When we hear the word ‘Mykonos’ lots of different images come to our minds: Mykonos Villas, great sandy beaches, young people spending the nights away with lots of alcohol, high society and lifestyle and of course relaxation and boat rides. Here we explore the Mykonos flora and fauna.
There’s More To Mykonos
But that is not all about Mykonos. The island of the winds has got a thousand faces and two of them are the plants and trees as well as the animals. Let’s explore these unique species together and get to know them a bit better so as to familiarize with the isle as whole.
Mykonos Flora
To begin with, the Mediterranean’s mild climate could not help more to the growth of various bushes, flowers and trees. The majority of days there are sunny. It rains a bit and in general the weather conditions are more than welcoming. Besides, we should not forget that Greece – and more specifically Cyclades – are a combination of Europe, Africa and Asia and that would definitely benefit the locals as lots of biotopes developed throughout the years.
Herbs and Spices Thrive in the Arid Conditions
It is true that the island is more or less dry and rocky. Nevertheless, there are some herbs and other species that love such conditions. Many herbs and oregano and thyme grow almost all around the year offering the island vital provisions in terms of food and alternative medicine.
Wild flowers such as violets and sea lilies decorate most local shores giving an exotic yet familiar vista. Adding to these, you should come across various other forms of low vegetation like Brushwood and Maquid that can cope well with an arid environment and long periods of drought. It would be an omission not to refer to the olive trees which are not in huge numbers, but they are still the oldest and most significant trees for the locals.
Mykonos Fauna
Moving on to the animals, we come across various sorts of birds that are dominant on the islands. The main reasons they thrive is that there are countless slopes providing the perfect shelters and caves for laying eggs and breeding. Thus, even if you stay for a few days, you will meet some of them no matter what.
There are birds that spend the whole year on the island
Sparrows, blackbirds and pigeons spend all year on the island. Then, there are some robins but only during winter when they actually abandon northern, colder climates and travel all the way south to Mykonos, Greece. There is though one last category of birds. Those are swifts or hoopoes that land on the island coming from Africa. The whole procedure takes place in spring when they have to mate and reproduce within a couple of months. Unquestionably, there are also some typical seabirds like the endangered and very rare Aegean seagulls as well as shags and herring gulls.
Reptiles Love Mykonos Too
The Lafiatis snake and the crocodile lizard are the most common ones on the island. As far as the mammals are concerned there are quite a few of them and are worth mentioning. Wild rabbits and hares are everywhere around the place, but they try to avoid human contact as they are afraid of us. Nonetheless, you may come across some of these cuties. In the sea three kind of dolphins and the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus-Monachus which is under protection can be spotted more often than not. Last but not least, striking sea turtles may approach your boat while you will be fishing to beg for a bite of your prey!
Mykonos is a wonderful island to visit. Its tranquillity is matched by the subtle flora and fauna.