ROCKLANDS BIRD SANCTUARY AND FEEDING STATION

Thanks to an almost supernatural gift that allowed her to communicate with the wildest birds and to tame them, Lisa Salmon was given the lovely nickname of "Bird Lady". This renowned Jamaican naturalist, passionately in love with nature and birds, retired far from civilization in the Anchovy Hills overlooking Montego Bay in 1954. She settled down away from the world and the lights of the city, in a small house with basic comfort, drowned in a luxuriant tropical garden, which has an extraordinary view of the whole of Montego Bay. Lisa christened her house Rocklands. There she will be able to give free rein to her passion. She tamed birds of all kinds, of all sizes, of all colors, local or migratory, by hanging on the branches of the trees small containers, pipettes containing sweetened water. Little by little, the birds became bolder, and got into the habit of coming to feed at Rocklands, which became a rendezvous for the feathered gentry. With patience, Lisa even manages to feed them with her fingertips. Birdwatchers from all over the world flock to see this unprecedented spectacle and watch the incessant ballet of the birds, fluttering from branch to branch in a sweet concert of chirps, songs and wingbeats. With the growing success of her business, and the curiosity of visitors, Lisa decided to open her garden to the public in 1962.
Since then, Rockland has become an essential tourist stop for nature lovers, but also a place of meditation, symbiosis with nature and incredible serenity. The Lady of the Birds having passed away in 2000 at the age of 90, her nephew continues to manage the house and to receive visitors. After a few explanations on the way of life and the habits of the birds, you will be given a small pipette of sweet water; arm yourself with patience and you may be lucky enough to welcome a tiny hummingbird on the tip of your index finger. This is one of the few places where you can see the country's favorite bird, a hummingbird with an emerald green tail. Budding birders will enjoy the excursions organized by naturalist guides in the surrounding hills. To get there, be aware that the road at the end quickly turns into a rocky track, but it is still drivable in a normal sedan.