Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
An area of both outer and middle archipelago with a large number of islands, situated at the western edge of åland. Most of the islands are bare and almost treeless, but some larger ones hold small patches of forest, swamps, ponds and meadows. Signildskär, one of the largest islands, has the oldest bird observatory in Fennoscandia, founded in 1923. Migration observations have been carried out from the station, but the main activity now is ringing.
An important area for island-breeding species, most significantly
Alca torda and
Cepphus grylle, but also
Somateria mollissima (2,000-5,000 pairs),
Arenaria interpres (50-100 pairs) and
Larus fuscus fuscus (50-100 pairs).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The archipelago has remained in a fairly natural state. The main threats to birds are oil spills (`Other' threat), nutrient pollution from agriculture and fisheries, increased fish-farming and tourism. The area is a candidate SAC.
National None
International Partial7,716 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Signilskär, 11,600 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Eckerö and Hammarland archipelago (Finland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/eckerö-and-hammarland-archipelago-iba-finland on 23/11/2024.
