Bird lovers at a national park in Agamon Hula, Israel. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Although the entire area of Israel is no larger than twice that of Beijing, it is the second most popular destination in the world for migratory birds before they head south for the winter.

Situated at the northern end of the Great Rift Valley and stretching southward all the way to central Africa, Israel, especially the wetlands around the Lake of Galilee, is a heaven for birds to breed and fortify themselves before their long journey southwards.

About half a billion birds consisting of more than 400 species rest at this comfortable "motel" every year. As a result, bird watching has become a popular activity among all ages. National parks here not only provide opportunities for bird watching on foot, but also offer golf carts for small families, mountain bikes for sports lovers, and tour buses modified from old farm trucks to help visitors get around observing the migratory birds.

Volunteers are hired to guide visitors around the parks as well as help protect farmland from damage caused by huge flocks of cranes and ducks.

In the 1950s, local farmers started to drain the wetlands for agricultural purposes and destroyed nesting areas in the process. But they realized the soil there was not good for their plants.

About a decade ago, local governments and nongovernmental organizations worked together to persuade the farmers to loan part of their land to the national parks by becoming park shareholders. This is how the national parks started taking hold.

Although it will be a long time before the parks can generate a profit, local citizens have found new sources of incomes from the inflow of tourists. Guest houses, restaurants and spas have been built to accommodate visitors who come to see the birds.

Families can see birds that they have never seen before in cities as well as hold them and observe them up-close with the help of a professional. Visitors learn how to determine a bird's age, how to weigh and measure the birds and how to find out if the birds are strong enough to fly away.