Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A long, narrow and grassy, uninhabited island, lying 0.5 km off the northern side of St Finan's Bay in south-west County Kerry. It is steep-sided with a long narrow twin-peaked ridge rising to 145 m. The island is owned by BirdWatch Ireland and permission is required for access.
An important site for breeding seabirds. Additional species occurring in numbers of national importance include
Fulmarus glacialis (700 pairs, 1987),
Larus marinus (150 pairs, 1987) and
Alca torda (800 birds, 1987).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Unauthorized grazing which may cause erosion, occurs on the site.
National High
International High53 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Puffin Island, 53 ha). 53 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Puffin Island, 53 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Puffin Island (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/puffin-island-iba-ireland on 24/12/2024.
