors to Tel
First I will introduce a number of birds that come to the hill area and the beach of Shekmona. Some are migratory and some are stable like the little Lebanese seabird. Other seabirds that pass and sometimes stay in Shekmona include the puffins that blend in beautifully between the sea rocks along the coast, thanks to their grayish white color. Seagulls also pass by in the area or sail slowly along the shore.
A permanent resident of Tel is the peshush, who can be identified mainly by his singing and he hides among the bushes and thorns in all months of the year. Other occasional migratory songbirds are scarecrows of various kinds, Nahalialim, the white and the yellow. And about a month ago I met Tel, a European cuckoo that stood on the fence for a while. Another surprising bird that recently arrived in Shekmona, the monk parakeet.
And now a little about the rocks
For bird and birdwatchers, Rockies are a whole and fascinating world. There are 11 species of rockfish in Israel, among them the white-winged rockfish, which I saw in Mitzpe Ramon, the black-bellied rockfish that I met in Masada, and the rockfish in Shekmona, the prairie rockfish, the Cypriot rockfish, a rare occurrence in Israel.
And also a European rockfish (Northern Wheatear) that migrates to distances of about 30,000 km a year and is considered "the record of migratory songbirds" that migrates between the North and South Poles weighing 25 grams. Its main diet includes insects; Beetles and ants, flies, grasshoppers, crickets, fleas, spiders and caterpillars that spends a lot of time on rocks and observes, has thin and long legs that allow it to jump on the ground, and reaches the mound that is formed during the spring and autumn migrations.
When the European rockfish arrives, it stays in open areas where there is low vegetation and sandy and rocky areas such as Tel Shekmona. In general, it can be identified by its bouncy movement because it moves from place to place without resting for a moment. Apparently she especially likes the mosaics in the mound, skips between the small stones without getting in the way.
Bird watching for the soul
As mentioned, birding is an opportunity to spend time in an open and quiet space without distractions and for a moment or two to disconnect from everything, turn off the phone and focus on the here and now and surrender to the charms of nature. In our country and especially now when there is a war, bird watching has health and mental benefits that affect the person, whether it is listening to the birdsong, searching and observing and all of this can relieve stress over time, from personal experience.
And one more word about the flight of birds - in general there is great curiosity about the flight of the winged, and questions arise such as, how do they know when and where to fly. There is no single answer and it is a subject of research that has been going on for decades. The rocks, for example, apparently know how to navigate according to the celestial bodies, "prominent landscape details such as mountains, coastlines, rivers... which are signs and guideposts".
Michael, I thank you for enlightening my eyes and learning something new about the place, the site in my opinion is one of the most special in the city of Haifa both historically and in terms of urban nature. Glad to hear that there are future plans for the place.
What a beautiful article Sabrina. Good Morning
Thank you for the beautiful and colorful article. Baal Knaf has no definite significance, but this is not Shekmona (Jewish) but the Christian Porphyraon, therefore the settlement has a church and a number of monasteries. Shekmona is located next to Old Haifa. In these months the condition of the site is improving in our project (the Institute of Archeology at the University of Haifa) together with the Institute for Seas and Lakes, the Nature and Parks Authority, the Municipality of Haifa and other bodies. Hoping to be newsmen in two years or so.
Regarding Melech Shlomo Street, are there any archaeological remains that can be documented?
Yes, Sabina, the wall of the crows.
And if you can do an article about the antiquities found near the entrance of the Carmel tunnels where the antennas of the former Matab are, what is hot today. They are just paving something there and it seems to me that it is worth checking the situation there.
They started with the construction of the road from Kabir to Neve David. Everyone knows that above the road towards the mountain there is an ancient Jewish settlement. King Solomon's path is supposed to be expanded and then they will come across antiquities.
I would advance a remedy for the problem that is going to be discovered when they want to connect the road and widen it.
Because there is more to see in Tel Shikmona. I would recommend an education rebellion project after the winter. To bring students from high schools to work to discover more of the hill.
will add a lot to them. Maybe encourage them with points for matriculation in the history of the Land of Israel.
The mosaic today is in the courtyard of the Sea and Lake Research Institute. The mound is now fenced after it was breached for many years. I traveled there in December. On one side of the buildings of Seas and Lakes Research there is a graffiti painting in memory of a soldier who fell on the seventh of October. Ben Kibbutz Afikim, unfortunately I do not remember his name exactly. It's worth coming and seeing... it's worth going up to the hill and looking towards the sea
What a beautiful article, well done, giving another look at our beautiful nature
In the eighties of the last century, one evening there was an event of a UFO landing in Tel Shekmona, there were several witnesses to this event, and experts came and found various findings that confirmed that there was something unusual here
Thank you very much Yair
Very interesting article
Well done .
Ill thank you for the response, I would love to look into the matter to go see what is happening with the antiquities, and if there is someone at the Technion that you can contact regarding this, so that I can write something nice on the website, I would be happy. Sounds real and not cheesy.
Just before the entrance to the Technion are there antiquities? Inside the Technion, ancients live in caves..
There are professors who are not sure if they have been in their room or alive for 25 years.
I heard that they fired a 95-year-old professor in aeronautics.
He was remembered only after Marov hoarded books in his room -
Other faculty members would sneeze at this door in the hallway and didn't understand why and check whose room it was.
True story not cheezbet.
Beauty
Sabrina Taboi, come to Malal St., corner of Yaari, there are also antiquities right before the entrance to the Technion, you are welcome to do some research on the antiquities there. There is also a cave there where sometimes abseiling is done.
It's also fun to read such nice articles and not just "news". We need to protect the nature that is hidden inside and next to our cities
Mi piace vedere i tuoi photo
Dear Ismeralda, thank you for your words
Wow Sabrina, what a whole world you reveal to us through your observations. I know from experience how much patience is needed to 'capture' a bird in the camera lens. Thanks for an interesting and insightful article.