The Birds
In Johnston's day Serre de la Madone was already a tropical paradise in which exotic flora and fauna flourished together. Above the terraces, on the same level as the Moorish garden, there was a huge aviary in which parrots, ibises, cranes and other birds were held captive.
To rebuild the aviary today would be problematic, largely for ethical reasons. So, to bring back the sweet music of birdsong to the Garden, the following alternative solution has been found: Since 2002, thanks to the co-operation of the Ligue de Protection
des Oiseaux (Society for the Protection of Birds), the Garden has
become a nesting haven for numerous bird species - wrens, greenfinches,
tits and kingfishers - which have been attracted by setting up nesting
boxes and birdtables at strategic observation points. These birds
have now become like rare flowers under the admiring gaze of our
bird-loving visitors.
