Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
The flood-plain of the River Shannon, the longest waterway in Ireland with a catchment that drains more than 20% of the country. The area lies between Lough Ree in the north (site 128) and Lough Derg in the south (site 130) and is contiguous with the Little Brosna callows (site 132) and the Suck callows (site 129), both of which are tributaries. This complex is one of the few relatively unmodified flood-plains within the European Union. Beside the river are extensive areas of callow (seasonally flooded, semi-natural wet grassland) which is used for permanent hay or silage or for summer grazing, mainly by cattle. The river is used for coarse angling and leisure-boat cruising. The callows were once flanked by raised bog, which is now largely lost due to mechanical peat-cutting.
This site is of international importance for wintering waterfowl and regularly supports over 20,000 wintering birds. The Shannon callows are one of the last strongholds for the globally threatened
Crex crex in Ireland and are also of importance for breeding waders, particularly
Tringa totanus. Additional wintering species that occur in numbers of national importance, include
Cygnus olor (575 birds, 1995),
Anas penelope (3,135 birds, 1996),
Anas crecca (576 birds, 1995),
Aythya fuligula (200 birds, 1995),
Vanellus vanellus (15,400 birds, 1995) and
Calidris alpina (1,250 birds, 1996).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The callows are threatened by changes in farming practice, mainly intensification, with serious implications for breeding birds, particularly
Crex crex. BirdWatch Ireland, with support from NPW and RSPB, operates a grant scheme to encourage farming practices that favour
Crex crex, and breeding numbers have recently stabilized. However, problems remain due to earlier mowing of hay and the replacement of hay with silage (which involves earlier mowing, increased use of fertilizer, and multiple cuts per year). Further, an extension of the grazing season and higher stocking rates have increased the risk of disturbance to breeding waders. The River Shannon is of high recreational value, being used by anglers, water- and jet-skiers, and for boating holidays (motor-cruisers), all of which may cause some disturbance to birds. Pressure to develop the recreation potential of the river has increased, with particular pressure for marina developments away from existing towns. Siltation of the river due to extensive mechanical peat extraction within the surrounding area is a further threat. Athlone town is expanding, with increasing pressure for drainage of callow habitat. BirdWatch Ireland own a reserve at Bullock and Bishops Island on the callows (3 ha).
National None
International High5,788 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (River Shannon Callows: Portumna to Athlone, 5,788 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: River Shannon callows: Portumna-Athlone (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/river-shannon-callows:-portumna-athlone-iba-ireland on 26/12/2024.
