Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2007 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razorbill Alca torda | LC | breeding (1999) | 20,860 individuals | A4ii, B1ii, B3, C3 |
| Common Murre Uria aalge | LC | breeding (1999) | 95,117 individuals | B1ii, C3 |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | breeding (1999) | 81,416 breeding pairs | A4iii, C4 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | breeding (1999) | 10,566 breeding pairs | A4iii, C4 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2007) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | favourable | medium | 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 | ||
| Razorbill Alca torda | 20,860 / 8,955 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Common Murre Uria aalge | 95,117 / 62,537 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | 81,416 / 51,977 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 10,566 / 11,206 (breeding pairs) | 95 | favourable | ||
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Some of site covered (10–49%) | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Rathlin | RSPB Reserve (-) | 7 |
| 1976 | Rathlin | Nature Reserve (IV) | 12 |
| 1976 | Kebble | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 9 |
| 1988 | ANTRIM COAST & GLENS AONB | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NI) (V) | 94 |
| 1988 | Antrim Coast and Glens | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | 100 |
| 1991 | RATHLIN ISLAND COAST | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 18 |
| 1991 | RATHLIN ISLAND - BALLYGILL NORTH | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 5 |
| 1991 | RATHLIN ISLAND - BALLYCARRY | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 3 |
| 1991 | RATHLIN ISLAND - KINRAMER SOUTH | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 2 |
| 2005 | Rathlin Island | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 5 |
| 2010 | Church Bay | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 1 |
| 2011 | Rathlin Island - Kebble | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 9 |
| 2011 | Rathlin Island | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 5 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | - | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | - | |
| Shrubland | - | Heathland |
| Wetlands (inland) | - |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| not utilised | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rathlin Island (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rathlin-island-iba-united-kingdom on 06/01/2025.