Original Artwork of Israeli Birds from Zev Labinger to support bird conservation projects in Israel.
It's been 40 years since I started birding. In the fields of my kibbutz, as a kid, I discovered the world of birds, and ever since it's been the centre of my life.
For the last 24 years I've been leading the Israeli Ornithological Center (IOC). Together with my colleagues - birdwatchers, naturalists and nature lovers from Israel and overseas - I've been involved in many efforts aimed at protecting bird populations and especially their habitats. Like many others my feeling is that the job is getting harder and harder with every year that passes.
Increasingly, as I'm writing a paper or presenting a public talk, my mind takes me back to the old days, sights and experiences that unfortunately are now nothing but history.
The unforgettable experiences of Lammergeier in Wadi Mishmar (Judean Desert), the majestic Lapped-faced Vulture and the mind-blowing Griffon Vulture colony in Gamla, Golan Heights are all vivid memories for me that many young birders will never have.
My stories and memories have been illustrated with original artwork from artist Zev Labinger. Zev has generously donated several of his original, signed pieces of his beautiful art to SPNI. We're now selling them for charity. The proceeds will go to bird conservation projects in Israel to protect many of these species.
(left to right: Lammergier, turtle dove, black-winged pratincole, common quail)
(left to right: lesser-spotted eagles, vultures in Gamla, lesser whitethroats)
(left to right: lappet-faced vulture, lesser kestrel, Verreaux's vulture, pygmy cormorant)
We're also selling a limited number of signed copies of his artwork and other copies of these pieces. The originals are watercolors on 300gm moleskin paper. Sizes are 21x30 cm (8.3 x 11.8 inches). Shipping will take up to 4 weeks.
If you'd like to see close up images of the artwork before purchasing, please email international@spni.org.il We'll be more than happy to send you them.
I don't write too often, but all this made me feel that I have a story to tell. A story I want to share. The story of the birds of Israel. This story consists of many different chapters - chapters that my friends who joined me in following years have missed. I'm not naïve enough to dream that these stories will bring back the Lammergeier to Judean Desert cliffs or the crackling song of the Savi's Warbler to the valleys playlist. But I feel that it is extremely important to remind myself and everyone else that we are losing vast parts of our beautiful, irreplaceable biodiversity. It is our duty to try and save as much as we can for future generations. No one else will do it for us, or for them.
My blog Old Notebooks Don't Lie - Memories Of Israel's Declining Bird Species – in which I use my old notebooks to shed light on these stories – so far 20 stories have been published. They can be found here https://www.birds.org.il/en/blog/id/6/0
Dan Alon, Director Birdlife Israel, Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel
