farmers set out food for them to keep them from damaging crops near the lake. Important Bird Area Some 24,000 ha of the northern Hula Valley, including the nature reserve, has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of many species of birds, especially raptors and waterbirds, either as breeding residents, winter visitors or passage migrants. These include marbled teals, pygmy cormorants, sociable lapwings, European honey buzzards, greater and lesser spotted eagles, eastern imperial eagles, Levant sparrowhawks, lesser kestrels and Dead Sea sparrows. Return of Hula painted frog In November 2011 the Hula painted frog, classified as extinct since 1996 by the IUCN as a result of the marsh drainage, reappeared to park patrollers in HaHula. The reappearance was confirmed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Since the discovery of the first specimen at least ten more have been found, all in the same area. The IUCN has accordingly reclassified the species as critically endangered. Archaeology Archaeological findings in 2009 show that the hominids who inhabited the area exploited Lake Hula fish. Analysis of the fish remains recovered from the archaeological site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov (GBY) have shown that they exploited a wide range of fish including catfish, tilapia and carp. Some of the carp were over a meter long. Tools to light fires and crack nuts were also discovered at the site. Cultural references In December 2007 Israel issued a set of three stamps featuring the Hula nature reserve. Gallery See also Battle of Lake Huleh (1157) Battle of Lake Huleh (1771) Museum of Prehistory of the Hulah Valley Acanthobrama hulensis Tristramella intermedia References External links Lake Hula and Lake Agmon, Jewish Virtual Library Photos of birds at Hula Valley Photos of Hulah Valley The Story of Hula Valley Swamps - Man Versus Nature Landforms of Northern District (Israel) Lakes of Israel Nature reserves in Israel Protected areas of Northern District (Israel) Ramsar sites in Israel Regions of Israel Shrunken lakes Valleys of Israel Tourist attractions in Israel Jordan River basin World Heritage Tentative List Important Bird Areas of Israel