Monk parakeets in Madrid

Madrid has the greatest population of Monk Parakeets in Europe, many of whom can be seen and heard in the El Retiro park. This park was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023 and includes the tree-lined Paseo del Prado avenue as well as the 120-hectare Jardines del Buen Retiro (Garden of Pleasant Retreat), a remnant of the 17th-century Buen Retiro Palace. In this recording we hear a group of Monk Parakeets calling from their next high up in a tree, whilst locals and tourists pass near by. 

UNESCO listing: Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences

Recorded by Colin Hunter.

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This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.

Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage