IE119
Boyne estuary


Country/territory: Ireland

IBA criteria met: B2 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 404 ha

BirdWatch Ireland
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2013 not assessed very high low
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2000 baseline)
A rather narrow estuary, which widens at its mouth and comprises intertidal mudflat and saltmarsh habitats. It is situated on the east coast, at the border between Counties Louth and Meath and is the port for the town of Drogheda. The estuary has been modified by the construction of training walls on either side, to facilitate deep water access to the port.

Key biodiversity
An important site for wintering waterfowl; additional species that winter in numbers of national importance include Pluvialis apricaria (6,000 birds, 1995), Pluvialis squatarola (255 birds, 1996), Vanellus vanellus (7,500 birds, 1996), Calidris alba (163 birds, 1996), Limosa limosa (287 birds, 1996) and Arenaria interpres (444 birds, 1995).


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Boyne estuary. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/boyne-estuary-iba-ireland on 19/03/2024.