Israel National Bird Elecetions
As part of the 60 years of independence events it has been decided to elect a national bird. The national bird was chosen with the participation of citizens, soldiers, pupils, students, academics and nature patrollers. Throughout the project, the nominated birds had been presented via different media channels, such as the internet, newspapers and on TV.
Israel is not alone in its desire for a national bird. Many countries in the world have chosen a bird that is regarded as their national bird, representing the particular nation, its values, character and population. In the USA for example, each state has a bird which represents it, on stamps, coins, credit and phone cards etc. The USA is represented by the bald eagle (mistakenly referred to as the American eagle). Japan chose the Crane as its national bird. So did other countries.
The project has been led by the Society for Protection of Nature in Israel, the Israeli Ornithological Center, the International Center for the Study of Bird Migration, Latron, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Education.
The ten final nominees were:
1. Bulbul Yellow-vented 6. Spur-winged Plover
2. Lesser Kestrel 7. Graceful Warbler
3. Hoopoe 8. Palestine Sunbird
4. European Goldfinch 9. White-breasted Kingfisher
5. Griffin Vulture 10. Barn owl
After a vivid national election process that stretched over six months, the bird that has been chosen as Israel's national bird was the Hoopoe (Duchifat in Hebrew). The winner was declared by President Shimon Peres, whose own last name refers to a vulture.
The Hoopoe, a crested bird with a unique appearance which is mentioned in Jewish legends about King Shlomo (Solomon) and the Queen of Sheba, is common throughout Israel. According to legend, the Hoopoe is capable of cutting through stone, and is referred to as "nakar turia," or mountain chiseler, in the Talmud. Legend also has it that when its beak breaks, the Hoopoe can continue chiseling through rocks with its folded crest - hence its name duchifat, which means "two beaks" in Aramaic. Ethiopian Jews called it the "Moses Bird" and believed it would carry them to Jerusalem one day.
