The Hidden Life of the Yarkon River

The Yarkon River, flowing in the heart of one of Israel's densest urban areas, proves that wild nature does not only exist in remote reserves, but also lives and breathes alongside city paths, bridges, and parks. Along the three sections of the river, a diverse ecosystem exists, including fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals—some common and some extremely rare.

In honor of National Geographic Day, the Yarkon River Authority invites the public to get a closer look at the nature living right next to us, even in the heart of the city. Through familiarity with the river's animals, a glimpse is opened into a rich and surprising living world that operates around us every day, sometimes without us even noticing.

Around the River:

Above the water and on the riverbanks, there is a rich world of waterbirds and birds.

Black-crowned Night Heron: Active mainly in the evening and night, and rests on trees near the water during the day. It has a relatively short and rounded body; when it rests, its body appears even shorter and thicker.

Egyptian Goose: A large and sturdy waterbird, orange-brown in color with wings marked by white, black, and green segments. A dark brown patch is prominent around its eyes.

Palestine Sunbird: From the songbird family, tiny in size. Males are colored in dark, metallic shades, while the female has shades of black, gray, brown, and greenish.

Common Teal: A representative of the duck family. Its body is gray, though the male's feathers are silvery with sides striped in delicate black lines against a white background. The back is black, the rear is light, the chest is yellow, and a green eye-stripe runs across its head.

Little Egret: A relatively small bird that nests in dense bushes near the river.

Pied Kingfisher: Belongs to the kingfisher family and is considered a record-holder in high-altitude diving, with prominent black and white colors above the water.

White-throated Kingfisher: One of the most colorful birds in the Yarkon, fitting well into the urban environment. It has a white chest and a prominent blue color on its body.

Common Kingfisher: Especially small and excels at ambush fishing, with a small body and a large beak relative to its size.

Common Moorhen: An expert in camouflage, hiding among reeds during the day. It is gray-brown with a white stripe on the sides of its body.

Mallard: The most common duck in the area. The male has a bright green head, and the female has mottled brown shades.

Common Myna: A common invasive species living in small flocks along the river, with a brown body and yellow skin patches around the eyes.

Rose-ringed Parakeet: An invasive parrot that has spread throughout the country, notable for its green color and long tail.

Inside the River:

In the various sections of the Yarkon River, there is a rich fish population adapted to changing water conditions.

Yarkon Bream: A fish unique to the Yarkon River, relatively small, reaching a length of up to 120 mm. It is considered the prominent representative of the carp family in the coastal river systems.

Flathead Grey Mullet: A Mediterranean fish that enters rivers flowing into the sea. Its reproduction occurs in autumn. It has an elongated body and a silvery appearance, reaching about 60 cm in length and weighing about 5 kg.

Mosquitofish: A small fish with a silver body and a bluish sheen, sometimes with a brown back.

Nile Tilapia: An African species found in limited numbers in Israel only in the Yarkon and its sources. It has a high body and a general silvery-gray color.

African Sharptooth Catfish: The largest of the freshwater fish in Israel, spending its time on the bottom among rocks and mud. It has an elongated body, a wide head, and prominent whiskers.

European Eel: A fish with an elongated snake-like body, capable of moving through shallow and muddy areas during its migration.

Blue Aphanius: A small silvery fish living in clear water and dense aquatic vegetation.

Along the Banks:

Keen-sensed mammals operate in the Yarkon River, including:

Jungle Cat: An apex predator and water lover, four times larger than a domestic cat. It is considered an indicator of a healthy ecosystem. It has a muscular body, strong legs, and a relatively short tail. It tends to remain hidden from sight.

Golden Jackal: A medium-sized predator of the canine family, active mainly at sunset and sunrise, sometimes operating in coordinated packs. It has yellowish fur and a fox-like body structure.

Between the reptiles, one can find the turtle, one of the symbols of the Yarkon ecosystem:

African Softshell Turtle: The only softshell turtle living in Israel, existing in fresh and brackish water. It is critically endangered and has a relatively flat, flexible shell and a broad body appearance.

Caspian Turtle: Lives mainly in sections where fresh and treated water flow, with a hard, dark shell.

The Yarkon River Authority works to remove treated wastewater from the river. As water quality improves, the entire ecological web will recover, and the diversity and richness of species will increase. Additionally, the Authority carries out various projects along the river to open the closed riverbed and restore bank vegetation—then the magic happens, and life returns to the river.

National Geographic Day reminds us that nature is not far away; it is right here, asking only that we stop for a moment, observe, and protect it.