Great excitement was recorded this week at the Ma'agan Michael Birding Park. As part of the ongoing work on the park grounds, a new egg-laying site of softshell turtles – an endangered species – was located for the first time. The newly found nesting site serves as significant evidence of the success of the ecological restoration project taking place in the park.
According to the park team's assessment, the egg-laying occurred in the early morning hours or during the night. Since active fish ponds are located near the park – two of them in a natural area, predators such as: Mongooses, jackals, and cats are also present in the area. Unfortunately, the nests were located shortly after being dug up by mongooses, with a significant portion of the eggs preyed upon and their remains scattered across the area. However, with great luck, the mongooses did not manage to finish their feast, and two more dug nests remained with whole eggs that were not preyed upon. Through swift action, with close cooperation between Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel personnel, Israel Nature and Parks Authority officials, and the Taninim Stream Nature Reserve team, the nests were secured and the area fenced off. In the coming months, park officials hope, we will witness an active and significant egg-laying site, which will aid the restoration of this species in Israel.
Recent decades have seen a significant reduction in the number of softshell turtles in Israel
The softshell turtle, found in Israel's streams, is unique to the country, with its shell length exceeding 90 cm and its weight potentially reaching dozens of kilograms. Its breeding season occurs around May–June, when females dig hollows in stream banks, lay their eggs there, and cover them with soil. After about two months, the hatchlings emerge and run to the water. The lifespan of softshell turtles spans over decades, however, recent decades have seen a significant reduction in their numbers in the country, due to the reduction of natural habitats, water pollution, and human impact. The significant concentrations remaining today in Israel are located in the Hula Nature Reserve and the Alexander Stream National Park, consisting of only a few dozen individuals.
According to Chen Rosen, the Ma'agan Michael Birding Park coordinator for the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, who located the egg-laying site: "The experience of finding softshell turtle nests in the birding park teaches us about the importance of the park as a restoration site, not only for birds, but for the entire ecosystem. The park team and I are thrilled by the female turtles' choice to lay their eggs with us, and we will do everything in our power to ensure the nesting succeeds and a new generation of turtles comes into the world and inhabits the park."
The Ma'agan Michael Birding Park is open to visitors with a variety of guided tours, by prior arrangement.