|
In spite of the population nearing 5 million, the city of Madrid still has the luxury of landscapes and habitats for housing the wild life. Madrid has a blend of both; the beautiful mountains, which are about 2,000m above sea level and low-lying plains. The Mountain Gadarrama’s slopes are covered with dense forests of Scot’s pine and Pyrenean oak. A large black monk (vulture) colony can be found in the Valle de Lozoya. A place called the Park Regional del Suroeste in Dehesa hills in the Gredos and Gadarrama ranges houses one of the last bastions of the Spanish Imperial Eagle.
One can visit from the following nature reserves to see Wild Life in Madrid. They are:
Alto Jarama
Bosque de la Acebeda
Cañada Real. Centro Naturaleza
Carrizal de Villamejor
Cerros del Viso y del Ecce-Homo
Parque Regional de la Cuenca Alta del Manzanares
Cueva del Reguerillo
Parque Natural de la Cumbre, circo y Lagunas de Peñalara
Curso bajo Manzanares/Jarama
Curso Medio Guadarrama
Embalse de Picadas
Embalse de Pinilla
Emb. Puentes Viejas-El Villar-El Atazar
Embalse de Riosequillo
Embalse de San Juan
Embalse de Valmayor
Garganta de Patones
Hayedo de Montejo
Las Lagunas
Laguna de San Juan
Monte del Pardo
Parque Regional del Sureste
Peñas del Arcipreste de Hita
Pico Almenara
Pico de las Tres Provincias
Pinar de Abantos y La Herrería
Pinar de Navafría
Pinar de Peña Pintada
Puente de la Pedrera
Reserva del Regajal-Mar de Ontígola
Sierra de La Cabrera
Valle del Lozoya
Vega de Aranjuez
Bird watching is a major attraction in Madrid. This city is home to rare birds, butterflies, dragonflies and moths. There are birds like Black Vulture, Spanish Imperial Eagle, White-headed Duck, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, White-rumped Swift, Great Bustard and Dupont’s Lark, which can be seen in and around Madrid.
The chief wild habitats, i.e. the parks to see these birds are El Pardo, Casa de Campo and El (Buen) Retiro. The Parque Oeste is another place to watch the rare variety birds’ species. El Retiro is the home for Red Squirrels, Green Woodpeckers, Spotless Starlings, Tree Sparrows, Firecrest, Pied Flycatchers, Bonelli’s, Subalpine Warblers, House Martins and Common Swifts.
The Casa de Campo houses the exotic Monk Parakeet and long tailed Ring-necked Parakeet. The Parque Oeste is the home for Stock Dove and Hawflinch. El Pardo is a reservoir, where one can see Spanish Imperial and Booted Eagles, Griffon & Black Vultures, Black & Red Kites, Sparrow hawk, Kestrel, Peregrine, Common Buzzard and Goshawk.
Wildlife in Madrid houses a wide selection of animals and birds. While some are typical to the city there are migratory species too, which visit the city at specific time during the year. This only enhances the beauty and populace of the Wildlife in Madrid.
| 
