Created in 1994, the Jerusalem Bird Observatory (JBO), is a project of SPNI's Israel Ornithological Center, and is Israel's first urban wildlife site. It is located on the grounds between the Knessest (Israel's Parliament) and the Supreme Court.

From the start, JBO operated a bird-monitoring program that includes field observations and bird watching. Thanks to their research, basic factors in land management practices along migration routes have been better developed. Moreover, the JBO has established, with limited resources and space, programs for thousands of school children, including those with special needs. Today, the JBO has become a meeting point for novice and long-time bird lovers. It brings together, in the heart of Jerusalem, people from diverse backgrounds who ordinarily may never interact in their daily lives. On an average day, one might see an Orthodox person sitting side-by-side with a secular Israeli discussing the activities of the birds.

The phenomenal success of the JBO has prompted the need to expand the site into a fully functional research, visitor, and educational center. SPNI and the JBO envision:

• a multi-purpose educational room for study and screening of multi-media presentations, basic laboratory equipment for children, three computer stations and a library of bird and nature materials
• gallery space for a permanent exhibit on urban nature
• workshop and storage space
• office, sales area for souvenirs and study materials
• public bathrooms