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Eco-tourism, environment, ecology, and education are good starters for
ABC Wednesday's E-Day.
The Jerusalem Bird Observatory is a wild acre in a prime location at the heart of the city.
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Even its buildings are ecologically sound, very "green."
See the roof of the Visitors Center? It looks like a prairie!
When the winter rains come that will all hopefully be green and flowering.
It is a real "living building."
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Enlarge the photo and you can see the red tile roofs of the Nachlaot neighborhood in the distance.
Inside the bird watching hide.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2u3As0Pf3gFglFuFvv50tBjuB1NctMF_Xj0Ys9GQnY2to-oghVNasTAorj-96TU42mr36wB02YLWIjlD_KM_H1-7CYgpV1ZLQE7ED2ty0z8aiPzuo8Qw7Mcy4DgJdGULfIlj5bWHZp2s/s400/IMG_0069_1.jpg)
Here is what everybody was looking at.
Birds on the trees, birds on the birdbath and the feeder.
There is also a pond out there.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9ub4oEyXL_Mq-fD6v-cdmbcW5X1-PWaQNFF5yaZI0YEZKg3Lx-tWqkb0GRO0QJV4ALlHcLilsAM0vLrL_vIuVj5pduxFbilWTzwfyXQpGZUKfoZF8lki3P2GE19tzG8z_EYgP-iIr0o/s400/IMG_0072.JPG)
Behind this special wall will be nest boxes and bat boxes.
You can see flecks of bright colors. These are the recycled colored bottle caps the material is made of!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRgxpAVdjARK2-T0Md0gQ0JSkrGjOJOGJMQZ-LiLTAJfHq_eC2cNksz08VOJUP4eWDJt5ZygZwR9KbwIdLtRHpZt_GPyyYuM0fJ6I_j5YnQvZhl3kqvPE5AkxNhN9KnHXPEWbBS1ebg4/s400/IMG_0060_1.jpg)
Behind the rustic bench, the new gift shop offers nature books and T shirts, maps, and many nice things for kids too.
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The JBO is the national bird-banding (ringing) center. In fact, they have a USAID grant for a joint Israeli-Palestinian ringing project.
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"The JBO has four main goals: (1) environmental education (2) conservation research (3) eco-tourism (4) creation of a common forum for Jews, Christians, and Moslems. This project is the first of its kind in Israel and promises to fill a vital role currently lacking in Jerusalem's environmental framework." . . .
"Birds know no geographical nor religious boundaries. Their conservation and the pleasure they offer are a true common denominator that can bring people together: Jews, Christians and Moslems.
The JBO is situated physically and symbolically in the heart of Jerusalem, between two of the most important institutions in the State of Israel: the Knesset and the Supreme Court.
The JBO serves as a meeting place for people from all religions willing to practice tolerance between one another and towards the environment.
By promoting joint conservation and educational projects, the JBO is a useful tool for bringing people together. "
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And a
good video, 3 minutes, at YouTube, including the new-born babies of the JBO's resident porcupine!
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