Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A small, steep-sided, inaccessible rocky island (rising to 100 m) and surrounding waters, located just off the cliff-dominated north coast of County Mayo, 19 km west of Ballycastle.
This is an important site for breeding seabirds; additional species include
Fulmarus glacialis (10 pairs),
Puffinus puffinus (10-100 pairs),
Phalacrocorax aristotelis (>10 pairs) and
Cepphus grylle (5 pairs).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The island (5 ha) is a reserve owned by BirdWatch Ireland. Fishing in surrounding waters may deplete the prey stock of seabirds, with implications for their breeding success.
National None
International High165 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Illaunmaistir, 165 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Illaunmaistir (Oilean Maistir) (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/illaunmaistir-(oilean-maistir)-iba-ireland on 23/11/2024.
