email a friend
printable version
closeUK283
Rathlin Island
| Location | United Kingdom, Northern Ireland |
| Central coordinates | 6o 12.03' West 55o 18.01' North |
| IBA criteria | A4ii, A4iii, B1ii, B3, C3, C4 |
| Area | 1,466 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 400m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2007 |
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Site description A large island with cliffs and stacks on the north and west shores. Further inland there are wetlands, a limited amount of maritime heath and a mosaic of unimproved and improved grazing. The IBA is important for breeding seabirds.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Guillemot Uria aalge | breeding | 1999 | 95,117 individuals | good | B1ii, C3 | Least Concern |
| Razorbill Alca torda | breeding | 1999 | 20,860 individuals | good | A4ii, B1ii, B3, C3 | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | breeding | 1999 | 81,416 breeding pairs | good | A4iii, C4 | |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | breeding | 1999 | 10,566 breeding pairs | good | A4iii, C4 |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim Coast and Glens | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | 0 | protected area contains site | 1,466 |
|
| Kebble | National Nature Reserve | 127 | protected area contained by site | 127 |
|
| Rathlin | RSPB Reserve | 103 | protected area contained by site | 103 | |
| Rathlin Island | Birds Directive | 3,345 | protected area overlaps with site | 236 |
|
| Rathlin Island Coast | Area of Special Scientific Interest | 236 | protected area contained by site | 257 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | Heathland | - |
| Grassland | - | |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | |
| Coastline | Rock stacks and islets; Sea cliffs and rocky shores | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| not utilised | - |
Contribute Please click here to help BirdLife conserve the world's birds - your data for this IBA and others are vital for helping protect the environment.
Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Rathlin Island. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
|
|