Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2009 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | NT | winter (2002–2006) | 75–1,800 individuals | B1i, C3 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2009) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2009 | unfavourable | low | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | 70 / 179 (individuals) | 40 | unfavourable | ||
| Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus | 0 / 132 (individuals) | 0 | not assessed | ||
| Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons | 90 / 59 (individuals) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | 61 / 498 (individuals) | 13 | not assessed | ||
| Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope | 3,020 / 7,760 (individuals) | 39 | not assessed | ||
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | 44 / 102 (individuals) | 44 | not assessed | ||
| Anas crecca | 358 / 3,005 (individuals) | 12 | not assessed | ||
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | 5,000 / 17,680 (individuals) | 29 | not assessed | ||
| Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus | 2,270 / 3,995 (individuals) | 57 | not assessed | ||
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | 150 / 1,205 (individuals) | 13 | not assessed | ||
| Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | 700 / 170 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | 240 / 3,569 (individuals) | 7 | not assessed | ||
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | 45 / 155 (individuals) | 30 | not assessed | ||
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | whole population/area (>90%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | whole population/area (>90%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Biological resource use | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | whole population/area (>90%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Very little or no conservation action taking place | low |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 75 | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland; Humid grasslands |
| Wetlands (inland) | 20 | Standing freshwater; Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation |
| Shrubland | 5 | Scrub |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| hunting | 100 |
| agriculture | 75 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rahasane turlough (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rahasane-turlough-iba-ireland on 05/01/2025.