Fauna
Menorca's fauna is relatively poor in terms of the variety of species thriving throughout the area. Apart from the Menorcan horse (a pure Spanish breed), farmed cows (the source of Menorca's famous cheese) and a few forest animals such as rabbits, martens, ferrets, hedgehogs and the lizard (the island's symbol), birds make up the vast majority of Menorca's animal population. Birds live in nesting areas, away from tourist attractions and therefore not necessarily visible at first glance. A distinction must be made here between sedentary birds and migratory birds from Africa or Northern Europe, which choose Menorca and the other three islands of the Balearic archipelago as their nesting grounds every year. Depending on the nature of the habitat (pond, coastal edge, mountain, rocky area, etc.), you'll have the opportunity to observe passerines - warblers, goldfinches, blackbirds or even the strange hoopoe - wading birds - flamingos, herons, storks - birds of prey - peregrine falcons - and water birds - pelicans, gulls and seagulls. The best place to observe the island's birdlife is undoubtedly the Parc naturel de s'Albufera des Grau. But Menorca's coastal fauna also includes almost all the marine life of the Mediterranean. You'll have plenty of time to get to know it on a diving trip or in one of the many seaside restaurants.
Flore
While Majorca's vegetation is distinguished from that of the rest of the archipelago by the Serra de Tramuntana (an area of steep relief and frequent rainfall) and its profusion of holm oaks, Menorca's vegetation, though Mediterranean, is unmistakably its own. Constantly windswept, the Menorcan territory has little relief and is home to far more shrubs than trees, mainly conifers. Although a few oaks grow, it's mainly pines and wild olive trees that form the island's forests. A few rushes and salicornia thrive in the wetlands, while the shores are home to a type of shrub known as socarrell, whose thorny cushions are adapted to the ambient salinity and the winds that batter the shores. On the other hand, the Phoenician and Greek gods did not endow Menorca with great fertility. As a result, fig trees are practically the only fruit trees on the island (although vine cultivation is becoming increasingly popular). It's worth noting that one of the major activities in the economy of Menorca is livestock farming, not cultivation! As far as flowers are concerned, spring spoils Menorca, covering the countryside with bright yellow poppies and field flowers, for a most charming overall composition. Last but not least, there are more than twenty species of orchid, including the bee orchid, the archipelago's emblem! And last but not least, the vine: yes, Menorca makes great wine!
