Data Zone
Country/territory: Ireland
IBA criteria met: B3 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 10,788 hectares (107.88 km2)
Site description (2000 baseline)
Lough Ree is the third-largest lake in Ireland, and is situated on the River Shannon system between Lanesborough and Athlone. The shoreline, with many indented bays, has extensive reedbeds, callow and lowland wet grassland. Land-uses include low-intensity grazing on the grasslands, angling and other recreational uses.
Key biodiversity
This site was designated a Special Protection Area on the basis of its migratory waterfowl, with nationally important numbers of Tachybaptus ruficollis (145 birds, 1985), Anas penelope (1,306 birds, 1985), Anas crecca (584 birds, 1985), Aythya fuligula (1,317 birds, 1985) and Fulica atra (798 birds, 1985). This is also one of only three regular breeding sites in Ireland for Melanitta nigra (37 birds, 1995).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lough Ree (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lough-ree-iba-ireland on 23/12/2024.