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Desertas petrel (Pterodroma deserta) photography by Hadoram Shirihai
Hadoram Shirihai on a research palgic

Hadoram Shirihai

Ornithologist / Birdwatcher

Hadoram Shirihai was born on May 2, 1962 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He is a highly respected author, photographer, and expert in the field of ornithology and natural history. Shirihai's passion for birds has taken him all over the world, from the remote islands of the Indian Ocean to the frozen expanses of Antarctica. He has published numerous books, including guides to bird identification and the critically acclaimed 'The Birds of Israel'. At the Almodôvar Birding Center and Observatory, Shirihai's expertise and dedication to the study of birds are providing visitors with a unique and unforgettable experience.

Hadoram Shirihai

Hadoram Shirihai is a leading authority in the field of ornithology, with 12 published books, 6 of which have won important prizes, and dozens of published scientific articles.

 

Shirihai has been drawn to the Iberian Peninsula since the 1980s when he studied the genus Sylvia (now changed to Curruca) warblers, resulting in the acclaimed monograph of the Sylvia Warblers. During this time, he identified the Almodôvar sub-region and southern Alentejo as a place where he would one day establish a 'birding station'. His main involvement with the region, however, was associated with his long-term research of tubenoses, including Petrels, Shearwaters, and Storm-petrels of the Macaronesia archipelagos, Madeira, Canarias, Azores, and Cape Verde islands. He also collected information on all endemic land birds. In the Madeira Islands, he focused on learning how to find and identify the Zino's Petrel at sea, publishing a series of articles in journals like Birding World. He worked closely with the Madeira Windbirds team, including Catarina Fagundes and Hugo Romano, in establishing 'Ultimate Pelagic' operations. Hadoram continues to research petrels in these islands, often collaborating with Frank Zino and Vincent Bretagnolle. Currently, he is busy writing a multi-volume monograph on tubenoses worldwide.

 

Hadoram is the only person in the world to study and document all living taxa of tubenoses at sea and on breeding islands, rediscovering and discovering some of the rarest petrels.

 

Known for his 'Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife', Hadoram spent 12 consecutive Antarctic and Southern Ocean seasons. He also worked on the 'Guide to the Marine Mammals of the World', free diving with numerous great whales, dolphins, and seals.

 

Over the years, Hadoram has seen close to 8000 bird species worldwide and photographed over 7000 species, with 3330 photographed in the Neotropical region, establishing the largest photo collection by one person in that vast region.

 

Many birders know Hadoram from his founding of the International Birding Center in Eilat 40 years ago, in the 1980s and 1990s. He is known for studying and guiding many to see the Desert Owl Strix Hadorami, a new species named after him.

 

Our Birding Center is proud to be associated with such a distinguished professional who has dedicated his life to research, education, and conservation of birds.

Book's Published

The Birds of Israel
(Shirihai, H. 1996. Academic Press, London)

The Birds of Israel book cover.

In a book review in , Richard Porter wrote, "Every once in a while, a book appears and you say to yourself, 'I wish I’d written that’, for me, this is one such book. Here is a model avifauna for others to aspire to. Hadoram Shirihai, the editors (Ehud Dovrat and David A. Christie) and the ten atlas area co-ordinators all deserve much praise."  The book was awarded British Birds Best Book of the Year and Birdwatch Bird Book of the Year.

The Macmillan Birder's Guide to European and Middle Eastern Birds; including North Africa
(
Shirihai, H., & Christie, D. Illustrated by Harris, A. Macmillan Press, London & Basingstoke, 1996)

The Macmillan Birder's Guide to European and Middle Eastern Birds; including North Africa book cover

In a book review in British Birds, Peter Lansdown wrote, “There can be few birders who would not learn at least one new identification character from virtually every page of this splendid book."  It was awarded second-best contender after The Birds of Israel in both British Birds Best Book of the Year and Birdwatch Bird Book of the Year.

Sylvia warblers - Identification, Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Genus Sylvia

(Shirihai, H., Gargallo, G., & Helbig A. Illustrated by Harris, A. Photography by Cottridge, D. Helm, London, 2001)

Sylvia warblers - Identification, Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Genus Sylvia book cover

In a book review in , Steve Madge wrote, "Based on Hadoram Shirihai's field research and interpretation of plumage detail, what we have here is one of the most exciting and detailed reference books … ever written on a genus of Old World warblers… The book sets a standard of achievement that is head and shoulders above other monographs and will no doubt receive many accolades as one of the great modern standards in ornithological field study."

The book was awarded ,British Birds Best Book of the Year, Birdwatch Bird Book of the Year and worldtwich Best Bird Book of the Year - Europe and the Middle East.

A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife

(Shirihai, H. 2007, 2nd Edition, Bloomsbury, London.

First published 2002 as A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife, The Birds and Marine Mammals of the Antarctic Continent and Southern Ocean. Alula Press Oy, Finland.)

A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife book cover

"The Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife is a remarkable book, probably the most complete general work on the topic ever produced, with more than 500 colour photographs, 35 colour plates and a 381-item bibliography. But these numbers tell only part of the story. The photographs are, almost without exception, simply terrific, representing the best work of 52 different photographers, each shot chosen for its beauty or its ability to show a particular aspect of the animal's identifying characteristics… [An] amazing and valuable book." (Polar Times)

The book was Awarded Best Bird Book - Oceans and Islands, Worldtwitch and Birdwatch Best Bird Book of the Year

Whales, Dolphins and Seals: A Field Guide to the Marine Mammals of the World

Shirihai, H. 2006. Illustrated by Jarrett, B. A. & C. Black)

Whales, Dolphins and Seals: A Field Guide to the Marine Mammals of the World book cover

"One of the most attractive, well-produced and comprehensive guides ever published... 'Whales, Dolphins and Seals' is a tour de force for the author Hadoram Shirihai and the artist Brett Jarrett." The lavishly illustrated paperback is a delight, with Jarrett's exquisitely crafted paintings, copious colour photographs and a text that is well laid out and highly informative. It really is a delightful book." (Sunday Express).

Handbook of Western Paleartic Birds: Passerines 2- Volume (Shirihai, H.,& Svensson, L., HELM Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, London, 2018)

Handbook of Western Paleartic Birds: Passerines 2- Volume book cover

“It cannot be stressed enough just how much information is packed into this magnum opus. It is the new ultimate guide in Western Palearctic birding and is every bit worth the price tag. I cannot envisage that anyone who makes the investment will be left disappointed.” (Birdwatch) 

The book was awarded British Birds Best Book of the Year

The Birds of Israel
(Shirihai, H. 1996. Academic Press, London)

"Every once in a while, a book appears and you say to yourself, 'I wish I’d written that’, for me, this is one such book. Here is a model avifauna for others to aspire to. Hadoram Shirihai, the editors (Ehud Dovrat and David A. Christie) and the ten atlas area co-ordinators all deserve much praise."

Richard Porter

British Birds Best Book of the Year
Birdwatch Bird Book of the Year
Expeditions and Movies

Expeditions and Movies

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