After in recent years we have been dealing with waves of reports of "unpleasant things" and disturbing invasions of marine and terrestrial animals, various bird species, and invasive species, a seemingly positive report recently arrived about a new visitor: a beautiful bird that came to visit Kiryat Haim. The Egyptian Goose is a type of wild goose.
A guest from Egypt in Kiryat Haim ►View
While we witness the disappearance of beloved childhood birds like starlings, which once screamed on Ha'atzmaut Street in Haifa and Bat Galim and have only barely returned in recent years, we are simultaneously suffering from other invasive species.
Such as: the green-crowned parakeet, which has become the "curse of the sunflower fields" and is gaining momentum, with the fields filled with deafening screams. In addition, the Indian crow has also invaded our area, which was seen in Eilat, as well as a few individuals, near the Institute of Marine Research in Haifa, and in addition, the species, which are aggressive to the point of attacks on humans that have been reported in Netanya.
What is the Egyptian hyena?
For a change, the new bird that has arrived in Israel is the Egyptian Goose (also known as the "Egyptian Goose"), a large and beautiful bird from the duck family, which came to us straight from Egypt. I first saw the first individuals of this species about nine years ago in the Yarkon, and since then in several other places, but still not in alarming numbers.
A lonely guest on Neot Beach
As part of my work on invasive species in Israel (mainly sea creatures), I encounter many invasive birds. After the recent rains, a lone Egyptian vulture landed and settled in the estuary of the runoff water of the Naot beach in Kiryat Haim. A couple of readers from Kiryat Haim reported on the visitor.
The beautiful bird appears healthy. It was even observed flying back and forth in search of food in the river's water stream, where it caught another invasive fish called the macaroni sculpin.
The sight of the bird on the beach aroused great curiosity. Many residents stood and took pictures of the spectacle of the bird, which stood within arm's reach and was not afraid of human presence. One beachgoer even noted that he reminded her of "Nils Olgerson" from the cartoon series.
The Trap: Beauty That Can Become a Nuisance
So far, everything sounds nice, and indeed it is impossible not to fall in love with this beautiful animal when you observe it up close. However, here comes the ornithological warning: we must not forget the potential for harm.
The Egyptian river otter is cute and communicative in its own way, but it is a territorial goose. The potential damage includes a large amount of predation and the displacement of other native species.
The European experience should set off a warning light for us: this bird was sold as a pet in France, and as with any trade in invaders, these birds arrived, took over water basins, and became a serious nuisance. The solution there was to shoot them (a very cruel move), but the right solution was not to bring them in in the first place.
An important window of opportunity for Israel
In Israel, the invasion is still in its infancy, and we hope that this situation will remain. If we are able to closely monitor the spread of the Egyptian river jay and document its impact on local species, we can prevent a repeat of the mistakes made in Europe. The beauty and curiosity it arouses are beyond doubt, but we must remember that Israeli nature is delicate and threatened by invasive species. Early detection, continuous monitoring, and public participation can ensure that this impressive bird remains a unique and special experience for us, without becoming an ecological nuisance in the future.
Have a good week everyone, and let's hope that beauty stays with us without the price.
I live in Rishon in the Ashalim neighborhood and there is a pair of Egyptian geese here that have located themselves in the artificial lake. And they already had a laying of 8 eggs last year. 7 hatched. They grew up nicely. And the parents took them away after they grew up. Now with the arrival of winter, they have returned to the artificial lake. We'll see if there will be another laying.
Today we saw a pair of Egyptian vultures in Yarkon Park, not far from "Asuta".
Shabbat Shalom Tali
The Yarkon Park was the first place I saw a cluster of jays 12 years ago.
Thank you and Shabbat Shalom
Egyptian mynahs are no more harmful than haredim, but they are certainly more beautiful. There are many of them in the Yarkon River, and it is a pleasure to see them, usually in pairs.
Come on, what's the fuss? Egyptian Yaurit, big deal.
Escaped from a protected area or from the fish ponds of Masaryk Village or Ein Hamifratz... in Tel Aviv they roam the streets like stray cats.
Hello Yechiel
It clearly states where this was filmed.
I documented the first ones years ago in the Yarkon. So it's about an "invasion of the north."
That's the problem.
Thanks and happy holiday
We see them in Netanya regularly.
By the way, the picture under the name is of the wrong type.
This is not an Indian species, of course, there is confusion there. It looks like a Tristramian, doesn't it?
Hi Yaniv
It does indeed look like that. The photo was taken in the shade in my yard and it is an Indian myna and her mate or vice versa that built a line in my bars.
And I have no heart to expel them.
The terstramite is a desert bird endemic only from Jericho to a few kilometers north of the Arava.
The human race is the most dangerous invader
So come on, leave the cute river behind.
It's really nice to see them in the Yarkon.
Hello Muti
You're right. Humans are the most dangerous, but because of humans, hundreds of marine invasive species have entered.
There's nothing to do today.
