Inishbofin, Inisdooey and Inisbeg (551)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Inishbofin, Inisdooey and Inisbeg
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.1833, Longitude: -8.1667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 38
Area of KBA (km2): 6.03978
Protected area coverage (%): 99.25
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site comprises three islands, Inishbofin, Inishdooey and Inishbeg and is located 2 km off the Donegal coast, 5 km north-west of Falcarragh. The largest island, Inishbofin, comprises mainly dry grassland which, although farmed in the past, is now largely abandoned. In the previous European inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989) the site included just one island, but the nearby islands of Inishdooey and Inishbeg, together with the surrounding waters, have now been added. Inishbofin is inhabited during the summer months.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: Together with Tory Island (site 012), these islands held 20% of the national population of Crex crex in 1996 (numbers are calling males, 1995-1996). The site was also nationally important for breeding terns Sterna. Recently only Sterna paradisaea has bred (72 pairs, 1995).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (5%) | fisheries/aquaculture (80%) | nature conservation and research (20%) | not utilised (10%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 80 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 5 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This site is threatened mainly by agricultural abandonment. Crex crex is highly sensitive to changes in agricultural practice, and the late cutting of hay-meadows is essential to its survival at the site. However, most of the land is managed for conservation by BirdWatch Ireland, with support from NPW and RSPB, to maintain hay-meadows, the late cutting of hay and early cover.