Jerusalem Bird Observatory

The Jerusalem Bird Observatory is a research station located between the Knesset and Supreme Court buildings in central Jerusalem, providing observation points for watching and studying birds. The site features multiple viewing areas that let visitors see the local wildlife and learn about species that live or pass through the region.

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel founded this research station in 1994 as the nation's first wildlife site in an urban center. Naturalist Amir Balaban played a key role in establishing this facility between two major government buildings.

This place serves as the national center for bird banding, where volunteers track and study hundreds of species during their seasonal migrations. Visitors can watch researchers document these birds and understand their importance in the Africa-Eurasia migration corridor.

The outdoor observation areas are accessible at any time without fees or advance booking. The Gutman Center provides more detailed information and amenities if you want to spend more time exploring the site.

During migration seasons, staff members band dozens of birds daily, including species like flycatchers and thrushes that travel long distances from Africa. This daily work reveals the remarkable diversity of movement patterns between two continents.