Data Zone
Country/territory: Ireland
IBA criteria met: B1i, C2 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 25 hectares (0.25 km2)
Site description (2000 baseline)
Ardboline and Horse Island lie 1 km apart and 15 km north-west of Sligo town in County Sligo. Both islands are uninhabited and grass-covered with a rocky shoreline. The surrounding waters are not included within the site.
Key biodiversity
This is an alternative feeding site for Branta leucopsis from Drumcliff Bay and Ballintemple (site 033). Breeding seabirds also occur on both islands, with Ardboline Island supporting nationally important numbers of Phalacrocorax carbo (205 pairs, 1985).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ardboline Island and Horse Island (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ardboline-island-and-horse-island-iba-ireland on 28/12/2024.