Hey Moti, that's right, man is the most dangerous animal.
But humans have caused the invasion of species from the Red Sea into the Mediterranean Sea, and it is considered an ecological disaster.
An invasive species is an invention of man, who solves everything with a bullet in his head. It's no wonder the Earth looks the way it does. If we learned a little from animals, instead of killing them all the time, maybe our situation would improve.
Hello Gil.
In recent articles, and search for earthquakes in animals, I emphasize that we have something to learn from animals.
Humans are responsible for the invasion of jellyfish and all other invasive species, which is called the Lepestic migration, named after the French engineer de la Spes.
Good signing. Thank you.
The bird photographed, called the Indian Myna, is a hummingbird. A desert bird that lives in the Judean Desert. They can be seen nesting in the Dead Sea area and hotels. The Indian Myna did not migrate to Israel, but was smuggled by a pet dealer from India, and was well received.
Hello, Judah.
The bird in the photo is an Indian myna, and a boy and his partner built a nest on the bars of the house.
What do you mean and you are right in that there is a bird called the Dead Sea Tristram, named after the English priest Tristram.
An endemic bird with a distribution from the north of the Dead Sea to the northern edge of the Arava, and is a desert bird that will not reach other places due to abiotic conditions.
Final signature and thank you
The female eagles escaped from the Tel Aviv University Zoological Garden many years ago, and have bred throughout the Dan Bloc and the center. They expand their territory every year. They return to build a nest in the same place every year and are quite successful. I know a few pairs in my area.
There is no concept of invasion. There is migration of species according to temperature changes and evolutionary adaptation. Even Abraham, our father, who was hungry, came down from Egypt. There is migration of humans from ancient man to the present day, and certainly migratory birds. They will want what suits them and will settle in the area. Birds here are becoming extinct because the Nature Authority is not doing anything in the field of building artificial nests for birds that are dying to help due to the taking of the spaces in the trees by other species. Nothing is done here. They take salaries, sit in offices and do not think outside the box.
Hello Yoavi and thank you. There is bird migration according to a fixed cycle.
Species that arrive in other areas as an alien species are considered invasive or migratory.
For example, all the creatures that invaded the Mediterranean Sea from the Red Sea, from fish to skinks, are called Lespesian migrants, after the French engineer who improved the Suez Canal, Lespes de Lesseps.
Thank you and good signing.
I wonder if its meat is tasty….
Hello Rochester
There is a claim that its meat is delicious. But...who can eat it?
What a great, interesting article and you're right that all the new invasive birds are killing and wiping out small bird species, which is sad.
You can rest assured that the Ministry of Environmental Protection is a failed ministry that is incapable of dealing with any invasion of any species. It's simply a group of parasites that do nothing, so we'll probably see a lot more of them in the future.
Hello, Oni. It seems there are already many more. Even in my freezer waiting to be identified.
Thank you and Happy New Year
What was the solution in France, was shooting?
Oh, who will tell all the animal organizations around the world that they are conducting culling by shooting?
Here too, the solution to the overpopulation of wild boars and invasive species is shooting.
What we said all the time in the face of cliché delusions.
It took years of barbarity, fear for tens of thousands of residents, and severe image damage, and we reached the obvious conclusion.
I have a couple of them in my hotel pool who have been swimming regularly for several years.
Swimming in the water with the guests and not disturbing at all, quite the opposite
Attraction? Definitely a nuisance? There is no doubt that their feces are feasting on the edge of the pool and I take care of this by having the pool staff and the operator disinfect the water every 3 hours, but from here and killing them or driving them away is really not possible. They have become part of the hotel.
In the evening, they fly away to the fountain in the square near the Carmel Market for their chicks.
And so on
They fly to the sea to hunt fish and return a truly impressive animal.
Definitely a Daphne. An impressive and beautiful animal.
And today we must learn to live with them. Thank you and Happy New Year.
The disappearance of species and the emergence of new species is a process of constant, sometimes unfortunate, population exchange.
Like the disappearance of mammal and bird species from the earth, and in contrast, those that appear and fill the void
Not to the benefit of the rest, like the species that was brought in unsupervised as a pet bird, the drakes, the Indian crow as mentioned, but also the eucalyptus (sorry Naomi Shemer), the blue-green method from Australia,
Datura, sabra, and many others are "invasive" species, some of which are welcome, while others require action to reduce their population and even eradicate them completely.
For example, a body from the field of nature conservation, sustainability, etc. should be established, which will take care of and supervise, and will have the authority to
In dealing with these changing populations, it is important to consider that managing populations of this type may have profound implications. The jay, which has been with us for several years, appears in monogamous pairs all over the country, and for the time being looks charming and sociable. But as mentioned, it is necessary to monitor
With wisdom and sensitivity.
The species in the photo is Tristramidae.
What a beautiful and fun article... and what spectacular photos... a pleasure..
Interesting and disturbing….
Great article, Moti.
Makes me want to eat goose in the oven.