Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
Two small, rocky islands approximately 7 km off the north coast of County Dublin. The lighthouse present on one island has been unmanned since 1989.
Rockabill is important for breeding seabirds and supports the largest breeding colony of
Sterna dougallii in the north-east Atlantic and, thus, in Europe.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Since 1989 BirdWatch Ireland have, with NPW, managed the tern colony and there is presently very little disturbance.
National High
International High1 ha of IBA covered by Refuge for Fauna (Rockabill Island; area not known). 1 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Rockabill, 1 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rockabill (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rockabill-iba-ireland on 23/11/2024.
