# Rockabill

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockabill
> Source revision: 1352653142
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{{Short description|Pair of granite rock islands ("Rock" and "Bill") off the east coast of Ireland}}
{{distinguish|Rockabilly}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox islands
| name             = Rockabill
| map = Ireland 
| map_caption = 
| native_name      = ''Cloch Dábhiolla''
| native_name_link = 
| nickname         = The Cow and The Calf
| image = File:Skerries Lighthouse.jpg
| location         = [Irish Sea](/source/Irish_Sea)
| coordinates      = {{coord|53.|35.49|N|6.|0.16|W|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = Rockabill  
| total_islands    = 2 (The Rock and The Bill)
| major_islands    = The Rock
| coastline_km     = 
| highest_mount    = 
| elevation_m      = 
| area_acre        = 
| country          = [Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland)
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [Province](/source/Provinces_of_Ireland)
| country_admin_divisions           = [Leinster](/source/Leinster)
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   = [County](/source/Counties_of_Ireland)
| country_admin_divisions_1         = [Dublin](/source/County_Dublin)
| country_admin_divisions_title_2   = [Barony](/source/Barony_(Ireland))
| country_admin_divisions_2         = [Skerries](/source/Skerries%2C_County_Dublin)
| country_capital_city              = 
| country_largest_city              = 
| country_largest_city_population   = 
| country_leader_title              = 
| country_leader_name               = 
| population       = 2, May through August<ref name=ind2014>{{cite news | url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/no-man-is-an-island-except-if-you-get-new-400-a-week-bird-watching-job-30187333.html | first=Brian | last=O'Reilly | date=2014-04-15 | title=No man is an island – except if you get new €400 a week bird watching job | work=Irish Independent }}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2014
| density_km2      = 
| ethnic_groups    = 
| additional_info  = 
}}
thumb|The Rock of Rockabill with helicopter pad visible
'''Rockabill''' ({{irish place name|Cloch Dábhiolla}})<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/1165790 |title=Cloch Dábhiolla/Rockabill |website=[Placenames Database of Ireland](/source/Placenames_Database_of_Ireland)}}</ref> is a close pair of islands (Rock and Bill) in the western [Irish Sea](/source/Irish_Sea) about 6&nbsp;kilometres east-north-east of [Skerries, County Dublin](/source/Skerries%2C_County_Dublin), [Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland). The two granite islands are separated by a channel about 20 metres wide. On the Rock there is a [lighthouse](/source/lighthouse), built 1855–1860 from [granite](/source/granite) and [limestone](/source/limestone) and automated in 1989, and several walls and outbuildings.

==Environment==
thumb|The Rock of Rockabill
The walled areas of the Rock have enabled a build-up of soil and the establishment of vegetation, notably tree mallow (''[Malva arborea](/source/Malva_arborea)''), which provides nesting cover for the birds. The Bill is smaller and has very little vegetation.

Rockabill is an important [seabird](/source/seabird) breeding island, especially notable for its [tern](/source/tern)s. It is an internationally important site for [roseate tern](/source/roseate_tern)s, with the largest colony in Europe, 1,597 pairs, and 2,085 pairs of Common Terns (2017 data). Other seabirds include [black guillemot](/source/black_guillemot)s and [black-legged kittiwake](/source/black-legged_kittiwake)s. It has been designated an [Important Bird Area](/source/Important_Bird_Area) (IBA) by [BirdLife International](/source/BirdLife_International) because of its seabird colonies.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/619 |title=Rockabill|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-08-29}}</ref>

[Rockabill Lighthouse](/source/Rockabill_Lighthouse) is owned by the [Commissioners of Irish Lights](/source/Commissioners_of_Irish_Lights) and is a [Refuge for Fauna](/source/Refuge_for_Fauna) and a [Special Protection Area](/source/Special_Protection_Area) under the [European Union](/source/European_Union) Birds Directive. Since 1989, when the protection afforded by the lighthouse keepers ceased, the islands have been managed by [BirdWatch Ireland](/source/BirdWatch_Ireland).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://birdwatchireland.ie/our-work/species-habitat-conservation/marine/rockabill-tern-project/ |title=Rockabill Tern Project |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=Birdwatch Ireland |access-date=2020-06-23 |quote=}}</ref> The sea area between Rockabill and [Dalkey Island](/source/Dalkey_Island) has recently been proposed as a [Special Area of Conservation](/source/Special_Area_of_Conservation).<ref>{{ cite press release | publisher=MerrionStreet.ie: Irish Government News Service | url=http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2012/12/designation-of-new-marine-special-areas-of-conservation/?cat=12 | date=2012-12-03 | title=Designation of New Marine Special Areas of Conservation}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
{{refend}}

Category:Islands of County Dublin
Category:Important Bird Areas of Atlantic islands
Category:Important Bird Areas of the Republic of Ireland
Category:Uninhabited islands of Ireland

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rockabill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockabill) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockabill?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.