Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
An archipelago located 10 km from the Swedish mainland and 15 km from the outer Finnish skerries. The larger islands support
Picea,
Alnus and
Betula forests and areas of bog. Of the four largest islands only the most northerly is inhabited. Access to the southern island is restricted due to military activity.
The IBA holds a rich breeding bird fauna, including marine species (for example,
Melanitta fusca,
Stercorarius parasiticus and
Cepphus grylle) as well as those of taiga forest (for example,
Tetrao urogallus,
Grus grus and
Strix uralensis). The spring and autumn migration periods see large numbers of seabirds and passerines pass through.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
No serious threats are known at the site. The island of Stora Fjaderagg, north-east of Holmön, holds a bird ringing station. The sea areas east of Holmöarna are known to be of great importance for marine life.
National High
International High25,000 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Holmöarna, 25,000 ha). 25,000 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (25,000 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Holmöarna Archipelago (Sweden). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/holmöarna-archipelago-iba-sweden on 22/11/2024.
