Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Birds
As a natural resting point between Europe and Africa, and as one of the few Mediter-
ranean islands with considerable wetlands, Mallorca is a wonderful birdwatching destin-
ation, and coastal regions in particular draw hundreds of resident and migratory species,
especially during the migration periods in spring and autumn.
With more than 200 species it's all but impossible to predict what you'll see. The birds
can be divided into three categories: sedentary (those that live on the island year-round),
seasonal (those that migrate south after hatching chicks or to escape the cold winters in
northern Europe) and migratory (those that rest briefly in Mallorca before continuing
their journey).
Try birdwatching field guides such as
A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe
(Peterson Field Guides)
,
by Roger Tory Peterson, Guy Mountfort and P.A.D. Hollum, or
the slimmer
Collins Bird Guide: The Most Complete Guide to the Birds of Britain &
Europe
, by Lars Svensson et al.
Endangered Species
The populations of Mallorca's threatened species of Mediterranean birds, tortoises and
toads are recovering thanks to the conservation and controlled breeding efforts of Mal-
lorca's parks and natural areas.
Endangered species here include the spur-thighed tortoise and Hermann's tortoise, the
only two tortoises found in Spain, and bird species such as the red kite.
Among the programs showing results, the endemic Mallorcan midwife toad's status
was in 2006 changed to 'vulnerable' from 'critically endangered' on the IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. But there's not such good news about the Balearic shearwater, a
waterbird that has suffered greatly because of feral cats; IUCN listed it as 'critically en-
dangered' in its 2013 report.
Plants
The Balearic Islands claim more than 100 endemic species and provide a fertile home to
countless more.
Mountains & Plains
On the peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana, Mallorca's hardy mountain flora survives
harsh sun and wind. Thriving species tend to be ground-huggers or cliff species such as
