Diverse biodiversity
A wide variety of plants came to the islands during the various historical periods. The Phoenicians brought pomegranate and carob trees, the Romans planted olive trees, and the Arabs left dates and figs. The agaves and prickly pear cacti (opuntia) come from America and bear very tasty fruits in late summer. But be careful when eating: After the first prickly pear, beginners often have their mouth full of tiny spines.
Early spring begins in February on the Pityuses: the famous almond blossom transforms Ibiza - especially the northwest - into a sea of white blossoms. From March onwards, the peach blossom and the orange and lemon harvest will follow. Between January and the end of May the most beautiful flowers grow everywhere, including over twenty species of orchids, and the meadows are lush green. In June the drought begins, the variety of colors disappears and the brown and red of the earth dominate. But even in summer, rosemary and thyme still bloom. Only from the end of September does the green return as the predominant color due to the slow onset of rain. There are still many Aleppo pines in the coastal regions of the north of Ibiza and on Formentera's La Mola peninsula. Overall, however, both islands are poor in forests.
Instead, heather, mastic, gorse and wild rosemary now give the coastal sections an aromatic scent in June. The typical cedar juniper and sabinas thrive in several regions. The ceiling beams of the traditional fincas are made from sabina wood. Thorny caper bushes grow near the coast, the buds of which are often used in Ibizan cuisine. Beach grass and lilacs as well as thistles are mainly found in the sandy bays. Only reeds, rushes and so-called halophytes, salt-loving plants, thrive around the salt flats of both islands. In wetlands there are often brightly blooming and fragrant oleander bushes.
In the north there are still a few smaller oak forests. In the cultivated land, the gnarled fig, baobab, almond and olive trees are particularly noticeable. In the scrubland, the macchia, you can find pink rock roses, lavender, thyme, rosemary, thistles, wild fennel and asparagus.
The first contact you usually make with Ibizan wildlife is a high-pitched croaking sound that is omnipresent from the first day of your holiday. It is caused by cicadas, three to four centimeters large beetles that sit all over the trees. However, if you want to see one of these animals, the noise will stop as soon as you approach. After a short break in the early evening, the cicadas are then replaced by the much more pleasant to hear crickets. In total, well over a hundred species of ants live on the island. In addition to many species of butterflies, dragonflies, beetles and other crawling animals, you might discover a praying mantis or even the silver spider on a hike. It is the only poisonous creature on the Pityuses, but it is not really dangerous either.
There are no snakes on Ibiza and there are only two other representatives of the reptile world: the wall gecko and the pityuse lizard. However, there are over thirty different types of it alone. Every offshore island and every stretch of coast has its own species, which is often named after its origin. With a little luck you can watch the wall gecko at night on the house wall, especially near a lamp, while hunting. Geckos are considered to be lucky charms.
In addition to a large number of migratory birds that pause on the island at certain times of the year, there are some species that live here all year round. Flocks of seagulls can often be seen along the water, and sometimes cormorants can also be spotted near the shore. In the countryside one often sees swallows, tits, sparrows, quail, hawks and, if you are very lucky, even an osprey. Owls can often be heard calling in quiet areas at night. The most interesting birds on the island will probably be the last flamingos that live somewhere deep in the Salinas. There are only about twenty animals left under strict protection. Also rather unlikely is the encounter with the extremely rare genet cat, which as a layman you have to be able to distinguish from the countless stray house cats.
Apart from cultural animals such as dogs, cats, goats, sheep and donkeys, there are not very many mammals on the Pityuses.
You can see a lot of fish while snorkeling. Perch peep out of small caves, sea bream swim in loose formations, thick-lipped mullet can be seen just below the surface, and a brightly colored sea peacock occasionally appears on the rock walls. Calamare and octopuses can also sometimes be seen. Beware of stinging jellyfish and sea urchins - they can quickly ruin your whole day.
