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Massive flocks of pelicans were spotted across Israel on Sunday as they made their way toward their nesting grounds, primarily in the Black Sea region.
Jane Davidov captured footage of one such flock flying over Kibbutz Urim in the western Negev. “I saw this enormous flock of birds and rushed to film them,” she said excitedly. “As soon as I got over the initial shock, I realized there was no need to hurry because there were so many of them. It went on for more than three minutes. They flew in neat lines that merged with other lines, forming a kind of net, and then went back into formation.”
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A flock of pelicans flies in formation in western Negev
(Video: Jane Davidov)
“At first, I thought they were cranes,” Davidov added. “Then I realized they were pelicans. I was speechless and all I could say was ‘Wow,’ over and over. There’s no better way to start the week.”
Dr. Yoav Perlman, director of the Israel Ornithological Center at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), explained that the impressive scene showed flocks rising from a nearby water reservoir, gradually gaining altitude.
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A flock of pelicans flies over Kibbutz Urim in the western Negev
(Photo: Jane Davidov )
“Today is shaping up to be a major migration day, especially for pelicans, across Israeli skies, including along the coastal plain,” he said. “As the day goes on, we expect to see more flocks gaining height. We wish them a safe journey and hope to see them return healthy and well next fall.”
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According to SPNI, the great white pelican is among the largest and heaviest birds in Europe and the Middle East. It has a broad, rounded and sturdy body, with short legs well-suited for swimming. Typically, pelicans fly in orderly flocks arranged in arcs, maintaining this formation even when circling in thermal updrafts, giving them the appearance from afar of a single group rotating on its axis.
“Pelicans are found in large ponds, reservoirs, river deltas and inland lakes,” Perlman said. “Migrating flocks sometimes rest at sea, though they don’t feed there. In Israel, pelicans are common migrants, with around 30,000 to 45,000 passing overhead twice a year — during fall and spring migrations.” He added that about 500 pelicans stay in Israel through the winter.