Ramat Ha'Negev birding center

The Ramat HaNegev Birding Center is one of the newest member of the National Birding Center Network established by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI). Tucked away in the heart of the Negev Desert, the center is the ninth in SPNIs national network, with a distinct desert character that is all its own.

The Ramat HaNegev Birding Center provides an ecological refuge for hundreds of bird species, with programs focusing on education, environmental research, and eco-tourism.

While other areas of Israel experience rapid growth that often comes into conflict with efforts to preserve natural resources, the Negev's astounding natural beauty has remained largely intact, even in the midst of growing communities and thriving business operations in the region. In fact, in many ways the Negev presents certain challenges that are the exact opposite of those faced by the rest of the country.

Through its efforts to promote environmental education and eco-tourism, the Ramat HaNegev Birding Center strikes an important balance between ecological preservation and attracting visitors to the area.

The children are the future! This is what we believe and therefore we put our main resources into education programs at schools and lead junior birding clubs that meet on a weekly basis. We also lead "adult" birding outings and by that to bring the local community closer to the unique world of the Negev birds.

Ramat HaNegev Birding Center, in a joint project with the people of Kadesh Barnea, has built a bird garden in the outskirt of the Moshav and is busy putting together the second of many birding sites; 'The Bustards site', two old train wagons which will be transformed to hides.

A visitor center which will be built in Sde Boker College will be the heart of the birding center.