Inishkea Islands (572)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Inishkea Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 54.1167, Longitude: -10.2167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 75
Area of KBA (km2): 13.29591
Protected area coverage (%): 99.86
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Two large islands and surrounding rocks, 4 km west of the Mullet peninsula in County Mayo. The northern island is dominated by machair and has a small lake. The southern island is machair-covered in the northern part, with a heath-covered hill and ridge dominating to the south. The islands have been uninhabited since 1932, but there is still grazing of cattle and sheep.
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: This is the most important wintering site for Branta leucopsis in Ireland (birds also use sites 042 and 044). Other wintering birds of national importance (no more recent data) include Pluvialis apricaria (1,500, 1987), Calidris alba (200, 1987), Calidris maritima (175, 1987) and Arenaria interpres (400, 1987). After an absence from the islands since the 1960s, Crex crex have returned to breed (2 birds, 1998). The islands comprise one of the top sites in Ireland for shorebirds breeding on machair, e.g. Haematopus ostralegus, Vanellus vanellus and Calidris alpina.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Day-trippers may cause disturbance to nesting birds. The site overlaps with a proposed candidate Special Area for Conservation by 272 ha (Inishkea Islands; area not known).
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Only in the future |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |