BirdLife IBA Factsheet

Country/Territory

Finland

Administrative region(s)

Ahvenanmaan maakunta

Central coordinates

59^o 50' North 19^o 55' East Map

Area

2859 ha

Altitude

0m

Criteria

A1, A4i, B1i, B1ii, C1, C3

Site description An offshore archipelago south of åland, comprising two large islands (Lågskär and Nyhamn), and numerous much smaller, rocky islets. Between the two main islands is a large area of open water which is excluded from the IBA.

Birds The area is the only major wintering ground for Polysticta stelleri in Finland. Good numbers of Larus fuscus fuscus, Alca torda and Cepphus grylle also breed.

Protection status National None International Partial1,737 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Björkör and Lågskär, 5,760 ha).

Conservation issues The area remains relatively sheltered from disturbance, since it lies away from the main shipping channels and is largely free of other human activities. Although not officially nationally protected, the Provincial Government of åland treats the area as an informal conservation area. One of the most active bird observatories in the country is situated on Lågskär island, its main activities are ringing and migration observation. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.

Recommended Citation BirdLife International (2009) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lågskär-Nyhamn, Finland. Downloaded from the Data Zone at http://www.birdlife.org on 30/7/2010