Simon says: "Is this the Eagle of the Bible?


The Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)


When the Bible speaks of the Nesher (נשר) most English translations say "eagle." But modern scholars & Israeli ornithologists believe the biblical Nesher was actually the Griffon Vulture!
Why the Griffon Vulture?
The Griffon Vulture matches every biblical description of the Nesher:
*A wingspan of almost 3 metres, it soars over vast distances - just as Scripture describes
*The Bible repeatedly mentions the Nesher feeding on dead flesh - exactly what vultures do
*Griffons gather by the hundreds around carcasses, unlike solitary eagles
*They nest high on rocky cliffs, fitting biblical imagery perfectly
*"Bald" Head: The Griffon has a featherless head, matching descriptions of the Nesher
What About "Real" Eagles?
Most eagles spotted in Israel are only migrating through; the Golden Eagle is extremely rare in Israel with historically, no more than 4 breeding pairs.
Griffon Vultures:
*Can cover 1,000 km without flapping, using thermals
*Are social birds that share information about food sources
*Provide essential "cleaning services", preventing disease spread by consuming carcasses



The Ancient City of Gamla is a must-see for history lovers & bird-watchers alike; perched on a steep hill shaped like a camel's hump, it was a thriving Jewish city during the Second Temple period & a major site of rebellion against the Romans.
Key archaeological finds in the ancient city include one of the oldest synagogues ever discovered in Israel, dating back to the 1st century BCE, when the Second Temple still stood in Jerusalem.
Today you can still see parts of the siege wall around the city & a replica of a Roman catapult , used during the battle.
Excavations have also uncovered homes, a mikve (ritual bath), & a massive collection of over 6,000 ancient coins, including some minted by the city itself during the Great Revolt 66-73CE.



The Vulture Lookout at Gamla (Shvil HaNesharim) offers a panoramic view of the cliffs where the Griffon vultures nest.
Today it is critically endangered in Israel, with only about 200 individuals remaining. Threats include poisoning, electrocution from power poles, disturbances from drones & habitat loss.
Studies in 2017 were modelling potential extinction by 2020.
Some farmers, facing significant financial losses from wolf & jackal attacks on their livestock, have illegally resorted to putting out poisoned carcasses. These poisons are lethal to the vultures that scavenge them .
The #israelnatureandparksauthority works tirelessly to protect them, even helicoptering in to rescue chicks & replace eggs!
There's also an amazing story of cross-border cooperation where a Syrian rebel commander was contacted to rescue a vulture tagged at Gamla; the rebels fed the bird with raw chicken while they themselves only had bread to eat!
Would you like to spot the biblical Nesher soaring above Israel's cliffs? Contact us today!
📩 imagineisraelenquiries@gmail.com
📲 Phone/WhatsApp: +972 54 2390412
🔗Links
photos: Artemy Voikhansky, Greg Shechter

 

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