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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2009 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	winter (2002–2006)	8,400–10,300 individuals	B1i, C2, C6
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (2002–2006)	820–1,220 individuals	B1i, C3
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	LC	winter (2002–2006)	3,142–6,500 individuals	B1i, C3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (2002–2003)	20,725–21,033 individuals	A4iii, C4

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2020) is shown below.

State (condition of the key species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	10 / 20 (breeding pairs)	50	unfavourable

State (condition of the key species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Grassland	poor (40–69%)	moderate (70–90%)	very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happen­ing now	whole popul­ation/area (>90%)	rapid deteri­oration (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Most of site (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	No manage­ment plan exists, but the manage­ment planning process has begun	The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented	medium

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Grassland	20	Humid grasslands
Marine Intertidal	major (>10)
Marine Neritic	major (>10)

Land use	% of IBA
not utilised	80
agriculture	20

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ballymacoda (Ireland). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ballymacoda-iba-ireland on 07/01/2025.