AN estimated 60,000 bird watchers come to Majorca every year and the same team which published the Birding Tourist’s Guide Majorca in English four years ago have just brought out the ultimate map, again in English, for bird watchers called the Mallorca Birding Map.
Photographer Sebastia Torrens, Cartographer Josep Manchado, graphic designer Maria Carmen Oriola and writer Maties Rebassa, who is also the director of the Albufera Natural Park near Alcudia, all share a love for bird watching and, after the success of the publication A Birding Tourist’s Guide to Majorca, the second edition of which is about to printed, they have prepared a new product designed for visitors, tourists and locals who are all interested in birding in Majorca. The Mallorca Birding Map, is a full drop-down (89 x 65 cms) map of high quality and precision mapping with up to date information about the birds and the best places where to see them.
The map features information about the best 75 bird observation points around the island, as well as roads, towns, mountains and other information of interest.
The selected best 75 "bird points" include a wide selection of sites in Majorca where to watch birds, from places accessible by car to more difficult routes in the mountains or on cliff tops, but the map indicates clearly the best way of accessing each point be it by car, on foot or by boat.
And, if it is by foot, the map also indicates how long and how difficult the walk will be.
"We wanted to feature the best 100 points but it was too many and they would not all fit on the map," the team explained to the Bulletin this week.
"And, we decided to only print the map in English because the majority of bird watchers who come to Majorca are either British or from Northern Europe and all speak English while the map is very symbolic so any one can under stand it."
For each of the 75 observation points the map includes the most important information for a bird watcher such as the best time of year to visit each place, type of access, the GPS coordinates and the types of habitat and present landscapes. The map also provides information about the most interesting bird species which can be spotted in the area . Finally, the map also has a checklist which includes the 80 most interesting species for the visitor, with the specification of the points where it is easier to observe them.
The map has only been available for the past week but it has already attracted a great deal of interest, especially on bird watching websites in the UK.
But, more importantly, it has also been well received here by hoteliers and natural parks.
"Bird watching is a growing sector here in Majorca and with the best times to come being Spring and Autumn, a number of hotels have got involved because it helps to lengthen the season, it is a Winter tourism activity.
"Bird watchers either come in groups or with their families and are often also interested in the local culture and gastronomy. So, they hire cars, travel about the island, eat at local restaurants visit museums etc. as well as watch the birds," Maties explained. "They also respect the environment,"he added.
"Apart from the Albufera in Alcudia being one of the five most important wet lands in Europe attracting over 100,000 visitors a year, including scientists and biologists from numerous British universities, including Oxford, Majorca is like an aircraft carrier for birds during the migratory seasons.
"Geographically, it is perfectly located in the Mediterranean to serve as a resting place for birds travelling back and forth from Northern Europe to Africa, what is more, often some get lost and end up on the island.
"But, apart from that, with the island being so small, a bird watcher can see a vast number of birds in just one day. Yes, they can go to enormous natural parks on the mainland, but they could perhaps have to wait hours, days just to see one bird.
"Here, bird watchers can drive round the island, perhaps visiting three different observation points in one day and see as many as 140 species in a day," Josep explained.
And, not everyone has to be a bird expert to enjoy them.
For example, between August and March, a couple of hundred flamingoes can be seen on salt flats near Es Trenc because not only do they like salt water, but the area is rich in a tiny little shrimp they love to feed off and which gives them their colour and when it comes to the mating season, those with the richest colour are the healthiest.
And, another positive fact about Majorca being a popular destination for migratory birds is that the island’s ecosystem must be in good condition.
"A thriving community of birds is a good sign that the ecosystem is healthy, and it is here in Majorca despite all the development in coastal areas and the holiday resorts, in general, the island is still very rural and even in the resorts, especially in Calvia, excellent little bird observation points can be found," Josep said.
The maps are currently on sale at the Formentor lighthouse, the Albufera Natural Park, the Casa del Mapa in Palma and GOB’s shop but the team explained that a host of book shops, hotels and tourists’ attractions are interested and they hope that the map, which is not only aimed at bird watchers but any one visiting Majorca, will help to increase the island’s international appeal as a bird watching destination.
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visit birdingmajorca.com/birdingmap.htm to buy online or stock the map.