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Site description (2009 baseline):
Site location and context
The Ballyhoura Mountains are located
c.15 km south west of the town of Charleville in north county Cork. About 80% of the site supports commercial afforestation, however much of the forestry is in second rotation, and thus the area of (temporarily) open habitats is higher than indicated. Much of the remaining area is open heath and blanket bog. The altitude ranges from 200 to 528 m at the summit of Seefin Mountain.
The site is a stronghold for
Circus cyaneus and is the third most important site in Ireland, supporting over 12% of the country’s population (Barton et al. 2006). The combination of forestry and open areas provides optimum conditions for these birds. The early stages of new and second-rotation conifer plantations are the preferred nesting sites, and the young conifer plantations, heath and bog provide excellent foraging grounds for these rare birds, which are listed on Annex I of the E.U. Birds Directive. In Ireland, small birds and small mammals appear to be the most frequently taken prey.
The site is also important for breeding
Falco peregrinus, a species also listed on Annex I of the Birds Directive.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The reduction and fragmentation of the foraging habitat caused by further afforestation is the main threat to the survival of
Circus cyaneus. Furthermore, with the maturation of these young plantations comes canopy closure, which results in the loss of vital nesting and foraging habitats.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ballyhoura Mountains (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ballyhoura-mountains-iba-ireland on 28/12/2024.
