Data Zone
Country/territory: Ireland
IBA criteria met: A4iii, B1i, B3, C3, C6 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1,154 hectares (11.54 km2)
Site description (2000 baseline)
This site follows the Little Brosna river from its junction with the River Shannon callows (site 131) for 9 km south-eastwards to just beyond New Bridge. It is situated 6 km north-west of Birr, in Counties Offaly and Tipperary. The main habitat is callow (low-lying, semi-natural, wet grassland), which is seasonally flooded between October and April.
Key biodiversity
This is an internationally important wetland, regularly supporting over 20,000 wintering waterfowl. Additional species wintering in numbers of national importance include Anas platyrhynchos (700 birds, 1996), Anas acuta (250 birds, 1996), Anas clypeata (200 birds, 1996), Pluvialis apricaria (8,100 birds, 1996), Vanellus vanellus (6,500 birds, 1995) and Calidris alpina (1,250 birds, 1995). Until recently Crex crex were breeding (2 pairs, 1993).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: River Little Brosna callows: New Bridge - River Shannon (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/river-little-brosna-callows:-new-bridge--river-shannon-iba-ireland on 23/12/2024.